The Los Angeles Rams had a playoff win in their grasp. Despite red-zone miscues and a defense being besieged by the Detroit Lions (for a half, anyway), the Rams had the Lions on the ropes.
But then Sean McVay decided to turtle at the game’s most critical moment. Now, the Rams are heading to the golf course.
After a controversial non-holding call on Puka Nacua, the Rams were still sitting in Detroit territory. Even on a long fourth-and-14, it was probably worth going for it with only roughly four minutes remaining because L.A. had just one timeout left (also thanks to McVay!). Instead, McVay had Ethan Evans punt the ball away, and the Rams never saw the ball again as their 2023 season officially came to a close.
Woof. A brutal decision that the math agrees with:
LAR decided to punt to DET from the DET 44 on 4th & 14 with 4:15 remaining in the 4th while losing 23 to 24.
With a Surrender Index of 29.05, this punt ranks at the 99.2nd percentile of cowardly punts of the 2023 season, and the 98th percentile of all punts since 1999.
— Surrender Index 90 (@surrender_idx90) January 15, 2024
I already thought the punt was silly, given the game situation. Now I see it apparently ranks in the 99th percentile of ill-advised punts over the entire season? Oh, my goodness. If that weren’t enough, the Rams settled for not one, not two, but three chip-shot field goals in the loss instead of putting the pedal to the metal. McVay coached scared all around, and the Rams’ last punt was the final cherry on top.
I have a feeling McVay will replay this sequence — including his awful timeout management and general lack of aggressiveness — in his head for a while. He and the Rams will have plenty of time to do so.
Fans blasted Sean McVay's cowardly decision to punt with the Rams' season on the line
going for it all on 3rd and long was just as dumb, take two plays to go for it there and you’re in field goal range at worst, really bad blunder by the rams https://t.co/Iw4eRLFi2i
— ben pfeifer (@bjpf_) January 15, 2024
Terrible decision by Rams and Sean McVay to punt so late in the game. They never saw the ball again https://t.co/Hs8s1y7NDu
— 𝐄𝐱𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐨𝐩𝐞 (@exavierpope) January 15, 2024
It’s amazing these multi million dollar coaches, McVay being one that has the “football genius” label, regularly make absolutely horrible decisions to take away their teams chances of winning https://t.co/jXJX9koiYX
— Beneath The Paint (@BeneathThePaint) January 15, 2024
There were multiple uncalled penalties on that last Rams play, but their decision to punt the ball is what’s actually going to lose them the game.
— Basketball Fan of maybe the Sixers (@drewhamm5) January 15, 2024
The Rams are not seeing the ball again, that punt was such a bad move… Have to know you have a single timeout and it isn't coming back
— Wedge Anchilles 🧊 (@RockChalkChief) January 15, 2024
That punt by the #rams made no sense.
— Michael K-B (@therealmikekb) January 15, 2024
It's goodnight Rams. In hindsight, with one timeout left, you don't punt.
— eric sondheimer (@latsondheimer) January 15, 2024
Sean McVay is honestly one of the worst game managers in the sport. That punt was insane. They’re never seeing the ball again
— The Pizza Charlatan (@ryanschock24) January 15, 2024
Fun story for Tuesday's show:
Sean McVay screwed up.
You had one timeout. You do not punt in that spot.
Trusting your defense not to give up a touchdown: fine.
Trusting your defense not to give up a first down: very very not fine.
— 𝕋𝕙𝕖 ℝ𝕠𝕓 𝔹𝕣𝕠𝕨𝕟 𝕊𝕙𝕠𝕨 (@TheRobBrownShow) January 15, 2024
