The Rams are out here like that underdog team that quietly puts up points, wins games, and suddenly you’re like, “Wait, how are they in the playoff hunt?” They’ve been sneaky good since their bye week, and that win over the Niners in Week 15? Yeah, that was a subtle flex! Ex-NFLer Chase Daniel hit the nail on the head in praising Sean McVay: “The Rams are 7-2 since the bye week, can win every which way, & are one of the hottest teams in the NFL. If they can get into the playoffs, no one wants to see them.”
That’s some bold talk, but can you blame him? McVay’s been cooking, and the team’s been finding ways to win. If they slide into the playoffs, they’ll be like a sneaky defensive lineman waiting to sack you when you least expect it. Cherry on the cake, that hottest coach part might actually be true as The Athletic’s Diann Russini revealed that one ‘unnamed’ GM sent her this text after the game: “Sean McVay is coaching his a– off.” Hmm… Interesting, but obvious.
Let’s be real—2024 hasn’t been perfect for McVay. Losses to the Bears, Packers, and Dolphins were rough. But consider this: only 15 teams in NFL history have made the playoffs after starting 1-4. The Rams are trying to join that exclusive club, and if they pull it off, McVay deserves a medal—or at least another viral sideline gif. Remember the 2016 Dolphins or 2018 Colts? Yeah, those teams clawed their way back, but even they didn’t have the brutal injury woes the Rams dealt with early on. Yet here they are, alive and kicking in the playoff hunt.
And it’s not just about the numbers. McVay has built a culture where his teams don’t quit on him. The Rams under McVay are a different breed compared to their St. Louis days. Look at his record after week 15 each year: 8-6 in 2024, 7-7 in 2023, 10-4 in 2021—always fighting. Compare that to the years before McVay took over. It’s like night and day.
So, Is Sean McVay operating at the peak of his powers right now? Those numbers say so. That Thursday night 12-6 win over the 49ers might not be pretty. But that’s a WIN, regardless. Peter Schrager called him “Coach of the Week” on Good Morning Football, and honestly, it’s hard to argue. McVay keeps this team in the mix, even when everything seems stacked against them. Thursday games? He’s practically undefeated.
Sure, McVay might not win Coach of the Year this season. Mike Tomlin and Dan Campbell are stealing that spotlight. But does McVay really need more hardware? The guy’s already proven himself as one of the NFL’s elite. No matter how this season ends, as long as McVay’s on the sideline, the Rams are never out of the game.
However, here’s the weird part. Every good coach, needs a good under center guy he can rely on, right? Yeah, but, despite the Rams’ success under McVay, Matthew Stafford keeps facing heat.
Sean McVay and Matthew Stafford: you can’t separate the two
I mean, the guy led the Rams to a Super Bowl in 2021! SB LVI, mind you, with a huge role in that title run. Cut him some slack… But nope! People still love to throw shade. But you wouldn’t take Chris Broussard to be that guy, and yet here we are. He was all over Matthew Stafford’s time in Detroit, pointing out that despite playoff appearances with Calvin Johnson and Ndamukong Suh, Stafford couldn’t “get over the hump.”
Broussard said, “He could not get them over the hump, or even close over the hump.” Ouch, right? But we know it’s not all on him. Football’s a team game, and Stafford has had to carry a lot of the weight himself. And on the flip side, you’ve got analysts like Nick Wright downplaying Stafford’s talent, comparing him to Brock Purdy, of all people, and even suggesting he could’ve been the one to disrupt the Chiefs’ Kingdom if he had a 49ers roster. REALLY?! Talk about stirring the pot!
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