Matthew Stafford just said quiet part out loud after crushing loss vs Eagles

Post-game interviews are always fun to watch after a win. But Los Angeles Rams fans know the press conferences after a grueling loss tend to offer even more. Players and coaches step up to the podium without their pride-and-confidence armor on, and that often leads to truth bombs rising to the surface.

This was a tale of two games. Up 26-7 in the second half, LA was buoyed by a smothering defense and an efficient offense. The visitors simply needed to control the football and run out the clock to pull off the upset. But then the defense collapsed, and the offense found NFL officiating turning hostile. Quarterback Matthew Stafford addressed it all after the game:

The ears of many who saw or heard his postgame comments perked up when he mentioned “doing the stuff the right way.” After a week full of discourse around the Philadelphia Eagles’ Tush Push controversy, was that a subtle jab at the NFL’s most polarizing play? Even the broadcast booth highlighted repeated offsides by Eagles linemen throughout the game. No flags flew. No penalties were called. The NFL has spoken, and it clearly loves the drama.

Matthew Stafford and Rams offense must regroup after Week 3

Through three games, the Rams offense has exploded for points in just four quarters and gone silent in eight. That’s not a good trend, and it’s not improving. After a strip sack early in the second half of Week 3 led to a touchdown pass from Stafford to Kyren Williams, the offense failed to score again.

The offense is struggling because Stafford is struggling to connect with wide receiver Davante Adams. The pair has managed 221 receiving yards and two touchdowns, but just 13 receptions on 29 targets, a completion rate of 44.8 percent. Defenses will accept that readily.

The offense is ruled by wide receiver Puka Nacua and Williams. That’s not just because they’re the only productive weapons, but because they’re the only ones getting meaningful workloads. Running back Blake Corum has 99 yards on just 14 carries, averaging a phenomenal 7.1 yards per carry.

Receivers not named Adams or Nacua have caught 21 of 31 passes for 193 yards and three touchdowns, nearly a 68 percent completion rate. The evidence suggests that other offensive weapons can deliver if given the chance.

The team has played three games. Not one offensive rookie has touched the football. The only rookies getting any work are outside linebacker Josaiah Stewart and defensive tackle Ty Hamilton.

The time to prepare rookies for the NFL Playoffs is now. It’s fair to say some games are too competitive to entrust to rookies. But a first-place team faces a nonstop stream of competitive games. If rookies never play, they never improve.

The team rose from the ashes in both 2023 and 2024 to put together a winning streak that carried them into the postseason. With just one road loss, this team is still a contender. But doing stuff the right way must include meting out opportunities to more players.

The offense doesn’t boast a Tush Push controversy. But there may be untapped talent on the bench that has yet to step foot onto the football field. Matthew Stafford may be onto something here. Now, it’s simply a matter of time until fans see how the team responds.

As always, thanks for reading.

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