The Los Angeles Rams were hurt by multiple miscues in an overtime loss to the San Francisco 49ers that dropped them to 3-2 on the season.
Earlier in the fourth quarter before Kyren Williams’ costly fumble, Matthew Stafford connected with the running back on a game-tying, eight-yard touchdown pass.
The Rams would have taken a 21-20 lead if not for Joshua Karty’s extra point attempt getting blocked.
It brought back bad memories from Week 3, when Karty had two kicks blocked in the Rams’ 33-26 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, including a potential game-winning field goal.
The Rams’ kicking game has been shaky all season and head coach Sean McVay knows that the team needs to improve in this area if they want to accomplish their goals.
“Oh man, I wish it was just one thing,” McVay said the day after the Rams’ loss to the 49ers. “When you watch the protection, we have to fix it. It’s not one thing in particular.
“There are different locations, spots and people that have not executed the way that we’re capable of. We’ve got to consistently use better techniques. I thought we had a hold on it. I thought we did a good job against Indianapolis. I thought we had a good handle on it and clearly I was not right in that.
“We have to fix it. We have to go back to work, we have to get the right techniques, and we have to get the right people on there because that has been a killer for us and it’s cost us two games.”
As McVay noted, the Rams had no problems with their kicking operation against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 4.
However, it is clear they have some issues to address after another mistake that wound up costing them the game on Thursday Night Football.
Karty has made 9-of-his-12 field goal attempts this season, with his only non-blocked miss being a 53-yard attempt against the 49ers.
L.A. hasn’t done a good job blocking for him and that is something McVay will look to correct as the Rams prepare for a Week 6 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens.
Poona Ford & Byron Young defend Kyren Williams after fumbling in Rams’ loss to 49ers
After Kyren Williams fumbled the ball on what could have been a game-winning touchdown against the 49ers, he was visibly shaken up and had to be consoled by coaches on the sidelines.
The Rams still managed to even the score and send the game to overtime, only to lose when Williams was stuffed at the line of scrimmage on fourth down.
Poona Ford and Byron Young were among the Rams to defend Williams on social media after the 26-23 loss.
