The 2022 season certainly hasn’t started the way the Los Angeles Rams hoped it would. Sure, they’re 2-2, but the offense looks vastly different than it did last season when it was creating big plays and putting up a bunch of points each week.
The fourth quarter has been especially troublesome for the Rams this year, a stark contrast to the way they played in the final frame last season. In 2021, the Rams ranked seventh in fourth-quarter point differential, outscoring opponents by 25 points.
This year, the Rams are 32nd and the point differential is particularly ugly. They’ve been outscored 44-3 in the fourth quarter this year, a minus-41 differential. That’s seven points worse than any other team.
The Bills outscored them 14-0 in the fourth, the Falcons 17-3, the Cardinals 3-0 and the 49ers topped the Rams 10-0 in the fourth quarter on Monday night. Even when the Rams grabbed leads against the Falcons and Cardinals, they struggled to close out games, which is concerning.
Matthew Stafford is part of the problem, just as much as the defense is. In the fourth quarter this season, he has a passer rating of 58.8, zero touchdowns and three interceptions, one of which was a pick-six against the 49ers.
Those aren’t the numbers you expect to see from a quarterback who’s typically clutch and reliable in the fourth quarter, leading three fourth-quarter comebacks in 2021 and 34 in his NFL career.
Right now, this Rams team can’t come from behind and they’re struggling to hold onto leads. That’s not a good combination, and it’s something they must fix soon.