Matthew Stafford struggles with a game on the line in a way fans never expected

A Week 13 game on the road against the 7-6 Carolina Panthers was supposed to be business as usual for the 9-3 Los Angeles Rams. This was a heavily favored Los Angeles team that was supposed to roll over the Panthers easily. But from the early going, the Panthers defense made a statement.

After conceding an early touchdown, the Panthers defense created three turnovers, including one pick-six that would prove to be the difference in this one. While the entire team lost the game, the three turnovers proved to be far too much to overcome.

Ironically, the Panthers generated three turnovers in Week 12 and still lost the game. The difference? The San Francisco 49ers defense only allowed one field goal after turnovers, and generated two turnovers of their own. Matthew Stafford threw a pick-six in the first quarter. Imagine the expectation that the flawless performances by Matthew Stafford would come to such a hard halt in Week 13.

Rams ignored the run in a game set up perfectly for a rushing attack

The Rams rushed 20 times for 153 yards. But the way both Kyren Williams and Blake Corum were running with the football, the offense could have run 40 times in Week 13 and won handily. This game was not about physicality, but rather about outguessing the opponent. The Rams struggled to stop the Panthers offense, because it stuck with a pesky rushing attack.

The Panthers ran 40 times. The Rams ran 20 times. But the Panthers only outgained Los Angeles by 11 yards. And therein lies the rub. The team stuck with a passing attack that was well defended, while allowing Carolina to dictate the tempo of the game.

It's not unusual to stick with a quarterback who is red hot. But it makes sense to mix up strategies. And the failure to lift the burden off Stafford's shoulders was a huge mistake.

Fans love Matthew Stafford. Fans ought to love Stafford. But an offensive strategy that relies on one player to win every game is a mistake. No, one loss is not the end of the world. But what happens next is a huge fork in the road. Either LA learns from a humbling loss and mixes up the offensive plays better, or the team sticks with the tried and true and allows defenses to replicate what Ejiro Evero did in this one.

How can an offense that averages 7.2 yards per run lose? Stick with a passing game that leads to three turnovers.

As always, thanks for reading.