There were a lot of missed opportunities by the Los Angeles Rams in their 24-18 loss to the Chicago Bears on Sunday afternoon, a disappointing defeat on the road against a team that gained just 264 yards. One play sticks out in Kyren Williams’ mind coming out of the game, though – and it was a play he wishes he could’ve turned into a bigger gain.
On second-and-11 from deep in the Rams’ territory with 5:42 left in the game, Williams took a handoff on an inside run. The blocking was set up well by the offensive line but Williams lost his footing and fell forward for just a 4-yard gain.
It wouldn’t have been a huge play but there’s a chance he would’ve gotten close to the first-down line to set up a more manageable third-down attempt. After the game, he was asked about that play and he was still bothered by it.
“That’s why I’m so upset right now because whatever the outside zone is, but that inside zone, that was me,” he said. “I’ve just got to pick my freakin’ feet up and run. I probably got too ahead of myself, honestly, and that’s something that’s eating at me right now because that’s something if I get a first down on, the drive would’ve stayed alive. It’s tough and I just got to be able to be better next time.”
You can see in the clip below that Williams just lost his balance and went down before a defender even got a hand on him, which is what made the play so disappointing for him. Kyler Gordon and Jaquon Brisker were both there in the hole anyway, but Williams might’ve been able to make one of the two miss or run through an arm tackle to pick up more yards.
Williams will always be his harshest critic, but the Rams didn’t lose that game because of one play – certainly not a 4-yard run that might’ve been a 9-yarder if he kept his feet under him. The Rams lost because they couldn’t convert in the red zone and made too many costly mistakes that could’ve been avoided.