In the NFL, when a team loses, the head coach often gets plenty of credit, whether that’s fair or not. In a loss, the head coach typically gets heaps of blame, whether that’s fair or not. In Sean McVay’s latest press conference after his team’s latest loss to the San Francisco 49ers he makes one thing clear, “Put the blame on me.”
Don’t worry Coach, people will. But to be fair, McVay and his boys also get the chance to get right. This loss on Thursday night is one game out of 17. There’s plenty of time
to correct the course. McVay knows that, but he also knows things don’t get corrected by just talking about it. Action, work, diligence and more will be needed to get back in the win column.
Despite however tired McVay was or wasn’t, he gave a solid presser after the loss to the 49ers, and his words alone won’t fix all that the Rams need, but his intentions seem like a solid start.
Said McVay,
“You know there was a lot of things that didn’t go well. I think the first thing I look at is, ‘Where can I improve? Where can I put our players in better positions to have successful outcomes?’ I love that locker room, I love those guys, and this story is far from written. And I know there’s gonna be a lot of narratives that appropriately, you know, put the blame on me, and then we’ll move forward the right way.”
Coach speak, wishful thinking, saying a whole lot of nothing, call McVay’s response what you want, but what else can he say after that loss?
That the season is over? That one loss defines 2026 for the Rams? That the Rams stand no chance against the 49ers in their second matchup? That the Rams should leave the NFC West?
When you lose and your season is over, it’s time to start looking at next year. When you lose and your season is still going, it’s time to start preparing for the next game. The Rams need to show-up much improved for their next contest against the New York Giants, and they’ll need to find a way to win, or else McVay will be taking even more blame.
At a certain point taking accountability and saying that you will improve isn’t enough, but after one week into the season, it’s likely the best thing McVay can say.
Now, the Rams will get back to work, and everyone will wait to see how this team responds. Put the blame on McVay after this defeat, but be ready to give the young head coach plenty of credit, if he can turn this ship around.
We’ll all be watching.
