The Los Angeles Rams gave away replica Super Bowl Championship rings ahead of their game against the Arizona Cardinals on Oct. 18.
The giveaway was meant to honor the five-year anniversary of the 2021 Super Bowl championship season, but the fake rings may have been symbolic of Sunday's game – given away by a team that was considered Super Bowl favorites before the start of the season.
The Rams fell to 2-4 on the season, with two of those losses coming in the span of the last seven days. Coach Sean McVay and the Rams dropped an NFC West game 18-16 Sunday after the Cardinals made a field goal as time expired.
While the Rams aren’t deserving of the status as Super Bowl favorites anymore, the team proved that it could still hang around with a championship-quality
team such as the Buffalo Bills. Los Angeles lost a close game to start the week against the Buffalo Bills, 37-34, in overtime on Monday Night Football.
Here’s where things are going wrong for the Rams after the first six games:
Can the Rams salvage the season?
The Rams will have a chance to reach the postseason, but it will require the team to turn things around and earn a victory as soon as next week.
It will likely take something similar to an 8-3 record through the Rams’ remaining 11 games on the schedule in order to be in contention for an NFC wildcard spot.
The Rams will have an upcoming four-game stretch on their schedule that could help make that goal achievable before having a bye week. The team will have just one home game during that span against the Los Angeles Chargers on Nov. 1. The Las Vegas Raiders (Oct. 25), Washington Commanders (Nov. 8) and the Cardinals (Nov. 15) will all host the Rams during that portion of the schedule.
Rams’ mistakes prove costly
The Rams will have to get out of their own way with penalties and costly mistakes that opponents have capitalized on.
“We won’t win a game if we don’t figure out how to not beat ourselves,” McVay told reporters after Sunday's game. “There were so many unforced errors and so many things that aren’t in alignment with what we want to do, specifically on the offensive side of the ball.”
The Rams were called for four penalties for 31 yards against the Cardinals.
“A lot of different guys are taking their turn and I've continued to talk about it and we've tried to be able to harp on it,” McVay said. “We have to be able to figure it out and I don't have those answers right now; otherwise, they would've been fixed.
“I have to do a better job. ... We've had some really critical errors at really unfortunate times, but that's what our narrative has been this year.”
One of the most notable penalties during the game came in the final minute of the fourth quarter as Rams cornerback Josh Wallace was called for a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty while attempting to tackle Cardinals receiver Jalen Brooks.
Brooks’ catch and Wallace’s penalty moved Arizona to their own 29-yard line during the eventual game-winning drive.
Fox Sports rules analyst Mike Pereira did not agree with the officials' call for the 15-yard penalty when talking about it on the broadcast, but the officials' ruling stood.
Rams’ offense comes together too late
Quarterback Matthew Stafford and receiver Puka Nacua helped piece together a late-game drive, leading the offense down the field for a potential game-winning touchdown drive.
The Rams used an eight-play, 86-yard touchdown drive that took 2:01 off the clock to secure the lead. Stafford found tight end Colby Parkinson for a five-yard touchdown play.
Punter Ethan Evans made the extra point attempt to take the 16-15 lead with 47 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.
The Rams’ defense held its own and helped keep Los Angeles in the game by forcing the Cardinals to score all of their points with six field goals in the game.
The Cardinals made the most of their opportunities during the final minute of the fourth quarter, as quarterback Jacoby Brissett found Brooks for a 21-yard catch on the first play of the eventual game-winning drive. Wallace’s unnecessary roughness penalty while attempting to tackle Brooks moved the Arizona to their own 29-yard line.
Chad Ryland made a 43-yard field goal to secure the victory.
Rams have issues with special teams
The Rams' special teams have been questionable this week.
The franchise decided to move on from Harrison Mevis, who missed two field goals, including one in the 37-34 overtime loss to the Buffalo Bills on Oct. 12.
Mevis had his field goal blocked in overtime, but McVay had stated earlier in the week that he believed the field goal looked like it would've missed anyway.
After releasing Mevis, the Rams signed kicker Blake Grupe off the New York Jets’ practice squad on Oct. 13.
Grupe's playing time was short-lived on Sunday, suffering an injury on a tackle attempt. He was seen after the game with a big brace on his right knee.
Grupe did provide the Rams with the early first-quarter lead, kicking a 44-yard field goal before his injury.
Punter Ethan Evans was asked to take over kicking responsibilities, including an extra point late in the fourth quarter.
Grupe’s injury will likely have the Rams searching for another kicker again this week.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Once Super Bowl favorites, can Rams salvage 2026 season after 2-4 start?
