The Los Angeles Rams have lost four games in a row for the first time under Sean McVay after losing 27-20 to the New Orleans Saints in Week 11. The Rams have fallen to 3-7 on the season and their hopes of crawling into the playoffs have seemingly dissipated.
Injuries have plagued the reigning Super Bowl champions and McVay is desperately trying to duct tape canyon-sized holes on the current roster. There is only so much you can do when you endure the number of injuries that Los Angeles has this season.
With another loss in the books for the Rams, here are six takeaways from Sunday’s loss to the Saints on the road.
1
The Rams had their best rushing performance of the season
If there are any silver linings from Sunday’s loss, one of them is the fact that the Rams were able to have success running the football. Throughout the entire season, much has been made about the team’s inability to have consistency on the ground.
But in the loss to the Saints, the Rams rushed for a season-high 148 yards on 30 attempts. Cam Akers and Kyren Williams were the most explosive backs for the Rams as they combined for 97 yards on 21 attempts. Bryce Perkins also carried the ball five times for 39 yards in relief of Matthew Stafford.
2
Injuries continue to plague the Rams
Speaking of Stafford, the veteran quarterback exited Sunday’s game with a concussion. With Stafford already missing last week’s contest after being placed in the league’s concussion protocol, the Rams didn’t take any chances by putting him back into the games.
Besides Stafford, Ty Nsekhe also left the game due to an injury in the first half. The Rams and McVay aren’t going to make any excuses, but injuries continue to be a common theme for Los Angeles. The Rams have reached a point where they might want to shut down some players for the rest of the season.
3
Tutu Atwell is capable of stretching the field
Cooper Kupp recently underwent surgery for an ankle ailment and he’s expected to miss 6-8 weeks. With Kupp sidelined for the Rams, the other wide receivers on the roster will get plenty of opportunities to showcase their abilities.
The selection of Tutu Atwell has received plenty of criticism, but the second-year wideout caught his lone target against the Saints for a 62-yard touchdown. Considering that the Rams have struggled to create big plays in the passing game, it makes sense for Atwell to see the field more down the final stretch of the regular season.
4
The defense couldn't get stops on 3rd down
Despite all the injuries and big plays allowed by the defense, the Rams still had a chance to win in Week 11. That being said, the defense struggled to get off the field on third downs, allowing the Saints to sustain a handful of drives that led to points.
While New Orleans converted only four of its 11 third downs, the Saints converted four of their first eight third downs. By the time the Rams got third-down stops late in the game, the contest was essentially over already.
5
Greg Gaines continues to improve as a pass rusher
It was an efficient day for Andy Dalton as he completed 21 of his 25 attempts on Sunday, but the Rams did create constant pressure on the Saints. Los Angeles tallied four sacks as a defense in Week 11 and Greg Gaines contributed two of them.
Gaines continues to evolve as a pass rusher in the interior as he’s now notched three sacks in his last three appearances this season. While he’s dealt with injuries this year, and he benefits from having Aaron Donald next to him, it’s a positive sign to see Gaines showing improvements in the pass-rushing department.
6
Rams couldn't keep Chris Olave in front of them
When it comes to slowing down the offense of the Saints, Alvin Kamara and Chris Olave are the two names to try to contain. While the Rams did a solid job slowing down Kamara, Olave finished with five receptions, 102 yards, and a touchdown.
The rookie wideout made plenty of big plays on Sunday, including a 53-yard touchdown catch where he ran right past Jalen Ramsey out of the slot. For a secondary that prides itself on not allowing chunk plays through the air, it failed to keep Olave in front of them in Week 11.
