Sean McVay Puts Rams Starter on the Chopping Block After Week 11 Disaster

After dropping a winnable game last week at home to the Miami Dolphins, the Los Angeles Rams went on the road Sunday and beat the New England Patriots, 28-22. 

The Rams received an excellent performance from their offense as starting quarterback Matt Stafford shredded the Patriots’ defense for 295 yards and four touchdowns. The defense also played well, sacking New England rookie QB Drake Maye three times and forcing him into an interception late in the fourth quarter.

However, the Rams’ special teams unit wasn’t so lucky as rookie kicker Joshua Karty was put under the microscope. Late in the first half, the rookie kicker had a chance to extend the Rams’ lead to seven points.

All Karty had to do was make an easy chip shot, 26-yard field goal. The rookie kicker missed the kick as it went right and made a loud noise off the goalpost.

After the game on Sunday afternoon, Rams head coach Sean McVay wasn’t pleased with Karty as it played a part in his decision-making late in the fourth quarter. 

According to ESPN’s Sarah Bishop, McVay said there “wasn’t a whole lot of back and forth” about the decision to punt in the fourth quarter instead of attempting a field goal. He also said, “There wasn’t a lot of reason to feel great about that operation today.”

The former Stanford kicker has now missed a field goal in back-to-back games. In Week 10 against the Miami Dolphins, Karty missed a 57-yard field goal. However, that isn’t as bad as missing a field goal from 26 yards out.

Nonetheless, the sixth-round pick has a chance to bounce back against the Philadelphia Eagles next week in primetime. The Rams won’t cut ties with Karty yet because they spent draft capital on him.

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