There’s an age-old adage in sports activities: Never let a staff beat you twice.
Well, the Los Angeles Rams apparently never got the memo because not only did they lose to the Arizona Cardinals on the scoreboard on Sunday afternoon, but also on the damage report that was revealed on Monday.
The Cardinals delivered a humiliating 18-16 defeat that dropped the Rams to 2-4 and into last place in the NFC West. Then, less than 24 hours later, they were dealt another brutal blow when head coach Sean McVay revealed an avalanche of accidents that was by some means more devastating than the remaining rating.
Newly signed kicker Blake Grupe tore his ACL making a touchdown-saving deal with after another particular groups protection breakdown.
Star receiver Davante Adams ruptured his semitendinosus close to his left knee and faces surgical procedure and a six-to-10-week absence. Nose deal with Poona Ford ruptured his triceps and is completed for the season, while defensive finish Kobie Turner suffered a groin pressure that will sideline him for several weeks.
Add these names to a rising damage listing that includes Myles Garrett, Terrance Ferguson and Trent McDuffie, and the Rams now look more like a MASH unit than a staff with Super Bowl aspirations.
Let’s face it, if there were ever a time to burn sage inside SoFi Stadium and carry out an exorcism, this might be it. Between the Rams’ misfortunes and the Chargers’ 0-6 begin, issues could not get any worse for NFL groups in Los Angeles.
Davante Adams (17) of the Los Angeles Rams lies injured at SoFi Stadium. Getty Images
“It’s unfortunate we will miss those guys and what they bring on the field,” tight finish Tyler Higbee said. “But injuries are part of the game. At the NFL level, everyone is getting paid to do their job. It has to be a next man up mentality.”
At some level, the phrase “next man up” stops sounding inspirational and begins sounding like a determined plea for wholesome our bodies.
Safety Quentin Lake echoed that sentiment, emphasizing the significance of preserving injured teammates concerned while getting ready their replacements.
“It’s now next man up, guys are going to be able to come in and make an impact,” Lake said.
Quentin Lake #37, Kobie Turner #91 of the Los Angeles Rams, Nate Landman #53, and Matthew Stafford #9 of the Los Angeles Rams stand on the subject during the coin toss at SoFi Stadium. Getty Images
Let’s just come proper out and ask what everyone is pondering: Is the Rams season already over?
Honestly, there’s a compelling argument that it is.
This roster was constructed to win a Super Bowl, not survive a warfare of attrition. Its biggest energy was elite expertise concentrated at important positions. Now these stars are disappearing quicker than McVay can substitute them.
Worse, the Rams haven’t merely been unfortunate. They’ve been undisciplined, inconsistent and often downright incompetent.
The disastrous journey planning before their opener in Australia, the dealing with of Garrett’s knee, the missed kicks, the particular groups breakdowns and the weekly parade of self-inflicted penalties have all contributed to this mess.
Even questionable late-game officiating involving Josh Wallace in two losses can not excuse everything that occurred before these decisive moments.
“We’ve taken some shots this year and we have to be able to get up and keep swinging,” McVay said Monday.
That sounds admirable. But can they really do it?
Rams Super Bowl path still clear
That is where this season becomes fascinating.
The Rams still have 11 video games remaining, 4 against NFC West opponents, and a probably manageable stretch of opponents with shedding information over their next 4 video games. The NFC playoff race is hardly overflowing with unbeatable groups.
Remember 2023? That Rams staff began 3-6, carried modest expectations and won seven of its remaining eight video games to attain the playoffs. The 2024 staff began 1-4 before advancing to the divisional spherical.
They are 2-4 this 12 months, but with three Wild Card spots out there, and the NFC trying largely like a dumpster fireplace, just reaching the playoffs is not loopy tough to attain.
If they do get into the dance, there is a likelihood they would open up at either the NFC East or NFC South winner. Currently, that would be the New York Giants and Carolina Panthers.
Los Angles would be highway favorites in both of these potential matchups.
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) and head coach Sean McVay speak on the sideline before an NFL soccer recreation against the Arizona Cardinals at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. Los Angeles Times via Getty Imag
The method isn’t difficult, although executing it definitely will be.
McVay must cease ready until desperation forces Stafford into two-minute mode before his offense begins functioning. Defensive coordinator Chris Shula must compensate for the losses of Ford and Turner while tightening the center of the subject. Special groups coordinator Bubba Ventrone wants to repair a unit that has become a weekly legal responsibility. And the backups that are now being thrust into beginning roles must become essential contributors rather than placeholders.
McVay knows the duty begins with him.
“We can’t wait until the very end to play our best,” he admitted Monday.
He’s proper. The Rams no longer have the luxurious of taking part in 5 minutes of championship-caliber soccer and anticipating it to erase 55 minutes of errors.
According to PlayoffStatus.com, their postseason probabilities are presently at 22% and that’s before the announcement of Monday’s rash of accidents.
Those aren’t encouraging odds, but they aren’t zero.
If the Rams can tread water over the next month, get Ferguson and Turner back, finally welcome Garrett and Adams into the lineup, and enter December within hanging distance of a wild-card berth, there’s still a path ahead.
Perhaps the disappearance of Super Bowl expectations will even liberate a staff that has seemed burdened by them.
Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay speaks at a information convention after an NFL soccer recreation against the Arizona Cardinals in Inglewood, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. AP Photo/Gregory Bull
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford speaks at a information convention after an NFL soccer recreation against the Arizona Cardinals in Inglewood, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. AP Photo/Gregory Bull
McVay supplied the only cheap message Monday.
“Life goes on. This season goes on.”
The Rams aren’t mathematically eradicated. Their championship window hasn’t formally slammed shut. But the next 4 or 5 weeks will decide whether this is a outstanding comeback story or the starting of a lengthy, depressing march toward January.
To McVay’s level, there’s actually only two choices shifting ahead:
They can hold swinging, or they can lastly succumb to the weight of everything that’s gone flawed so far.
Either approach, the Rams are about to uncover what they’re actually made of.
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