In what was the best game of Wild Card Weekend, the Los Angeles Rams fell just short of an upset bid in their 24-23 heartbreaking loss to the Detroit Lions.
One of the turning points in the game occurred with 4:15 remaining in the fourth quarter. Quarterback Matthew Stafford was leading an impressive drive and had the Rams close to field goal range.
A crucial holding penalty derailed the momentum, leaving the Rams facing a 4th-and-14. It was at this critical juncture that McVay opted to punt, a decision that would later be heavily scrutinized.
With only one timeout remaining and the two-minute warning left to stop the clock, the Rams defense had no margin for error.
Sure enough, they weren’t able to get the stop they needed as Jared Goff and the aggressive Lions picked up a game-sealing first down that allowed them to run out the clock.
LAR decided to punt to DET from the DET 44 on 4th & 14 with 4:15 remaining in the 4th while losing 23 to 24.
With a Surrender Index of 29.05, this punt ranks at the 99.2nd percentile of cowardly punts of the 2023 season, and the 98th percentile of all punts since 1999.
— Surrender Index 90 (@surrender_idx90) January 15, 2024
In his post-game press conference, McVay acknowledged the mistake.
“Still having a timeout and four minutes, the way our defense was playing, we were hoping to get a stop. Hindsight is 20/20. Certainly regret that decision now,” he admitted.
McVay may have been a little too harsh on himself. After all, it was 4th-and-14, not 4th-and 2.
Regardless, fans couldn’t resist roasting McVay for what they considered to be a “cowardly” decision to punt…
“Boy genius Sean McVay with an absolutely gutless decision to punt. Just cost his squad the game. Brutal.”
Boy genius Sean McVay with an absolutely gutless decision to punt. Just cost his squad the game. Brutal.
— TMac Blows (@TMacBlows) January 15, 2024
“Sean McVay is honestly one of the worst game managers in the sport. That punt was insane. They’re never seeing the ball again.”
Sean McVay is honestly one of the worst game managers in the sport. That punt was insane. They’re never seeing the ball again
— The Pizza Charlatan (@ryanschock24) January 15, 2024
“How does trash can McVay even have a job??? Horrible call to not try and put points up with a minute and 3 timeouts left. Punt the @RamsNFL into the sun.”
How does trash can McVay even have a job??? Horrible call to not try and put points up with a minute and 3 timeouts left. Punt the @RamsNFL into the sun. pic.twitter.com/flhfSJanfp
— Thechek182 (@thechek182) January 15, 2024
“Here is pure derelict coaching & game management by Sean McVay:
-Lions lead 24-23
-3rd & 4 at the Lions 34 yard line with 4:24 left in game
-McVay has just ONE TIMEOUT left … meaning if you punt the ball, one first down by DET gets you to about to the 2 min warning – AND YOU CAN’T STOP THE CLOCK!
So instead of being smart and RUNNING for the 4 yards, at worst getting closer to a GO-AHEAD FG try. But McVay calls a pass … gets a holding call and taken out of FG range.
Just absolutely DISGUSTING coaching.”
Here is pure derelict coaching & game management by Sean McVay:
-Lions lead 24-23
-3rd & 4 at the Lions 34 yard line with 4:24 left in game
-McVay has just ONE TIMEOUT left … meaning if you punt the ball, one first down by DET gets you to about to the 2 min warning – AND YOU…— Mark Zinno (@MarkZinno) January 15, 2024
“Terrible decision by Rams and Sean McVay to punt so late in the game. They never saw the ball again.”
Terrible decision by Rams and Sean McVay to punt so late in the game. They never saw the ball again https://t.co/Hs8s1y7NDu
— 𝐄𝐱𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐨𝐩𝐞 (@exavierpope) January 15, 2024
“That McVay punt was a war crime. Will the media talk about it as such. Nope.”
That McVay punt was a war crime. Will the media talk about it as such. Nope
— dino panther (@M1nkFl0w) January 15, 2024
“Sean McVay screwed up … You had one timeout. You do not punt in that spot … Trusting your defense not to give up a touchdown: fine … Trusting your defense not to give up a first down: very very not fine.”
Fun story for Tuesday's show:
Sean McVay screwed up.
You had one timeout. You do not punt in that spot.
Trusting your defense not to give up a touchdown: fine.
Trusting your defense not to give up a first down: very very not fine.
— 𝕋𝕙𝕖 ℝ𝕠𝕓 𝔹𝕣𝕠𝕨𝕟 𝕊𝕙𝕠𝕨 (@TheRobBrownShow) January 15, 2024
“i still don’t understand why sean mcvay decided to punt the football there on the fourth down.”
i still don’t understand why sean mcvay decided to punt the football there on the fourth down
— Mufc (@RamacSai) January 15, 2024
What are your thoughts on McVay’s decision to punt?
Had the Rams found a way to win that game, do you think they would’ve been able to go on a Super Bowl run?
They certainly had a lot of momentum entering the postseason – But would they have been able to beat the 49ers in San Francisco for example?
Unfortunately for Rams fans, we’ll never know…