LA Rams hope extinguished quickly. Saints score, Stafford out

Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The LA Rams do not have bad luck. This team has the worst luck of all time. After taking a halftime lead of 14-10, the Rams’ defense wilted and allowed 14 points in the Saints’ first two second-half possessions. Pouring injury to insult, the Rams allowed just one sack. But that sack resulted in Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford heading to the medical tent. Early indications are that Stafford shows symptoms of a concussion and is now being extensively examined and evaluated.

That resulted in the Rams sending third-string quarterback Bryce Perkins onto the field, down by a score of 24-17. So far in this game, the Rams have now lost offensive tackle Ty Nsekhe with a knee injury, defensive tackle A’Shawn Robinson with a knee injury, and quarterback Matthew Stafford to be evaluated for a concussion.

The Rams have struggled in the second half all season, and this game will extend the trend.  In the second half in this one, the LA Rams have scored just three points, while the New Orleans Saints have scored 17 points.

The Rams have never been this bad under head coach Sean McVay. Nor have the Rams ever lost four consecutive games under Coach McVay’s watch.

Second half slump

The ability of the Rams to run the football dissipated in the second half. With nine rushes for 47 yards in the first half, RB Cam Akers was almost certain to break the 65-yard rushing barrier, a ceiling that no running back has been able to overcome this season. But with six minutes remaining, the LA Rams down by 10 points, and the New Orleans Saints offense on the field, there is less and less hope that the 65 yards will be broken this week, even with a huge first half.

The loss will sink the LA Rams to 3-7, and while not mathematically eliminated just yet, they are clearly not going anywhere. No Stafford. No Kupp. No OL consistency. The Rams’ injuries are too much to overcome now. If the team hadn’t reason to give younger players looks before, the team certainly does now.

There will be no miraculous signings this season. No front-office voodoo will power these Rams. This team will take quite a few lumps this season. As far as victories? They will come few and far between. I love the LA Rams, but you can’t be pleased with the team right now.

The Rams have never lost four straight since HC Sean McVay has taken over, until this game. But that record will not stand long, as the team will travel to face the Kansas City Chiefs next.

Yikes! The more things change, the more things stay the same.  The LA Rams can rationalize this loss in so many ways. But the final score remains the same.  Another loss, this time by a score of 27-20

Schedule