The worst kind of failure is unnecessary failure. Unfortunately for the Los Angeles Rams, this is no longer a new feeling as their Super Bowl hopes are over.
Prior to that loss, the Los Angeles Rams had two close wins over the Carolina Panthers and Chicago Bears. The wild-card game against Carolina was a surprise, with Los Angeles winning 34-31.
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In the divisional round, the Rams faced the Bears at Soldier Field in temperatures below 20 degrees Fahrenheit. This game was nothing short of a thriller. Perfect catches, crazy passes and multiple attacks determined the serious situation between the two teams.
Ultimately, a key interception by Kamren Curl led to kicker Harrison Mevis’ game-winning field goal that decided the game.
It’s clear the Rams are a playoff contender. Most even considered them a Super Bowl contender, proudly holding a 12-5 record against a tough schedule. The Rams’ success last season was astounding.
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They beat the 12-5 San Francisco 49ers for second place in the division and nearly beat Seattle for first place in one of the most dominant NFC West divisions we’ve ever seen.
Although the Rams are considered one of the best teams in the league, there are three major obstacles to Los Angeles’ failure to lift another Lombardi in February 2026: their lack of discipline, little cornerback help and special teams.
Lack of discipline lately
The Rams have been one of the most disciplined teams in the NFL over the past nine years. They have taken the fewest penalties (799) since the 2017 season. He also averages the fewest free throws per game (4.41) and ranks in the top 10 in turnovers per game.
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So, the question is, despite so few flags per game, why is a lack of discipline an issue?
It was never the number of flags per game or season that people cared about. As mentioned, Los Angeles has been one of the least punished teams in the league; this is a time that could negatively impact the Rams.
Via Sharp Football Analysis, the Rams’ most damaging penalties included:
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Third and long defensive free throw
This article supports the idea that situational penalties are a bigger issue for Los Angeles than volume.
special teams
There aren’t enough words in the English dictionary to express how bad the special teams unit has been this year. Every Rams fan feels a pang of anxiety every time the opposing team prepares to punt, worrying that Xavier Smith will fumble the ball or Joshua Carty will fumble the punt.
That’s how bad the special teams have been this year, costing the Rams multiple games and being a constant liability, especially in clutch situations.
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To address the crisis, the Rams front office fired former special teams coach Chase Blackburn and replaced him with former Cleveland Browns special teams coach Raymond Ventroni.
Limited help at cornerback
It’s time for someone to say it out loud: Emmanuel Forbes Jr. and Ahkello Witherspoon cannot be CB1 members on a Super Bowl championship team.
Even though they only played about half of the season, the skill gap between the two and players of the George Pickens or Drake London caliber has always been considerable.
Even if Los Angeles can’t acquire a true CB1, they’re still pursuing Roger McCreary of the Tennessee Titans. Still, the Rams’ lack of depth at cornerback has been exposed time and time again.
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Some NFL fans even mocked Los Angeles’ depth at corner:
To be honest, this is a real problem. In the NFC Championship Game, the Rams paired Camron Cole (a hybrid safety) with Jaxon Smith-Ngiba, arguably the best receiver in the league.
Having one of your best safeties play alone at WR (like JSN) should tell you how shallow the CB room is. Generally speaking, the absence of CB1 and the empty depth at that position are the reasons for failure.
With the Los Angeles Rams’ glaring flaws, it’s understandable that they can’t get back to their Super Bowl glory.
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