From the littlest plays to the biggest, the Rams lamented the handful of chances they let slip through their fingers in Sunday’s 31-27 loss to the Seahawks in the NFC Championship.
It’s to be expected in such a close game in which the Rams had multiple opportunities to punch in the game-winning touchdown in the closing minutes.
But it started much earlier than that.
Like the third-down pass Puka Nacua couldn’t come up with on the Rams opening drive. Who knows that happens if the Rams convert that play for a first down, rather than have to punt it away.
Nacua and Matthew Stafford also failed to connect on a favorable red zone matchup later in the game that turned out to be the difference between setting for a field goal rather than a touchdown.
“I thought about the first third down. We threw an in-breaker to me, and I didn’t come down with it,” Nacua said.
“I think of the shot opportunity that we had in the red zone on a safety and just not being on the same page as Matthew. Just the opportunities that I missed. The third down opportunities knowing that the ball is coming and that we are passing the ball and the opportunity for us to make plays is right there, and not being able to come down with them, all those moments kind of flash by in your head.”
The Rams were the most potent offense in the NFL, averaging 30.5 points per game. Their failure to reach that average, and Xavier Smith’s third-quarter muffed punt that set up a 17-yard Seahawks touchdown, denied them a chance to play in their third Super Bowl in eight years.
And that was cause for regret.
“I apologize to our defense for putting them in those situations, because we felt that we could have executed to make that game easier for them.” said Nacua.
Despite it all, the Rams had multiple opportunities to leave Lumen Field with a win.
Only to come up short on two plays deep in Seahawks territory on their final drive.
One due to a lack of execution. The other, just dumb luck.
Facing a third and one at the Seahawks 26, the Rams called a play-action-pass to free up tight end Colby Parkinson right behind the two Seattle defenders that bit on the run fake. Stafford delivered a perfect, in-stride throw to Parkinson at the Seahawks 17. All he has to do is hold onto it and he had a free path to the end zone.
Only he dropped it.
The Rams bought themselves new life by converting on fourth down, and made another great play call on fourth and goal from the six by sending running back Kyren Williams to the left flat.
The Seahawks were so confused, though, that two defenders ended up rolling with Williams into the flat.
“I know that can’t be a part of their design,” Rams coach Sean McVay said. “Fortuitous bust by them.”
Said Stafford: “They double peeled on the back. It’s just a mishap by them, but lucked into covering our guy.”
Stafford immediately moved off Williams and threw an off-schedule end zone pass to Terrance Ferguson that Seahawks cornerback Devin Witherspoon broke up.
“Just in the red zone, everything happens faster, less space for the defense to cover,” said Nacua, who was the third option on the play. A great call by them.”
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Even if it wasn’t exactly the way the Seahawks drew it up.
“I mean they were bringing a zero. They ended up peeling two guys,” McVay said. “Can’t imagine that’s what they were really trying to do.”
It was one of a handful of plays that just didn’t go the Rams way.
“It’s just football, sometimes that’s what happens,” said Rams wide receiver Davante Adams.