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"We couldn't tackle,' isn't good enough in Rams rout in Week 2 loss to Cardinals

Coach McVay was openly frustrated in his post-game press conference. But where can the Rams go from here?

By Bret Stuter

Los Angeles Rams v Arizona Cardinals, Kyler Murray
Los Angeles Rams v Arizona Cardinals, Kyler Murray / Ric Tapia/GettyImages
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Was this a trap game?

Was this a 'trap game'? In retrospect, it held all of the tell-tale conditions of one. The Rams were coming off a slight but hugely disappointing loss on the road against the Detroit Lions, last year's opponent in the NFL Playoffs who won by one point. And in Week 3, the Rams will face an NFC West opponent who everyone considers a favorite to represent the NFC In Super Bowl LIX.

Sandwiched between two powerhouse teams, the Rams had to face the Arizona Cardinals, a team that the Rams has dominated for years. Both teams entered the game with a record of 0-1. And the results of the game are optimistically described as the Rams appearing sluggish, flat-footed, confused, and outplayed. If you want to be harsher, you have the option to add other descriptive terms.

The Rams are not this bad. The Cardinals are not this good. Don't take my word for it. Just revisit this game at the Week 6 BYE and see where the two teams are. The Rams could struggle, but the Cardinals will not suddenly explode into a winning streak. The Cardinals host the Detroit Lions in Week 3. The Rams host the San Francisco 49ers in Week 3. Both the Rams and Cardinals will likely lose.

The more the emotions subside, the more I gravitate towards leaning into the 'trap game' narrative. But even that explanation comes with concerns and perils.

For example, if the explanation is that the team was caught looking ahead to the San Francisco 49ers in Week 3, that exposes the coaching staff's inability to keep the young team focused on the current opponent. And we had a lot of options to aid this team, even after the team struggled early in the game. But, no adjustments occured. Did the team not even consider the possibility that a just formed offensive line would struggle?

It's just one loss. And the Rams started the 2023 NFL season with a record of 3-6 before skyrocketing to 10-7. So the Rams can still play to a 3-4 record and match last season. So there is still hope.

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