Sean McVay’s Los Angeles Rams picked up their third loss of the season in Chicago against the Bears. The Rams struggled to finish long drives in the first half and made a series of mistakes coming out of halftime that defined the game and allowed the home team to get the victory.
McVay, in his post-game press conference, attributed the Rams’ first-half struggles to several miscues. One notable error was a blown protection by the offensive line that allowed Chicago Bears defensive end Montez Sweat to sack quarterback Matthew Stafford, resulting in a fumble that was recovered by the Bears.
Los Angeles Rams: Sean McVay Identifies The Games Defining Play
“We didn’t execute a protection that led to the sack that Sweat got.” McVay said, “I mean that should not occur on that protection. That’s something that just can’t happen and it did and it led to a turnover that ended up being really the difference in the [game], a key factor, the difference in the outcome [of the game.]”
It was the first play of the drive that occurred with 6:50 left in the first half. The Rams led 6-0. McVay play-actioned to Ronnie Rivers, and by then Sweat had beaten the double team of Colby Parkinson with chip help from Jordan Whittington of the right side. Right tackle Rob Havensteing was engaged in blocking defensive tackle Gervon Dexter. Rivers ran a route to the opposite side flat.
Speculation would lead one to ask why one of the league’s premier pass rushers was expected to be stopped by a tight end and a wide receiver, but, according to Sean McVay, that should not have occurred. It is impossible to know undoubtedly whose responsibility Sweat was, but Havenstein was the nearest big man. Although he had his handful going one-on-one with Dexter, who had already had a sack in the game.
Rivers certainly should have clocked Sweat lined up on the opposite side from his route.
The turnover set up the Bears on the Rams 16-yard line. Four plays later they took a one-point lead after scoring a touchdown and didn’t allow the Rams to retake the lead for the remainder of the game.
