DETROIT — Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay stood on the podium at Ford Subject on Sunday night time, nonetheless in disbelief that his crew’s season had ended with a 24-23 playoff loss to the Detroit Lions within the wild-card spherical.
A bit of greater than a 12 months in the past, McVay stood at a distinct podium, this one in Los Angeles, and mentioned he was not sure if he can be again as coach of the Rams in 2023. However not lengthy after the common season ended — with a 5-12 file, McVay’s worst since he was employed in 2017 — he determined he wasn’t able to stroll away.
After a 3-6 begin to the 2023 season and accidents to quarterback Matthew Stafford and operating again Kyren Williams, it seemed just like the Rams have been headed down the identical path. As a substitute, Los Angeles received seven of its final eight video games of the season to clinch the No. 6 seed within the NFC.
“I am so happy with this soccer crew,” McVay mentioned. “And the finality of it’s nonetheless sort of … it does not completely resonate. However man did I be taught so much and actually recognize this group. They helped me discover my manner once more and the way a lot I like this and love the folks that I am round.”
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Rams rookie nostril deal with Kobie Turner mentioned McVay instructed the crew that “there’s loads of room to develop, so much to construct off of, and the muse that we laid this 12 months will go on to hopefully do loads of larger and higher issues.”
“So simply preserve pushing and that this crew is unquestionably, whatever the final result right here tonight, goes to go down as one of the particular groups that he is ever been round,” Turner mentioned of McVay’s message to the crew after the sport.
Stafford, who mentioned he plans to be again subsequent season, mentioned he was “so happy with this crew” for defying preseason expectations. The Rams’ over/below for wins heading into the season was 6.5, a mark Los Angeles bested with a 10-7 regular-season file.
“No one gave us an opportunity to even be sniffing the place we’re proper now, and [we] gave a extremely good soccer crew a run for his or her cash,” Stafford mentioned. “Did not get it finished, however happy with the blokes, happy with their effort from the teaching employees, gamers, everyone concerned in it. It was a enjoyable 12 months, a hell of a 12 months and one thing to be happy with.”
Vast receiver Puka Nacua ended his rookie season with one other record-setting efficiency. With 9 catches for 181 yards and a landing, Nacua set the NFL rookie file for many receiving yards in a playoff recreation.
On the damage entrance, the Rams consider tight finish Tyler Higbee, who took a success from Lions security Kerby Joseph within the fourth quarter, tore his ACL, sources instructed ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Higbee will bear an MRI on Monday to substantiate the preliminary prognosis.
Though the loss to the Lions was nonetheless settling in, McVay mentioned he thinks there’s “so much” the Rams can construct on going ahead.
“I believe the additional that you simply get away from the uncooked feelings of it, the extra appreciation they will have for what they did,” McVay mentioned. “And I believe there’s loads of issues that we are able to construct on, however you bought to do it. … And this group is an instance of it. The preseason stuff doesn’t suggest s—. You bought to have the ability to go earn it. And each single 12 months is a brand new 12 months, however I do suppose we have loads of actually key and significant guys that we’re enthusiastic about constructing and persevering with to develop and work with.”