Rams slip up against Packers in another close game and can see season slipping away
It’s going to be a long week for the Rams.
And the way things continue to play out, it could be a very long season.
The Rams’ 24-19 defeat to the Green Packers on Sunday before 72,842 at SoFi Stadium — many of them Packers fans — dropped their record to 1-4 heading into their off week.
Coach Sean McVay and the still-injury-depleted Rams welcome the bye.
It will be goodbye to already dim playoff hopes, however, if they don’t pull it together during the next two weeks before they return to play the Las Vegas Raiders on Oct. 20.
“The reality is you can tend to think you’re a lot further away than you are,” said McVay, who is 1-4 for the first time since he was hired in 2017. “There’s going to be a lot of outside noise, and we have to stay inside-out more than anything.”
The Rams will be on the outside looking in if they do not fix the problems that plagued them Sunday. They could not overcome inexcusable penalties, a lost fumble and an interception en route to their second loss in a row.
Packers quarterback Jordan Love capitalized on all of the mistakes, turning them into a field goal and two touchdown passes to tight end Tucker Kraft.
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford came close to pulling off another comeback in the final six minutes but the 16th-year pro ultimately could not provide another miracle.
Last season, the Rams suffered a loss to the Packers that dropped their record to 3-6 heading into the off week. Stafford returned from a thumb injury and led them to seven wins in eight games to finish 10-7 and make the playoffs.
The Rams could make a similar run if injured players return in time to save the season. Star receiver Cooper Kupp is expected to return for the game against the Raiders.
Receiver Puka Nacua and offensive linemen Steve Avila and Joe Noteboom, who suffered injuries in the season-opening defeat to the Lions, also are eligible to return from injured reserve, though McVay has given no definitive timeline for when they will be ready.
Offensive lineman Jonah Jackson and safety John Johnson III are eligible to return after the game against the Raiders.
Should the Rams take confidence from their turnaround last season?
Offensive lineman Rob Havenstein, a 10th-year pro, dismissed comparing teams from year to year.
“Apples and oranges to me,” he said.
Veteran edge rusher Michael Hoecht also preached caution.
“Every season is going to write its own story,” he said, “and it’s a long, long season.”
The off week is coming at the right time “if we use it right,” said running back Kyren Williams, who rushed for 102 yards and a touchdown in 22 carries, but also lost a fumble.
Williams said he does not “expect the same exact thing” that occurred in 2023.
“But I expect the mentality to kind of be the same,” he said. “I expect people to come to work and be ready to work and go do the things we have to do to go be successful. Because we can’t keep feeling like this each and every week.”
Rookie edge rusher Jared Verse was playing for Florida State in 2023, so the Rams’ first-round draft pick was only an observer from afar of the Rams last season. Verse knows, however, that the NFL’s 18-week season allows for playoff berths to be earned despite bad starts.
“You’ve got a lot of time to turn anything around,” he said. “It has to start now though. It should have started a while ago but now it has to be a very big emphasis.”
Stafford, in his 16th season, noted that the break will allow him to get away and recharge for remaining games.
“Played a bunch of seasons in this league,” said Stafford, who completed 29 of 45 passes for 260 yards and a touchdown. “Have started seasons with some great records and have started seasons with some tough ones.”
The Rams made it difficult on themselves against the Packers, blowing a 13-10 halftime lead that had been achieved with Williams’ touchdown run and Jaylen McCollough’s interception return for a score, the first touchdown by the Rams defense since the 2022 season.
Williams’ fumble during the first possession of the second half gave Love the opportunity to connect with Kraft for a 66-yard touchdown pass play. On the ensuing possession, Xavier McKinney intercepted a pass by Stafford to set up a Packers’ drive that ended with Love’s second touchdown pass to Kraft.
The Rams pulled within 24-19 on Stafford’s short touchdown pass to receiver Demarcus Robinson with 3:30 left. The Rams got the ball back with just less than three minutes left, but Stafford’s fourth-down pass with 1:02 remaining fell incomplete.
So now, their season in danger of slipping away, the Rams have time to reflect.
“I’m excited about the opportunity to say, ‘All right, we’ve got some adversity — how do we handle that?’” McVay said. “Here’s that storm that we talked about, and want to be proud of the way that we handle it.”
Go beyond the scoreboard
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