Rams fans are too offended by reasonable criticism

Week 14 had the Los Angeles Rams lose an ugly game to the Chicago Bears 15-6, and fan reaction on social media was a mix of arrogance and pearl clutching at the criticism.

It’s been impossible to not notice how fans have reacted after the Los Angeles Rams flopped 15-6 at the Chicago Bears in Week 14. The Sunday night game was one that had NFL analysts wondering out loud if LA might have some issues, if their last two outings against NFC North opponents might signal problems for the NFC West champs, or if they just had one of those bad games in front of a national TV audience.

Hey, bad happens, even to the Rams.

Social media was lit up with with a few types of camps, like those who wondered what might be going on with the team, or with Sean McVay and his play calling, the lack of touches for running back Todd Gurley, or the two lackluster back-to-back performances by quarterback Jared Goff.

I mean, parish the thought that the Rams may have hit either a short term or lingering speed bump yet to play itself out.

Like I said, bad happens.

At 11-2, it’s probably premature to sound any alarm bells for the Rams, or for Goff who was the subject of some reasonable questions after the game in Chicago. However, the idea that criticism is anything from either not warranted or down right offensive, points to some arrogance that means a loud and deafening thud may happen if this season gets sideways for any number of reasons.

As such, sighs of relief that Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz is not playing could easily be interpreted as a sign that LA getting less than their opponents best in Week 15 is just what the Rams need to right the ship. I mean, if Los Angeles is “the goods” as 11-2 would indicate and echoed by the LA Twitterati, then the good feelz generated by an injury report is likely a sign that some doubt may have crept into the fragile psyche of fans with blinders on.

Hey look, it’s nearly the middle of December, 13 games in, and it’s only logical that some inherent flaws often overlooked by blowout wins and a sometimes soft schedule become a reasonable concern.

The Los Angeles Rams are a solid 11-2. If you’re a betting fan, you probably feel pretty good that Los Angeles wins the next three games and enters the playoffs with a record of 14-2.

But just keep in mind the Rams will have beaten the Eagles sans Wentz, the hapless Arizona Cardinals and the awful San francisco 49ers. That’s two cellar dwellers and a pretty mediocre team from the equally mediocre NFC East.

Also to date the Rams are 1-1 in shootouts against the New Orleans Saints on the road and the Kansas City Chiefs at home.

Something else to consider is the recent struggles against the decent defense of the Detroit Lions, and a seriously good defense in Chicago.

Bottom line, before scoffing at a seriously ugly loss against the Bears and rolling your eyes at the idea of pulling one out late in Detroit, consider there might be something to taking a moment to wonder about just how solid that 11-2 may, or may not be.

Just sayin’.