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Sean McVay’s bold moves lead Los Angeles Rams to Super Bowl

By Jamaal Artis

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 20: Head coach Sean McVay of the Los Angeles Rams celebrates after defeating the New Orleans Saints in the NFC Championship game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 20, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Los Angeles Rams defeated the New Orleans Saints with a score of 26 to 23. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 20: Head coach Sean McVay of the Los Angeles Rams celebrates after defeating the New Orleans Saints in the NFC Championship game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 20, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Los Angeles Rams defeated the New Orleans Saints with a score of 26 to 23. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) /
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The Los Angeles Rams are heading to the Super Bowl in the team’s third year back in Los Angeles and in Sean McVay’s second year as head coach.

Sean McVay has taken the Los Angeles Rams from a four-win team to a Super Bowl in just two seasons. Probably the greatest turnaround for a team since the last time the Rams did this.

Starting in 1999, when they were in St. Louis the Rams, went from four wins to making two Super Bowls and winning 37 games the next three seasons.

Sean McVay’s offense may have brought winning ways but along with general manager Les Snead, McVay has succeeded in getting players to buy into a change of culture where winning is expected.

The Rams NFC championship win over the New Orleans Saints embodies that culture, how else can you explain the Rams outscoring the Saints 26-10 after falling behind 13-0 in the first quarter?

McVay didn’t just will the Rams to a win, but he also made some bold moves that directly led to the Rams ultimate victory.

The fake punt

Down 13-0 and looking inept on offense the Rams had a drive stall and were facing a 4th and 5.

Needing points, Sean McVay boldly called a fake punt, which was successful when Rams punter Johnny Hekker found Sam Shields for 12 yards. This prolonged a drive that resulted in the Rams first three points.

Benching Todd Gurley

It takes pretty big “cajones” to bench a player who is a candidate for regular season MVP. That’s exactly what McVay did, though, when Todd Gurley showed little effectiveness against the Saints.

Despite scoring a touchdown early in the game, McVay used back up C.J. Anderson more throughout the game instead of Gurley. Anderson outgained Gurley 44 to 10 yards on the ground and Gurley made two critical dropped passes that hurt the Rams early.

Gurley acknowledged the move postgame stating (h/t Rams Wire):

“I didn’t play good. I didn’t deserve to be in there. C.J. was in there, he did his thing. Everybody held me down. We all held each other. We just got it done.”

The winning field goal

Thanks to an interception, the Rams found themselves needing three points to end the game in overtime.

McVay knew all his team needed was a field goal to win. So he boldly called on his kicker Greg Zuerlein to kick a game-winner from 57 yards out.

A bold call from McVay because had Zuerlein missed, the Saints would have had possession of the ball close to midfield and needing only to score to finish the game.

Having seen Zuerlein shut the crowd up to tie the game with five seconds left in regulation probably gave McVay the confidence to call on Zuerlein again. Of course, McVay’s faith was rewarded when the kick sailed true sending the Rams to their first Super Bowl since 2001.

dark. Next. Goff has already proved naysayers wrong

The Los Angeles Rams are back in the big game and in part, it’s thanks to their coaches bold moves. Sean McVay has created a winning attitude that has the team just one win from NFL immortality.

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