The Rams have been trying to outrun their one fatal flaw all year, only to be burned by it at every critical turn.
The Rams have been trying to outrun their one fatal flaw all year, only to be burned by it at every critical turn.
So, of course, special teams were going to be their undoing Sunday in a 31-27 loss to the Seahawks in the NFC Championship game.
One lousy play, too.
But sometimes that is all it takes.
Xavier Smith raised his hand to signal a fair catch on Michael Dickson’s punt, then lost his balance as he tried to field it, only to cough it up for a fumble.
When Seahawks wide receiver Dareke Young fell on it at the Rams’ 17, the sinking feeling could be felt all the way from Seattle to Santa Monica.
Sure enough, on the very next play, Sam Darnold threw a strike to Jake Bobo for a touchdown and a 24-13 third-quarter lead.
Still a lot of football to be played, to be sure. But the Rams could never quite make up the difference, no matter how many shoulders Davante Adams or Puka Nacua offered up to carry them to the Super Bowl.
So now they sulk back to Los Angeles, as tightly buttoned up a team in every single phase as there is in the NFL.
Except for one key area that has tripped them up, harmed them and then ultimately killed them Sunday night.
It’s as bitter a pill to swallow as you can imagine, a star-studded team with Hall of Famers in Adams and Stafford and potentially Nacua. The best offense in the NFL, a top 10 defense.
