Can the Los Angeles Rams get out of 1-3 gap and persevere like final season?

As Kobie Turner answered questions at his locker after one more loss, the Los Angeles Rams defensive deal with was requested how the workforce avoids worrying about its 1-3 document.

“I feel I am fortunate and blessed that going by means of what we did undergo final yr to the purpose the place, I do not know the way far we had been down, nevertheless it by no means mattered,” Turner mentioned.

“… So every week we’ll come out and put ourselves in the perfect place to go and choose up wins. And I feel as soon as it begins rolling, it will begin rolling.”

In 2023, the Rams had been 3-6 on the bye week earlier than profitable seven of eight video games to finish the season and make the playoffs. However though the Rams have that have from a yr in the past, this 2024 workforce could also be operating out of time to show the season round. The Rams’ subsequent alternative to search out out is once they host the 2-2 Green Bay Packers, who’ve quarterback Jordan Love again from harm, in Week 5 (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS).

Because the NFL went to a 17-game schedule in 2021, there have been 25 groups to start out 1-3. Solely three of these groups — the 2021 Steelers, 2021 Patriots and 2021 Eagles — made the playoffs, in response to ESPN Analysis.

Whereas some within the locker room have that have, head coach Sean McVay cautioned that each workforce is completely different and “yearly is a brand new yr.”

“You have to go earn it,” McVay mentioned. “That workforce did an important job of having the ability to keep within the struggle [and] play their greatest ball after the bye. That led to some continuity. I assumed we had been capable of construct as that season went on and I assumed we performed high quality soccer even when we weren’t all the time getting the outcomes. That is the factor that I need to see. I need to see us play high quality soccer on either side.

“…However this yr’s workforce has to determine discover that in them to have the ability to do these issues that that workforce did. The blokes that had been part of it, I feel can draw some confidence from it after which carry the opposite guys that possibly weren’t part of it with them to see if we give ourselves an opportunity.”

It was quarterback Matthew Stafford whose run on the finish the 2023 season was an enormous a part of why the Rams made the playoffs. From Weeks 11-28 (post-bye week), Stafford ranked third in passing yards per recreation (270.7) and was tied for third with 16 passing touchdowns.

In 4 video games this season, Stafford has thrown for 978 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. He has a QBR of 54.9. However he is achieved it with out his high two receivers for a lot of the season and a rotating offensive line resulting from harm.

The Rams’ offense is with out vast receivers Cooper Kupp (ankle) and Puka Nacua (knee) and beginning offensive linemen Steve Avila (knee) and Jonah Jackson (shoulder). Kupp won’t play towards the Packers, and whereas Nacua is eligible to return from injured reserve after the Rams’ Week 6 bye, the expectation is he’ll miss extra time as he recovers from a posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) sprain.

The Rams’ protection — a younger group with out Aaron Donald after he retired in March and led by new defensive coordinator Chris Shula after Raheem Morris was employed by the Atlanta Falcons — ranks thirty first in defensive DVOA.

“I feel an enormous a part of how we needed to play defensively was predicated on what we thought our offense can be,” McVay mentioned Monday. “These have impacts on the best way that you simply attempt to construct your workforce and issues of that nature, however the actuality is that is the circumstance and the scenario that we’re in.”

After the Rams’ 24-18 loss to the Chicago Bears on Sunday, McVay lamented the alternatives the offense left on the sphere, particularly within the purple zone.

“I do not assume we have executed very properly,” McVay mentioned.

“[We] did a extremely poor job of ending drives,” McVay mentioned. “… I assumed our protection performed wonderful from the leap, however for us to solely have six factors after the best way the blokes had been capable of transfer the soccer, we’ve got to do a greater job as soon as we get into placing distance of ending drives with touchdowns.”

The purple zone has been a battle for the Rams this season, particularly by means of the air, in response to ESPN Analysis. By way of 4 video games, the Rams rank thirtieth in completion proportion within the purple zone (36.4%) and thirty first in yards per dropback (1.56) and QBR (4.8). Los Angeles can be tied for the second-most sacks (3).

Total, the Rams rank twenty eighth in purple zone effectivity at 41%. They had been at 62% (tenth within the NFL) by means of 4 video games a yr in the past.

The Rams have discovered some success on the bottom within the purple zone, leaning on operating again Kyren Williams. In keeping with ESPN Analysis, L.A’.s eight dashing first downs and touchdowns on performs originating within the purple zone are tied for the seventh most within the league.

“There have been some good issues, however there was some actually uncharacteristic errors that we made as a workforce with reference to simply some psychological errors the place we left individuals free,” McVay mentioned. “And you may’t do this if you’ll be offense and constantly execute.”

However as McVay mentioned the Rams’ third loss in 4 video games, he once more hit on the workforce taking it week by week and “not going to do is experience the emotional curler coaster that this season will take you on.”

“Disenchanted for our group, however enthusiastic about testing our resolve like this season has already achieved in a handful of situations,” McVay mentioned.