What’s wrong with the Super Bowl champions?
The Rams, through five games in defense of the Lombardi Trophy they won last season, have looked like the poster children for Super Bowl hangover syndrome.
It seems like 10 minutes ago that Rams head coach Sean McVay was the brightest football mind in the game who could do little wrong. Now, after listless losses the past two weeks, McVay stands before reporters and sounds perplexed at what’s happening to his team, repeatedly saying the Rams have to be better.
The offense, McVay’s wheelhouse, has struggled. The defense, despite having the best player in the league on that side of the ball, Aaron Donald, isn’t frightening anyone.
The Rams, quite simply, have lost their mojo.
They will enter their home game Sunday against the Panthers (1-4) with a 2-3 record and they have lost their previous two games — 24-9 to the 49ers and 22-10 last week to the Cowboys.
The Panthers are struggling and fired their head coach Matt Rhule this past week, so this is a potential get-well game for the Rams, who desperately need one of those — particularly on offense. They’ve scored just one touchdown in their past nine quarters, a 75-yard catch-and-run from Matthew Stafford to receiver Cooper Kupp in the second quarter of the Dallas game.
One of the roots of the Rams’ problems has been the offensive line, which has been a mess. Last week, center Jeremiah Kolone started in place of injured Coleman Shelton, who was starting in place of injured Brian Allen. Kolone was the Rams’ ninth different offensive lineman to start a game this season.
Just two players — left tackle Joe Noteboom and right tackle Rob Havenstein — have started all five games.
Through his team’s struggles, McVay has been steadfastly behind Stafford despite the fact the quarterback has been intercepted seven times in five games, which puts him on a pace for nearly 24 by season’s end.
In fairness, Stafford has been sacked 21 times for 148 yards in losses, a pace that would end with 71 sacks for 503 yards in losses in a full season.
“I love Matthew Stafford,” McVay said after the loss to the Cowboys. “He is competing and doing everything in his power for this team. He needs some help. We’ve got to be able to help him.”
According to ESPN stats, Stafford was pressured 20 times by the Cowboys’ defense and he was 6-for-15 for 59 yards and an interception when pressured. He was 22-for-27 for 249 yards and a TD when he wasn’t facing pressure.
The talent around Stafford is in question at the moment as well,. Kupp is listed as questionable with a foot injury. Tight end Tyler Higbee (ankle) is also listed as questionable. Running back Cam Akers is out for the game because of what McVay described as an internal situation with the team.
Between those issues and the unsettled offensive line, when McVay was asked how the Rams can fix things, he said, “I don’t know if I have that answer right now.”
McVay has been a coach who seemingly has had all the answers.
“We’ve got to be able to figure it out,’’ he said. “It’s not good enough and it’s not exclusive to one player, to one position.’’
Through it all, though, McVay stands firmly behind Stafford.
“He’s doing everything he can,” McVay said. “I think he needs more help. Guys got to play better around him. I’ll ride with that guy to the end of time.’’