6 plays that cost the Rams the overtime loss to the Lions

The Los Angeles Rams had opportunities but couldn’t capitalize on them in Sunday night’s loss to the Detroit Lions. Both teams have wasted chances in every game, but the Rams will be bummed out over six specific plays in their overtime loss.

If they execute these plays correctly, they will likely beat the Lions and start the season 1-0. From a botched fourth down conversion to a costly penalty on a rookie defender, these six plays cost the Rams the most against the Lions at Ford Field.

Failed fourth attempt and fourth attempt of Lions’ 23

You can hardly blame Sean McVay for trying everything he could in this situation. The score was 3-3 and the Lions are not a team you can necessarily beat on field goals, so McVay wanted to stay aggressive and go for six rather than settle for three. It was early in the game, with about 6 minutes left in the second quarter, so they had plenty of time to make up for it.

It’s just too bad the ball went through Cooper Kupp’s hands as he tried to catch it against tight coverage. Had he caught the first ball, the Rams could have gone up 10-3 instead of allowing the Lions to take a 10-3 lead on the ensuing drive.

Matthew Stafford’s interception in the end zone

This play was even more costly than the failed fourth-down conversion. The Rams had no chance on offense in the first half, but they put together a nice drive before halftime. On second down and goal from the 8-yard line, Stafford threw a pass to Tyler Johnson in the end zone that was intercepted by Kerby Joseph, giving the Rams at least three points.

If that pass is incomplete, the worst-case scenario is that the Rams run another play and settle for the field goal to make the game 10-6. Better yet, they could have scored on the third attempt and tied the game. An interception was the worst possible outcome.

Jameson Williams’ 52-yard touchdown catch

Tre’Davious White made a decent play, but he doesn’t want to watch that replay again. He got frustrated on a double play, tackled Williams, and still let him run completely free down the left sideline for a 52-yard touchdown, even though White was penalized for illegal contact.

It also came on third-and-3 from the Lions’ 48-yard line, so they weren’t in field goal range. If White stays with Williams and forces an incomplete pass, the Lions will either punt or try for it on fourth down instead of taking a 17-3 lead early in the third quarter.

AJ Arcuri’s holding penalty on Jordan Whittington’s touchdown

It’s always painful when points are lost through penalties. Arcuri’s penalty for holding at the goal line when the Rams made a perfect jet sweep to Whittington on second and one was a real blowout. It negated the touchdown and put the Rams on second and 11, forcing them to try a field goal instead of a touchdown – a four-point advantage. Whittington’s touchdown would have tied the game at 17-17 and given the Rams even more momentum.

Warren McClendon Jr.’s false start in the fourth quarter

Leading 20-17, the Rams got the ball back and had a chance to put the game away for good late in the fourth quarter. They had a second-and-12 attempt from their own 20-yard line with 2:31 left. There’s no guarantee they would have converted the next two plays, but McClendon was charged with a false start, so it was a second-and-12 attempt.

A 7-yard run by Kyren Williams made it third-and-10, but the bad news is that Williams left the field instead of staying on the field, forcing the Lions to call their timeout. Stafford’s pass on third-and-10 was incomplete, so the Lions got the ball back with two timeouts and 2:11 to play and eventually kicked a field goal to tie the game.

Personal foul by Kamren Kinchens

On the final drive of regulation, the Lions received great support from rookie Kinchens. Sam LaPorta caught an 18-yard pass over the middle and Kinchens landed a helmet-to-helmet hit on the tight end, resulting in a 15-yard penalty. In one play, the Lions went from their own 36 to the Rams’ 31, putting them within field goal range despite being only three points behind.

It was one of only five snaps Kinchens played, but it was a very costly one.