Poor play from Rams' special teams helped sink the ship vs. Broncos

The Los Angeles Rams did not want to lose momentum in a game where they carried a 16-0 lead into halftime. But their special teams are relentlessly putting them into bad situations. Bad special-teams decisions are a great way to let games slip through a team's fingers.

That's what happened to the Rams on the road.

The perpetrators were the usual suspects. Xavier Smith's ill-advised decision to return a punt from his own goal line gave the offense poor field position. That, in turn, created an opportunity for the Denver Broncos to score their first touchdown and a two-point conversion after the Rams went three-and-out and had to punt from deep in their own territory.

Later, another Ethan Evans boot that placed the Broncos at their own nine-yard line was negated by Emmanuel Forbes' unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for going out of bounds and re-entering the field of play. The second punt placed the Broncos at their own 48-yard line. That resulted in their second touchdown and two-point conversion.

Once again, poor special teams play contributed to a Rams loss.

Rams special teams have to turn the corner in Week 4

The Rams are dead last in kickoff returns, 19th in punt returns, 24th in gross punting yards, and 25th in net punting. They are 24th in field goals made (13th in extra points).

Individually, no ranking is fatal. The problem is when miscues begin to compound during a game.

Kicker Harrison Mevis was the star of special teams. He kicked everything: four field goals and two extra points to put 14 points on the scoreboard. Evans was a bit more suspect. While punting four times for 179 yards, he averaged just 35.5 net yards.

The Rams' punt coverage allowed a 28-yard return. Their kickoff coverage unit allowed a 31-yarder. In a game decided by four points and tainted by bad officiating. the Horns did not themselves any favors.

Death by paper cuts? Sure. There have not been many ghastly blunders. But LA is proving once again that this team has work to do on special teams. While the efforts are not as egregious as last season, so far the results are the same.

As always, thanks for reading.

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