LOS ANGELES — After the Los Angeles Rams misplaced to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 3, Sean McVay addressed his group within the guests locker room at Lincoln Monetary Area.
The Rams misplaced 33-26 after main 26-7 early within the third quarter. And after that sport, broad receiver Davante Adams mentioned McVay instructed the group that they might “discover out who we’re on account of a loss like this.”
“We have proven so much what it takes to be one of many high groups on this league,” he mentioned of McVay’s message. “However it does not simply occur simply since you bought the fellows. You bought to play like that in fourth quarters.”
That Week 3 loss is much from the one time the Rams have misplaced a sport they as soon as appeared to have command of. In Week 16, the Rams had been on their option to beating the Seattle Seahawks and taking a considerable lead within the NFC, however L.A. went from a 30-14 lead within the fourth quarter to a 38-37 extra time loss.
However it’s due to these losses that McVay believes the Rams had been in a position to come again within the fourth quarter towards the Carolina Panthers within the wild-card spherical of the playoffs — and maintain them off to win 34-31 and advance.
“What was the distinction the opposite day? We discovered a means, proper?” McVay mentioned. “Here is the factor I’d say: The enemy has a say, and that has been the place we expect our scars will be our strengths.”
In final weekend’s sport towards the Panthers, the Rams scored the primary two touchdowns to go up 14-0 early within the second quarter.
“What I used to be happy with is that we discovered a option to end,” McVay mentioned. “There have been some cases that we have leaned into that we established leads, and we weren’t in a position to maintain that momentum and make these vital performs to be the distinction.
“That was the optimistic takeaway from the opposite day, despite the fact that I believe that we are able to play so much higher and I anticipate us to play so much higher.”
Rams outdoors linebacker Jared Verse pointed to what he realized from that loss to the Eagles, saying, “I believed we bought happy, particularly after the start of the third quarter.”
Defensive finish Kobie Turner mentioned “momentum is a really actual factor,” pointing to the best way Carolina was in a position to rating simply earlier than halftime to take a 17-14 lead.
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford isn’t any stranger to the fourth-quarter comeback, sending Los Angeles to the divisional spherical of the playoffs with a game-winning landing go with 38 seconds remaining at Carolina.
Stafford’s 4 game-winning drives within the fourth quarter or extra time of a playoff sport are double another Rams quarterback within the Tremendous Bowl period (since 1966), per ESPN Analysis. Professional Soccer Corridor of Famer Kurt Warner had two over that span.
Stafford mentioned whereas the “emotion” of getting again right into a sport and having an opportunity to come back again will be “nice,” there’s additionally the problem that “you must go on the market and execute.”
“I really feel such as you’re by no means out of a sport till the clock’s over or there’s simply clearly not going to be sufficient time,” Stafford mentioned. “But when there’s time on the clock, I really feel nice about it.”
Going out and executing could be extra key given the group the Rams will face the Chicago Bears within the divisional spherical Sunday (6:30 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock). Bears quarterback Caleb Williams led his group on seven game-winning drives this season, which ties him with Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix for probably the most within the NFL this season, per ESPN Analysis.
“They are going to maintain going,” Verse mentioned of Chicago’s willpower. “It does not matter in the event that they’re down, it does not matter in the event that they’re up, they will maintain pushing.”
Within the wild-card spherical, the Bears scored 25 factors within the fourth quarter to beat the Inexperienced Bay Packers, marking the biggest comeback in postseason historical past, in response to ESPN Analysis.
“In a means, I really feel like this sport is poetic,” Turner mentioned. “Having a group that’s so good at with the ability to shut out and discover a option to come away with a win and having that be one of many issues that we have struggled with this 12 months. And it is like, if we are the group that I imagine that we’re, if we are the group that this complete group believes that we’re, then we’ll discover a means to have the ability to shut it out within the fourth quarter and that is going to propel us to no matter it’s that may come subsequent.
“But when we get into that state of affairs [with a lead], it is all proper, how will we use all of these items that we have realized and that we have utilized? … Now how will we use that as an impetus to have the ability to go and do what we wish to do? “
However whereas the Rams are conscious of the success their divisional-round opponent has had coming again late in video games, McVay mentioned the main focus is extra on taking part in “nice for 60 minutes.”
And whereas the coach mentioned “you may take some confidence” from how the Rams got here again towards the Panthers, McVay additionally mentioned Los Angeles might be striving for that “constant execution” towards the Bears on Sunday.
“Perhaps this week is the week,” McVay mentioned.
