Five biggest concerns for sputtering Rams

2. Dependency on Davante Adams and Puka Nacua

Much like Cooper Kupp did before he was slowed by injuries, the presence of Adams as a legitimate second option has proved invaluable for Nacua, who ranks second in the NFL with 1,639 receiving yards. With Adams sidelined for the second straight game, the Falcons were able to devote all their attention to slowing Nacua, holding him to his second-lowest receiving total of the season. The Rams were still able to give the Falcons some problems with their three-tight-end sets, but their vertical passing game was not up to the standard it had been all season. If Adams is not back to full strength by the start of the postseason, a once-dynamic passing attack will become far easier for opposing defenses to game-plan for. 

3. Struggles against elite running backs

Overall, the Rams have been a capable rush defense this year, ranking 11th in rushing yards per attempt, but the last two weeks have seen a dramatic fall-off. Kenneth Walker torched them for 111 yards on just 11 carries a week before Bijan Robinson gained a season-high 195 yards on the ground. In a playoff field that will include Christian McCaffrey, Saquon Barkley and the Bears' two-headed combo of Kyle Monangai and De’Andre Swift, the Rams will need to find a way to pose some resistance against the NFC’s best backs. 

4. Special teams

The firing of special teams coach Chase Blackburn after Week 15 marked the first time McVay had fired a coach in-season, and it’s easy to see why such a drastic step was taken. Three of the Rams' first four losses have been defined by special teams blunders, with a blocked field goal against the Eagles and a Rashid Shaheed kickoff return touchdown looming particularly large in the NFC postseason picture. Though the Rams were able to return a blocked kick for a touchdown against the Falcons, turning around a special teams unit that ranked 28th in EPA at the time of the Blackburn firing in just two weeks will be a monumental coaching task. 

5.  Road woes 

Even though McVay and Stafford have a history of winning on the road in the postseason, there is no getting around how this Rams team has played away from SoFi Stadium. Monday’s defeat dropped their road record to 4-4 this season, a group of victories that include the lowly Tennessee Titans and Arizona Cardinals, the Tyler Huntley-led Baltimore Ravens and the Mac Jones-led San Francisco 49ers. With such a mediocre track record this season, it’s hard to envision the Rams stringing three straight championship-level performances on the road against the NFC’s best teams.