Rams head coach Sean McVay said he will evaluate the team’s kicking unit after a blocked field goal attempt in overtime played a key role in a loss to the Buffalo Bills. The Rams dropped to 2-3 on the season following the defeat, and McVay did not hide his frustration afterward.
“It’s got to get better. We’re gonna be able to figure out how to be able to fix this, but it can’t continue like this with regards to our kicking operation. It’s my responsibility,” McVay said, according to CBS Sports.
McVay’s Comments On The Rams Kicking Unit Evaluation
McVay was blunt in placing blame on himself for the decision to attempt the field goal rather than go for it on fourth down. “I wish I would’ve had a better play call and gone for it, gotten it a lot tighter. I’m sick right now with myself. … I’ll be regretting kicking that and not having a better call to be able to go for that on fourth down, and that’s on me,” he said, according to NBC Sports.
McVay called out the field goal unit specifically, saying, “It cost us the game tonight.” He followed that with a promise to review the operation as a whole, telling reporters, “I’m gonna evaluate everything.”
What It Means For The Rams’ Special Teams
McVay’s comments point to a pattern rather than a single bad night. The Rams rank 32nd in the NFL in special teams expected points added, a measure that captures the full scope of their struggles in that phase of the game.
Kicker Harrison Mevis and the field goal unit have been a specific trouble spot. The Rams have converted just 5 of 9 field goal attempts this season, the worst rate in the league. Their kickoff and punt numbers are similarly poor, with Los Angeles ranking 29th in yards per kickoff return, 26th in kickoff returns allowed, 30th in net yards per punt and 26th in opponent net yards per punt.
Context: A History Of Special Teams Changes
McVay has moved on special teams issues before. Last year, he fired special-teams coordinator Chase Blackburn after an overtime loss to the Seattle Seahawks in Week 17. The overtime loss to Buffalo marks another instance where a special teams breakdown decided a close game for Los Angeles, though McVay did not detail what specific changes he plans to make to the unit.
The loss also follows other recent storylines for the Rams this season, including a disputed penalty call confirmed incorrect by the NFL and an incident involving Rams coaches and Eagles fans.
What’s Next For The Rams
McVay did not give a timeline for when changes to the kicking unit might take effect. The Rams will look to address their special teams issues as they try to build on a 2-3 record, with the uncertainty around Mevis and the field goal operation set to carry into the coming weeks.
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