The Los Angeles Rams escaped Philadelphia with a 24-20 win and a 2-2 record on Sunday, with their special teams and penalty issues again making the path far harder than it needed to be. The Rams survived because their defense delivered late stops and the offense produced two fourth-quarter touchdown drives, not because they played a clean game.
Kicker Harrison Mevis missed a 48-yard field goal in the third quarter and later kicked the ball out of bounds after Kyren Williams cut the deficit to three. Rams punter Ethan Evans also had a 51-yard punt returned 41 yards, setting up a Philadelphia Eagles touchdown two plays later. The Rams were penalized eight times for 100 yards, including penalties that erased two explosive plays in the second half.
Mevis remains the Rams’ active kicker and is 5-for-7 on field-goal attempts through four games. He made his other attempt Sunday from 40 yards, but the miss and the kickoff penalty put more pressure on a team that had already surrendered short fields through turnovers and coverage trouble.
Locked On Rams host Gavin Carlson argued that the special teams lapses have become a recurring problem rather than a one-game blip. Co-host Travis Rodgers went further, saying, “Everything is bad,” after running through the Rams’ kicking, punting, coverage and return concerns. Rodgers’ larger point was that a roster capable of winning with offense and defense cannot keep conceding field position and points in a third phase.
The penalties carry the same risk. Los Angeles outgained Philadelphia 415-172, yet trailed 20-10 late in the third quarter. That gap came from two Matthew Stafford interceptions, the punt return, Mevis’ missed field goal and the flags. A veteran roster coached by Sean McVay has enough margin to recover from one or two self-inflicted mistakes. It cannot count on recovering from all of them every week.
The next test comes Monday, Oct. 12, when the Rams host the Buffalo Bills at SoFi Stadium. Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen presents a far less forgiving opponent if the Rams again hand away field position, erase productive plays with penalties or leave points on the field.
Rams News and Notes
– Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula received credit from Carlson and Rodgers for a major shift against Philadelphia. The hosts said the Rams blitzed on 89% of third downs after entering the game near a 33% rate, helping hold the Eagles to an 0-for-12 showing on third down. That aggression helped Los Angeles overcome the short fields created elsewhere.
– Rookie tight end Max Klare played only one offensive snap against Philadelphia. Rodgers said young tight ends often need time to absorb the demands of McVay’s offense, and the Rams’ official roster still lists Klare as an active tight end.
More on the Los Angeles Rams
- Did Tyler Higbee’s Heroics in Philadelphia Turn the Rams’ Season Around?
- Are the Cowboys Suddenly the Favorites in the NFC East?
- Rams Assistants’ Run-In With Eagles Fans Leaves Sean McVay With an Awkward Cleanup
- NFL to Announce Puka Nacua Punishment Decision After Rams Incident
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