It was supposed to be a tune-up. A chance to sharpen the mechanics and build momentum before the high-stakes pressure of the postseason.
Instead, the Los Angeles Rams walked onto the field in Week 17 and seemingly forgot they were a playoff team. Facing an Atlanta Falcons squad that had already been eliminated from contention, the Rams didn’t just
stumble; they completely face-planted, delivering thirty minutes of football that baffled observers and enraged fans.
The first half unfolded like a highlight reel for the opposition. Matthew Stafford, typically the steady veteran
presence under center, looked uncharacteristically rattled. He forced throws where windows didn’t exist, resulting in two costly interceptions.
The low point came swiftly. Jessie Bates III capitalized on one of Stafford’s errant passes, taking it all the way back for a touchdown—a play that sucked the energy right out of the Rams’ sideline.
Even when the offense managed to string together a drive, they lacked the finishing instinct. A critical possession inside the red zone ended not with points, but with a turnover on downs.
This performance raises immediate, uncomfortable questions for head coach Sean McVay. While “trap games” are a cliché in the NFL,
“There’s taking your foot off the gas and then…there’s whatever the Rams have delivered tonight. An absolute no show.” – Colin Cowherd
The Rams looked nothing like Super Bowl contenders. They looked like a team expecting a victory to simply be handed to them. In a league where parity is king, playing without urgency is a death sentence, and the Falcons
His criticism highlights the fear that the Rams haven’t just lost a half of football—they may have lost their edge at the worst possible time.