Plaschke: Rams still left humbled as Super Bowl repeat quest starts with an ugly whimper

Seven months ago on this industry, the Rams celebrated underneath a blizzard of confetti.

Thursday night, they have been the confetti.

Shredded, shot into the air, and remaining in very small parts on the SoFi Stadium flooring.

In their first sport since successful the Tremendous Bowl championship right here in February, the Rams supplied not an fascinating encore, but a sour sequel.

Did we definitely have to have a further Hangover?

It is a extensive time and little can be received from creating wide assumptions from just one match, but suffice to say, the Rams opened their 2022 time as if they had been continue to perspiring out that boozy championship parade.

The Buffalo Expenses are Super Bowl favorites and a team on a mission and blah, blah, blah but, seriously, their 31-10 victory seemed and felt additional like a Rams decline.

Every thing the Rams were being in defeating the Cincinnati Bengals on their previous recreation on this field…they were not.

Everything the Rams are meant to be in making an attempt to develop into the to start with team in approximately two many years to repeat as champions…thus significantly they are not.

Before the recreation, on the huge videoboard, the Rams superimposed a person of their championship rings on the head of a Charges fan.

In response, the admirer angrily flashed his center finger.

It never received any prettier.

“Tonight was a humbling evening,” claimed coach Sean McVay.

The night started off with the unveiling of the 2021 championship banner, hanging in 1 close zone upcoming to the 1999 St. Louis Rams title banner, gloriously shining.

By the finish of the night time, that banner was shrouded in darkness.

“We can surely play improved than that,” mentioned quarterback Matthew Stafford.

Hope so.

Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford is sacked by Costs defensive close Gregory Rousseau in the 3rd quarter. Buffalo completed the night time with 7 sacks.

(Wally Skalij / VFAB)

The Expenses bludgeoned their way to a 10- lead, the Rams pushed back to a 10-all halftime tie, then the Payments totally dominated the 2nd 50 % in exposing all kinds of cracks in the Rams glittery armor.

On a day when news broke that Stafford’s elbow personal injury was probably extra serious than initial thought, he was erratic and restricted, throwing brief, throwing huge, and throwing a few passes that have been intercepted.

“I can test to get the ball out quicker, get it to them in far better spots…play inside myself as a lot as I can... hold primary, maintain preventing,” mentioned Stafford.

The Rams working assault, with Cam Akers carrying the ball just three periods for zilch, was scarcely visible, gathering just 52 yards and none of importance.

The Rams offensive line, in the wake of the retirement of leader Andrew Whitworth, was awful, allowing 7 sacks of a harried Stafford.

“That’s not an offensive line stat, that’s a team stat,” mentioned Stafford. “I have to have to do a improved occupation of supporting individuals guys out.”

The Rams defense, with Aaron Donald tranquil and new chief Bobby Wagner even quieter, was steamrolled. Even however they experienced two interceptions and two fumble recoveries, they also allowed 413 yards together with 56 yards rushing from Costs quarterback Josh Allen, who just ran about folks, such as shoving his way four yards for a touchdown.

It was unpleasant. It was unusual. For a championship franchise that almost never loses game titles or moments like this — McVay was 5- in period openers — it was incredibly unbecoming.

Halfway through the fourth quarter, some idiots ran on the area waving red smoke bombs, but even the pink clouds weren’t enough to obscure the mess.

McVay blamed it on himself. Of class, he did. He often does.

“There’s no way to put it than, I didn’t do a very good sufficient task,” he claimed. “It starts with me.”

The Rams indeed appeared out of rhythm, again on their heels, almost never engaged in the combat. Their engage in contacting appeared to consist completely of Stafford handing the ball to Darrell Henderson Jr. or passing it to Kupp. Their celebrated new extensive receiver Allen Robinson? He was specific twice and caught a person ball.

“You’ve got to be in a position to appear by yourself in the mirror and say, ‘I received to be much better inside of the framework of my purpose,’’ explained McVay. “That’s exactly what I’m going to do, that is what I know our coaches are likely to do, which is what our gamers are heading to do.”

McVay was conscious of option dropped, of the blown opportunity to put on a celebration exhibit for a nationwide television audience.

This was the night time the Rams could announce to the soccer world that, “We’re back!”

As a substitute, it was, “Where are they?”

And now it’s, “Where are they heading?”

“I sense a feeling of allowing a large amount of persons down that I treatment about,” explained McVay. “I’m not going to operate away from the problems I designed tonight. We’re likely to resolve this.”

The Charges marched 75 yards on the game’s initial generate, jamming the ball down the Rams’ throats for eight plays just before fooling them with a participate in-motion pass from Allen to a huge-open up Gabe Davis for a 26-garden landing.

Midway through the 2nd quarter they added a 41-garden field target by Tyler Bass following a 45-property generate following an interception by Dane Jackson off a horrible Stafford move that sailed woefully driving Tyler Higbee.

But immediately after the Rams tied it up, the second half started with far more Bills’ domination.

Immediately after Stafford fumbled and took his fourth sack on a third-down participate in, the Expenditures took in excess of and steamrolled the Rams defense for 58 yards on eight performs that led to a go-in advance 7-property touchdown move from Allen to Isaiah McKenzie.

At one particular bruising issue for the duration of the push, Allen completed an 8-property operate with a brutal rigid-arm of Nick Scott.

At a different bruising stage, Devin Singletary finished an 8-lawn completion by working around David Lengthy Jr.

The Costs then reeled off an 89-lawn touchdown generate to start the fourth quarter, followed by a 53-lawn landing move that Stefon Diggs caught beyond the achieve of Jalen Ramsey. On this night, even the Rams superstars were not immune to humiliation.

The Rams comeback endeavor correctly ended with a large Stafford go that Kupp tipped into the fingers of Jordan Poyer, and the stands rapidly emptied.

“Just chapter one of a confirmed 17 chapters we have,” said McVay. “Looking forward to coming out swinging.”

This is without a doubt only the beginning, and coming out swinging is good. But goodness, that was just one whopper of a strikeout.