LOS ANGELES — Rams head coach Sean McVay’s press conference was a lot more pleasant than it might have been had his team’s win over the Eagles gone the other direction.
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He was still peppered with questions though about a litany of mistakes his team made in Week 4. About missed field goals, long punt returns surrendered, two turnovers, a slow start for his offense.
And most of all, the eight penalties his team committed that set them back 100 yards.
“The things that really chapped me that I think are a reflection of an undisciplined team are the pre-snap, the procedural things. Those are the things that we can control with focus and concentration,” McVay said. “We have to do a better job on that. When it rains, it pours. We’re getting penalties on our staff now too. Thank god we won that one. [Quarterbacks coach Dave Ragone] would have never lived that one down.”
The Rams (2-2) got lucky that that display came against an Eagles team ravaged by injuries. That they got the reminder to get their act in order ahead of their Week 5, primetime showdown with the Buffalo Bills (3-1).
As the Rams learned the last time these two teams played, there is scant margin for error when Josh Allen is leading the opposing team. In that game, Allen became the first quarterback in NFL history to throw for three touchdowns and run for three more.
The Rams had to score on seven of their 10 possessions to withstand the onslaught, and even that almost wasn’t enough. So the Rams understand what kind of a clean performance they need Monday to win.
“Obviously, I’m going against their defense, but understanding full well that our defense is facing a guy that is as talented as anybody in the NFL at the quarterback position,” Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford said. “It’ll be a big-time challenge for us as a team, as a unit. We’re looking forward to it.”
The look on defensive coordinator Chris Shula’s face told a slightly story when asked about Allen, the 2024 MVP. Shula’s eyebrows raised and he cocked his head to the side, wondering where to begin.
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“He’s one of the best players, if not the best player, in the NFL right now,” Shula said.
Looking back on the 2024 matchup, the Rams’ pass rushers felt like they missed some opportunities to bring Allen down. And that’s when Allen is at his most dangerous, when the initial play call falls apart and the quarterback begins to freestyle.
“I think this mentality that we’ve been able to have as well throughout the past couple of weeks is we’re going to attack you,” Rams defensive tackle Kobie Turner said. “You can’t just sit back on your heels. He’s going to be able to extend plays, make things happen, make things show up that weren’t there before. But you got to attack the guy.”
The Rams’ offense won’t be facing Allen directly, instead preparing for a first-time defensive coordinator in Jim Leonhard. The Rams see a defense powered by its front seven with an ability to present different looks.
But the Rams’ offense in 2024 spoke about how it knew it had to score just about every time it touched the ball on offense to keep up with Allen. A similar challenge is ahead of the Rams on Monday.
And that’s where the Rams’ execution issues on offense become a concern.
McVay thought team president Kevin Demoff was trying to cheer him up when he texted the coach that there have been more penalties called through four weeks this season than any in NFL history. But that still leaves the Rams at 18th in the league with 7.8 per game.
That hasn’t been entirely on the offense, but it becomes more of a concern as the unit plays uneven football. Cold through three quarters against Philadelphia before rallying in the fourth. Unprecise throws, unprecise routes. So when a penalty sets the unit back on first or third down, it resonates throughout the rest of the game.
“From a personal standpoint, it’s both. From a unit, as an offense, I think it’s both,” Stafford said when asked if the errors were mental or physical. “Obviously, it starts with the mental stuff. As clean as you can be mentally, it gives you the best opportunity to go out there and play physical. Physical mistakes are going to happen. This is football. You learn to live with those. Don’t want them to happen, but they do. But try to avoid the mental ones as best we can as well.”
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