The worst type of defeat is the one that did not have to be. Unfortunately for the Los Angeles Rams, this is no longer a new feeling, as their Super Bowl hopes are over.
Before that loss, the LA Rams came off two nail-biting wins over the Carolina Panthers and Chicago Bears. The wildcard game against Carolina was unexpected, with the final score 34-31 in LA’s favor.
In the Divisional Round, the Rams faced the Bears at Soldier Field in temperatures below 20 degrees Fahrenheit. This game was nothing short of a thriller. Immaculate catches, crazy throws, and multiple plays that determined serious situations on both sides of the ball for both teams.
Ultimately, the game was decided by a clutch interception by Kamren Curl that led to a game-winning field goal by kicker Harrison Mevis.
It was always clear the Rams were playoff contenders. Most would have even considered them Super Bowl contenders, proudly holding a 12-5 record on a difficult schedule. The Rams’ success this past season has been astounding.
They beat out the 12-5 San Francisco 49ers for second place in the division and came close to beating out Seattle for first place in one of the most dominant NFC West divisions we’ve ever seen.
Even though the Rams were considered one of the best teams in the league, three major obstacles held back LA from hoisting another Lombardi in February 2026: their lack of discipline, little cornerback help, and special teams.
Recent Lack of Discipline
The Rams have been one of the most disciplined teams in the NFL for the past nine years. Since the 2017 season, they have had the fewest penalties called (799). It is also the fewest penalties called per game (4.41), and it is on top of being in the top 10 in turnovers per game.
So, the question is, despite having so few flags per game, why is lack of discipline such a problem?
The concern has never been the number of flags per game or in a season. As previously stated, LA has consistently been one of the least penalized teams in the league; it is the timing that negatively affects the Rams.
Via Sharp Football Analysis, the Rams’ most damaging penalty calls include:
- Offensive holding
- Red zone penalties
- Special teams penalties
- Third and long defensive penalties
The article supports the claim that the issue of situational penalties is a bigger problem than quantity for LA.
Special Teams
There are not enough words in the English dictionary to express how bad special teams have been this year. Every time the opposing team lines up for a kick, a wave of anxiety pumps through the blood of every Rams fan, fearing that Xavier Smith will drop the ball or a botched kick by Joshua Karty.
That is how bad Special Teams were this year, costing the Rams multiple games and consistently being a liability, especially in clutch time.
In hopes of resolving this crisis, the Rams’ front office has fired former Special Teams coach Chase Blackburn and replaced him with Raymond Ventrone, the former special teams coach of the Cleveland Browns.
Limited Cornerback Help
It’s time for someone to say it out loud: Emmanuel Forbes Jr. and Ahkello Witherspoon cannot be CB1’s on a Super Bowl-winning team.
Though they have only been available for about half of the season, the skill gap between the two and a George Pickens or Drake London-caliber player has always been pretty steep.
Even when Los Angeles could not attain a true CB1, they went after Roger McCreary from the Tennessee Titans. Still, the Rams have been exposed time and time again for their lack of cornerback depth.
Some NFL fans even mock LA’s depth at the corner spot:
Seriously, it is a real issue. During the NFC Championship game, the Rams had Kamren Curl (hybrid safety) on Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who is arguably the best wide receiver in the league.
Having one of your best safeties play on a WR such as JSN alone should tell you how shallow the CB room is. Having no CB1 and an empty depth at the position in general is a recipe for failure.
Because of the Los Angeles Rams’ glaring flaws, it’s understandable why they couldn’t get back to the Super Bowl heights.
Leave a comment