After falling to the Detroit Lions in Week 1, the Los Angeles Rams suffered a more decisive defeat on Sunday with a 41-10 loss against the Arizona Cardinals.
The Rams were very short-handed in the game as Puka Nacua, Alaric Jackson, Joe Noteboom, Steve Avila and Darious Williams all did not play due to injury or suspension.
The Cardinals, who were coming off a heartbreaking loss of their own, wasted no time by scoring three touchdowns in their first three possessions. They found the end zone five total times and punted only once in the game.
The Rams, on the other hand, looked out of sync from the start and were outplayed in every facet. “There’s no positives to take away from this one,” head coach Sean McVay said after the game.
As if being outgained by the Cardinals in yards, 489-245, wasn’t bad enough, the Rams lost Cooper Kupp at the end of the first half due to an ankle injury. The Pro Bowl wide receiver had a vintage performance in Week 1 and was expected to take on a bigger role with Nacua sidelined.
If Kupp needs to miss time himself, that leaves the Rams with even fewer playmakers going forward. The team is about to enter a critical part of their schedule that includes matchups against the San Francisco 49ers, Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers.
“This is the NFL. These are situations that unfortunately we have been in before, and I’ve gotta do a good job of figuring out how to navigate that and make sure that we’re proud of controlling the things that we can control, maximizing the situation and the circumstances that we’re placed in and…this is not a fun place to be in,” McVay said of where the team goes from here.
“As a competitor you guys know me, I mean this chaps me to no end…but it doesn’t do any good to sit here and dwell on it. What I’m not gonna do is pout about this shit. Alright? I’m gonna figure out how can I go respond in a manner that’s reflective of what I ask of our guys, and that’s exactly what guys are gonna see.”
Rams fall to 0-2 under Sean McVay for first time
The Rams dropped to 0-2 for the first time under McVay, so it will be interesting to see how the team responds next week against the 49ers.
Teams that begin a season with two consecutive losses historically do not reach the playoffs, but if any coach can overcome the odds, it is McVay.
The Rams started 3-6 last year and still advanced to the postseason, where they nearly upset the Lions in the NFC Wild Card round.
