With only 8:16 left on the clock in Week 4, the Los Angeles Rams had a measly 3.2 percent chance to pull off a win. Seriously, 3.2 percent! But somehow, quarterback Matthew Stafford engineered yet another fourth-quarter comeback, leading two late touchdown drives to snatch a 24-20 victory against the Eagles. That’s the kind of heart-stopping finish that gets you hyped, no doubt, but it’s also covering up some serious issues for the team.
McVay’s Fire Ignites a Wild Finish
ESPN’s Lindsey Thiry pinpointed a rare fiery moment from head coach Sean McVay that apparently sparked the Rams’ impressive fourth-quarter turnaround. Thiry mentioned on “Good Morning Football” that McVay gathering the offense mid-game and getting after them was something you just don’t see from him often. It was a clear demonstration of what he preaches to his players, and it absolutely got them going. It’s the kind of moment that Thiry thinks people will look back on if the Rams actually go on the run they’re “expected to.” However, as thrilling as the comeback was, how the Rams are winning is far from sustainable. Stafford has thrown an interception in every single game this season. He’s currently sitting at 20th in EPA per pass, and that’s just not going to cut it, especially as they gear up for some tough matchups.
Makai Lemon’s Rookie Reality Check
The Week 4 clash also saw Makai Lemon, a wide receiver the Rams could have picked in the draft, face off against them as an Eagle. He didn’t exactly have a massive day, with the Eagles’ offense struggling across the board, but he did make a few catches, including a solid fourth-down conversion. Lemon hasn’t exactly lit up his rookie season, logging 10 receptions for 65 yards through four games. But hey, he has played more snaps than Ty Simpson, the player the Rams did take instead. There’s been some chatter about the Rams’ draft decision. Many fans apparently wanted the team to grab Lemon at 13th overall, but the front office felt he didn’t make sense there given their shift to 13 personnel and the fact he’d be, at best, a WR3. While Lemon is undoubtedly the better player than the Rams’ current third wide receiver, Konata Mumpfield (who has 6 receptions for 112 yards), the early production this season actually backs up the Rams’ call not to draft the USC wide receiver.
So, the Rams are riding high on an improbable comeback, but there are some serious cracks showing. Stafford’s gotta clean up those interceptions, especially with the Bills coming up next. Can this team really contend playing this kind of high-wire act every week? That’s the real question facing them right now.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Turf Show Times.
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