![](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,<svg height="550" width="780" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" version="1.1"/>)
The excitement was real for the Los Angeles Rams as they kicked off the 2022 NFL campaign on September 8 against the Buffalo Bills. SoFi Stadium was packed, the Rams’ championship banner was revealed and Von Miller returned to SoFi as a member of the Bills.
But the night turned ugly all around for the Rams. Their high-powered offense ran into a wall against a dominant Buffalo defense, and it wasn’t close as the Bills won 31-10.
After the loss, Rams star cornerback Jalen Ramsey summed up the Rams’ performance. “We got our ass beat,” he said, according to a tweet from ESPN’s Sarah Barshop.
Ramsey’s performance was not good, whichever way you look at it, so the frustration was also personal. Ramsey matched up with Stefon Diggs for most of the night, and the Bills’ top wideout had eight catches for 122 yards and a score in a monster outing.
Other Rams Takeaways
There are plenty of takeaways from the season opener.
On the Rams’ side, quarterback Matthew Stafford finished 29 of 41 for 241 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions. In a stunning development, running back Cam Akers had just three carries for zero yards. And Cooper Kupp looked like his usual self with a 13-catch, 128-yard performance that included the only Rams touchdown of the night.
But the biggest takeaway was the Bills offense, which was dominant. Josh Allen threw for 297 yards, and three scores, and Buffalo gained 413 total yards to the Rams’ 243 yards in a lopsided affair.
There were many more problems, and head coach Sean McVay shouldered all the blame.
Head Coach Sean McVay Took All the Blame After the Loss
In a game like this, there isn’t just one finger to point. The issues were all around — offensive line, defense, running game, you name it.
As such, McVay stepped right up to the microphone and owned every last part of the loss.
“When you look at a lot of the ways that this game unfolded, [I] feel a huge sense of responsibility to this team,” McVay said, according to Barshop’s ESPN story. “We weren’t ready to go. I take a lot of pride in that, and that’s on me. I’ve got to do better. There were a lot of decisions that I made that I felt like didn’t put our players in good enough spots.”
McVay took all the blame, which any good head coach should do. He even added that it was a “humbling experience.”
Odell Beckham Jr. joked on Twitter that he was joining the Bills, but he also stood right by the Rams after the performance — so who knows what OBJ is thinking.
“Watch the b****** story lines and how they try to count the Rams out after one game!!!! Lol like they didn’t lose to the team that’s most likely comin outta the AFC,” Beckham tweeted.
The fans were loud, the atmosphere was intense, and the excitement was buzzing around SoFi, especially once the banners were dropped. But, a subpar outing will leave a sour taste in the mouths of the Rams players and coaches until Week 2 comes.
Luckily for the Rams, they have a Week 2 game against the Atlanta Falcons, so that one should go much better than the 2022 season opener.
0 Comments