Packers safety Xavier McKinney intercepts a pass intended for the Rams’ Tutu Atwell in Week 5, when L.A. fell to 1-4. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
There is no sense of panic.
Not, at least, among the Rams.
They are 1-4. On the brink of possibly falling out of playoff contention.
But if desperation was entirely fitting for the situation, it also was notably absent this week as coach Sean McVay and his players prepared for Sunday’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders at SoFi Stadium.
It’s still early, it can be said: Not even a third of the Rams’ season is complete.
Read more: NFL Week 7 picks: Unbeaten records on line as Chiefs face 49ers and Vikings play Lions
So while several players noted a heightened sense of urgency on the practice field, it presented instead as quiet confidence in the locker room.
The Rams, after all, overcame a similar predicament last season. After a defeat by the Green Bay Packers, they entered the break in the schedule with a 3-6 record. They came out of it and won seven of their last eight games to make the playoffs.
“Nobody panicked,” edge rusher Byron Young said. “Nobody gave up — and that was the biggest thing. Nobody just said, ‘Oh well, the season’s over with.’
“It was more like, ‘This is an opportunity for us to come back from adversity.’”
As positive as the Rams’ attitude might be, there is no escaping reality. If they lose to the Raiders, they will be 1-5 heading into a “Thursday Night Football” game against the unbeaten Minnesota Vikings.
Only four teams in NFL history have started 1-5 and made the playoffs. Washington did it most recently in 2020 despite finishing 7-9.
“It would be lying if we said we didn’t want to start 5-0 — but we didn’t,” veteran linebacker Troy Reeder said. “And now … we’ve left less room for those flaws later in the year.
Rams linebacker Troy Reeder (51) says the slow start to the season has put the team in a bind. (Gregory Bull / Associated Press)
“But having…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/rams-urgency-ahead-raiders-game-100059766.html
Author : LA Times
Publish date : 2024-10-18 10:00:59
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.