The Los Angeles Rams have had an underwhelming start to the 2026/27 season, sitting third in the NFC West after five games.
The Rams ended 2025/26 with a regular season record of 12-5, but they have already fallen to defeat on three occasions this season (2-3).
They were most recently bested by the Buffalo Bills in overtime on Monday and on the back of their latest loss, Stephen A. Smith has broken down their costly mistakes.
Stephen A. Smith highlights ‘the dropping of the ball that has taken place with Sean McVay’
When speaking on ESPN’s First Take, Smith highlighted some of the decisions made by Sean McVay, saying there have been ‘incredibly disappointing moments where he has literally cost his team’.
Smith took particular issue with the Rams landing in Australia just 28 hours before their season-opener against the San Francisco 49ers. He also brought up the special team mishaps that continue to impact the Rams.
He said: “You start off the season in Melbourne, Australia. What in the h*** are you doing travelling to Melbourne, Australia, and landing 28 hours before kick-off time?
“Some of the decisions that have been made by Sean McVay, who I consider next-level, brilliant, love him as a coach. But these are incredibly, incredibly disappointing moments where he has literally cost his team.
“Your offence shows up and plays big time, your defence is opportunistic, it makes plays.
“One special team mishap after another last year, got a couple times this year.”
He continued: “This time around, you going to open the season travelling to Melbourne, Australia. Who doesn’t know that you don’t need to bring your football team and land across the ocean 28 hours before kick-off?
“Who the h*** doesn’t know that? That’s some basic, basic stuff. And the dropping of the ball that has taken place with Sean McVay. To me, it’s those kinds of things that cost them.”
If the Rams are going to start to turn things around, their next fixture should represent a great chance to do so.
They take on a 1-4 Arizona Cardinals team whose only victory this season came against the still winless Los Angeles Chargers.
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