Rams QB Goff struggling as playoffs approach
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff (16) carries the ball in the fourth quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The Eagles defeated the Rams 30-23.
For most of the season, the Los Angeles Rams were rolling.
Now they're reeling.
Quarterback Jared Goff is struggling, and the Rams aren't scoring like they were, losing consecutive games to the Bears (15-6) and Eagles (30-23).
"Really, it's first about the ball. We've got to take better care of the football," coach Sean McVay told reporters on Monday. "That's something that will help us out immensely when you just look at the way that we did throughout the course of the first, really, 12 weeks -- or the first 11 weeks.
"Then, over the last three weeks we've had eight turnovers and that's something that we can't do, specific to the offense -- nine when you add in the turnover that we had with (WR) JoJo (Natson) yesterday."
The Rams are still plus-8 in turnover ratio, but their offense has turned the ball over 18 times, near the high end for teams in playoff contention.
Goff accounted for five touchdowns in the Rams' 54-51 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs. Then came the bye week. Since then, Goff has one touchdown pass and seven interceptions in three games.
Against the Eagles, he completed 35 of 54 passes for 339 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions. He overthrew Josh Reynolds in the end zone on the final play of the game as the Rams dropped their second straight for the first time under McVay.
"There's concern about just our overall operation, with regard to just the way we played specific to the offense the last couple of weeks,'' McVay said after the game. "It starts with me -- got to do a better job. We've all got to do better.''
On Monday, McVay defended Goff, who for the season has completed 330 of 512 passes (64.5 percent) for 4,273 yards, 27 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.
"I think the one thing everybody wants to make a big deal about Jared's performance," McVay said. "When you really look at the entirety, he did a lot of really good things, took completions, gave us a chance to get back in that game based on the nature of the way that he played, specifically towards the latter half of the game.
"Unfortunately, when you're at that spot and you have a couple decisions, whether it be the turnover where the guy makes a nice pick on the right sideline or the one on third-and-1 that is a decision that he's going to learn from, those stand out."
--RB Todd Gurley II (knee inflammation) is day-to-day according to coach Sean McVay. Gurley had 12 carries for 48 yards and two touchdowns against the Eagles, and 10 catches for 76 yards.
--CB Aqib Talib got his first interception since the Rams traded for him last March. The 11th-year pro played the first two games and then was out for eight while recovering from ankle surgery. He picked off a Nick Foles pass in the fourth quarter and returned it 30 yards.
--WR Robert Woods had seven receptions for 74 yards against the Eagles.
--P Johnny Hekker averaged 56.3 yards on three punts with a long of 65 yards.
--RB Justin Davis (shoulder) is day-to-day. "We'll see if he's available for the game this week," coach Sean McVay said.
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