Rams now have to rebound from adversity

Nov 20, 2017 - 10:17 PM THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. -- The Los Angeles Rams lost their first game in more than a month on Sunday to the Vikings.

The key now is making sure it was a one-game thing rather than a multiple-game slide.

They stand at 7-3, in first place in the NFC West pending Monday's game between the Seahawks and Falcons, but with games looming against the Saints, Eagles, Seahawks and Titans, among others, their road to the postseason remains treacherous.

Putting the loss behind them quickly and refocusing on the rest of the season is paramount.

"We are a good team. We are built for games like this," quarterback Jared Goff said. "We didn't play well (Sunday) at all. It'll be good to see what this adversity will do to our team. We've responded to every little bit of adversity we've faced so far and I expect no different, but it'll be good for us for sure."

It didn't help on Sunday that the Rams lost starting cornerback Kayvon Webster to concussion protocol and then lost backup Nickell Robey-Coleman with a thigh injury, forcing Blake Countess and Dominique Hatfield into duty. The results were about as expected, with the Vikings going right at the two young reserves.

If Webster and Robey-Coleman are out for an extended time, that's a problem.

"We expect the guys, if they are asked, to step up and step in; we have confidence in those players," said Rams head coach Sean McVay. "You see why they have some great playmakers on the perimeter and they did a good job making plays today. Certainly, it makes it difficult when you lose Nickell and when you lose Kayvon, but we have a lot of confidence in some of those younger corners to step up and contribute and compete the right way."

All the Rams' goals are still very much within reach. The key now is getting them all back in focus after a tough loss.

"I think each game presents different challenges and different opportunities to look at yourself (for) improvement and things you felt like you did well," said McVay. "(Sunday) we played against a very good football team. They're 8-2 for a reason. They did a good job today; they outplayed us. It's one game and now we have an opportunity to look at ourselves and see what we can do to respond. So far this year when we have faced that adversity, I love the way our team and our coaching staff has responded. While we do have a lot of respect for the Vikings, we have to look at that game and then move forward.

"It's about getting ready for the New Orleans Saints because every game counts for one. Every week entails a lot of different challenges and certainly this week, there were a lot of challenges. You see why they are a very complete football team that is good in all three phases and now we're going to be facing a very similar opponent in the New Orleans Saints that will present a great challenge for us coming in to L.A."

--Wide receiver Cooper Kupp, a rookie from Eastern Washington, has been a steady, dependable player this year but was the victim of two rookie mistakes that cost the Rams dearly.

He fumbled the ball inside the Vikings 1-yard line with the Rams on the verge of going up 14-7 and then dropped a catchable pass in the second half that cost the Rams a first down and field position.

"It's tough. Obviously, there are plays that I want back and plays I wish I would have made," Kupp said. "I think we're a better team than what we were. I think I'm a better player than what I showed out there. We have to go and learn from it and not let things linger. We're going to watch the film, learn from it and move on and be ready for New Orleans next week."

The Rams will keep an eye on Kupp to make sure a notoriously conscientious player doesn't beat himself up over the mistakes.

"He is hard on himself, but he is a great player. He makes smart plays and does more little things that go unnoticed and he can't be down on himself," quarterback Jared Goff said. "It's a long season, and he makes so many plays that I am not worried about him."

--Defensive lineman Aaron Donald had a frustrating day in that he created pressure on Vikings quarterback Case Keenum but could never get him to the ground. Keenum, by keeping plays alive with his feet and avoiding the rush, was able to make the Rams pay with some big plays downfield.

"Offensive line couldn't block one-on-one," a frustrated Donald said. "Case just did a good job of moving around in the pocket.

"It (stunk)," Donald added. "You don't lose in a while and you definitely get that feeling again. Definitely down, but just have to come back to work, fix what you did wrong, and try to do better."

And no, Donald wasn't in any mood to visit with Keenum, the Rams' former quarterback.

"I had nothing to say. He kept doing too much running," Donald said. "I didn't want to talk to Case."

NOTES: CB Kayvon Webster left the game and was put into concussion protocol. ... CB Nickell Robey-Coleman left the game with a thigh injury. ... WR Robert Woods led the team in receptions (eight) and yards (81) on Sunday, but left with a shoulder injury.



REPORT CARD VS. VIKINGS

--PASSING OFFENSE: C -- Jared Goff wasn't terrible while throwing for 225 yards, but he also wasn't the dynamic player we've seen most of this year. Meanwhile, Cooper Kupp fumbled inside the Vikings' 1-yard line as the Rams were about to go up 14-7 and let a would-be first-down completion slip through his hands.

--RUSHING OFFENSE: C-minus -- The Rams managed just 45 yards rushing on 17 carries, partly due to the Vikings stuffing them but also the Rams abandoning the run trying to play catch-up in the second half. It was incumbent on the Rams to establish a run game to take the Vikings' crowd out and support Jared Goff, but that never happened.

--PASS DEFENSE: C -- Case Keenum threw for 280 yards and a touchdown and continually made plays with his feet to buy extra time. The big blow came on Keenum's 65-yard pass to Adam Thielen in the second half. Granted, the Rams were down to their fourth and fifth cornerbacks due to injuries, but they had to do better.

--RUSH DEFENSE: D -- The Rams have been just OK against the run all year, and it killed them on Sunday as they let the Vikings run for 171 yards in an abysmal effort. The Rams were manhandled at the line of scrimmage and had little support in the back end as the Vikings continually broke off positive-yardage runs to control the clock and pace of the game.

--SPECIAL TEAMS: C -- The Rams were not able to get K Greg Zuerlein involved, and punter Johnny Hekker had just an OK day -- for him. Be it due to lack of chances or execution, a unit that's been lights out all year was pretty mundane against the Vikings.

--COACHING: C -- The Rams began the game with a touchdown drive, but it was all downhill after that. The defense hung in there, but eventually caved against the run and was done in by the big-play Vikings. The Rams' offense did not react well to the noise level at U.S. Bank Stadium, and it cost them dearly. Offensively and defensively, the Rams simply weren't sharp enough to compete in a big game.