The Rams went from nearly left for dead to media darlings, the team that nobody would want to play heading into the second half of the season.
A three-game winning streak aided that transformation. So did Matthew Stafford’s six touchdown passes in the previous two games.
Better hit the pause button.
The Rams might indeed find consistency on offense and become a contender for the NFC title.
Still, their performance on Monday night in a 23-15 defeat by the Miami Dolphins provided more questions than answers.
Such as: Why couldn’t the Rams score a touchdown?
That has happened only once — in a 2022 defeat by the San Francisco 49ers — in games Stafford has played in since the Rams traded for him 2021.
“Just negative plays at the wrong time,” Stafford said.
Coach Sean McVay watched his players give up sacks and commit turnovers and penalties that killed drives and forced the Rams to settle for five Joshua Karty field goals.
McVay apparently shared similar feelings as Rams fans as he watched the mistakes and the offensive inefficiency.
“Frustration,” he said, “just like everybody else.”
The loss dropped the Rams’ record to 4-5 going into Sunday’s game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium.
The defeat was a buzzkill for a Rams team that had rebounded from a 1-4 start to defeat the Las Vegas Raiders, Minnesota Vikings and Seattle Seahawks.
On a night when former Rams star lineman Aaron Donald watched from a luxury box, the Rams pressured Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. The Rams recorded three sacks, including one by rookie edge rusher Jared Verse that forced a fumble.
But the defense also gave up plays on key third downs.
“We executed well,” linebacker Michael Hoecht said, “but not quite enough.”
That was costly on a night when McVay, Stafford and the Rams offense could not solve a Dolphins defense that featured former Rams star cornerback Jalen Ramsey.
With the return of center Jonah Jackson and left guard Steve Avila, and Joe Noteboom starting at right tackle in place of injured Rob Havenstein, the Rams offensive line was close to full strength.
Stafford, however, was sacked four times, several on third downs that led to punts or field-goal attempts.
“There were a lot of things that were not in alignment with what we’re looking for,” McVay said, adding, “Too many things that, it just seemed like we were off, and never gave ourselves a chance.”
Stafford completed 32 of 46 passes for 293 yards, with an interception. Puka Nacua had nine receptions for 98 yards, and Cooper Kupp caught seven passes for 80 yards. But the Rams converted only three of 12 third downs.
“Tonight it was a little bit of this, a little bit of that,” Stafford said.
McVay was asked if the Rams were sloppy.
“Sloppy? Yeah,” he said. “There was some execution that has to be better.”
Along with a better mix of effective offense and defense.
“There wasn’t any sort of semblance of complementary football,” McVay said.
Against a Dolphins offense that featured Tagovailoa, the speedy Hill and more weapons, the defense gave the offense plenty of opportunities.
With eight games remaining, however, the Rams offense needs more work.
“When we’re flowing and we’re all on the same page I feel like we’re unstoppable,” Nacua said. “We’ve got to be on a better page together as a unit, and then being on the same page,” as Stafford.
On Monday, the Rams trailed from start to finish, falling behind 10-6 in the first half.
They blew an opportunity to cut the lead to one point on the first drive of the third quarter when Karty kicked an apparent 52-yard field goal but the play was nullified because of an illegal procedure penalty, and Karty’s 57-yard attempt was wide right.
The Dolphins took advantage, scoring on Tagovailoa’s one-yard touchdown pass to Tyreek Hill.
The Rams could not answer.
They don’t have much time to find solutions to their larger issues. They leave for New England on Saturday.
“Fortunately, it is a short week,” McVay said. “Sometimes these bad tastes you have in your mouth after a game like this, you say let’s go back to work.”
That’s the message his players preached.
“We can’t dwell on this and be like, ‘Oh, no. Woe is me,’” Verse said. “Nah. We’ve got to move on.”
