Rams fall to 2-4 after late Cardinals field goal as injuries mount
Arizona’s last-second field goal handed Los Angeles an 18-16 home defeat. Sean McVay said the Rams’ energy fell short as injuries mount at receiver, defensive tackle and kicker.
The Los Angeles Rams fell to 2-4 after an 18-16 home loss to the Arizona Cardinals on October 18, leaving coach Sean McVay facing another narrow defeat and a growing injury list, according to the Associated Press. Arizona won on a 43-yard field goal as time expired, after Los Angeles had taken a 16-15 lead with 47 seconds left.
The Rams’ three most recent losses have come by a combined nine points, the AP reported: two were decided in the final seconds of regulation and the other in overtime against Buffalo six days before the Cardinals game. Those close results have left Los Angeles with little room for further defeats if it hopes to reach the playoffs.
McVay takes responsibility for Rams’ energy
McVay said Monday that the Rams would keep fighting and learn from the difficult stretch. He said their energy, edge and consistency had fallen short of what he expected, and took responsibility for getting the team ready to play. ‘I feel tremendously responsible,’ he said, according to the AP.
The Cardinals held the ball for an 8-minute, 35-second drive to open the second half and another scoring drive lasting more than eight minutes in the fourth quarter, according to the Rams’ game recap. Los Angeles moved ahead late before Arizona’s final field goal reversed the result.
The AP reported that receiver Puka Nacua, who had caught 17 passes the previous week, received only three targets against Arizona before the Rams’ final drive. The Rams’ defense allowed no touchdowns on five Arizona trips inside the red zone, but Los Angeles had only eight sacks through six games, the NFL’s second-fewest total, according to the AP.
Injuries complicate the Rams’ next game
Receiver Davante Adams is expected to miss at least six weeks with a hamstring injury, the AP reported. Defensive tackle Poona Ford is out for the season with a triceps injury, while fellow defensive tackle Kobie Turner is on injured reserve with a groin injury and expected to miss a few games. Those absences leave the Rams with decisions to make on both sides of the ball before their trip to Las Vegas.
The Rams will also need a third kicker in three games after Blake Grupe suffered a season-ending knee injury while making a tackle on a kickoff return against Arizona. Myles Garrett will not return to practice this week and is set to miss a sixth consecutive game, according to the AP.
Before the Rams travel to Las Vegas, they must identify a receiver to replace Adams, sign a kicker and decide who will take extra defensive-line snaps, the AP reported. McVay described the situation as a difficult challenge and said the team would ‘lean in.’
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Sources and context
- Rams are running out of explanations for poor start. They're also nearly out of chances to fix itAssociated Press (republished by Yahoo Sports)
- Game Recap: Rams fall to Cardinals 18-16 at SoFi StadiumLos Angeles Rams
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