'Stay Blind!' Rams Coach Sean McVay Reveals Strategy During Early-Season Losing Streak
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The Los Angeles Rams suffered through a 3-6 start to the 2023 season, but strong performances after the bye week led them to a playoff berth and a 10-7 record.
When the going was tough early in the campaign, it would have been easy to succumb to noise and analysis coming from outside the facility, but that wasn't head coach Sean McVay's strategy. His players probably noticed the heat, but he tries to block it out.
“I think our players are probably a lot more in tune just because of them being on social media, things like that," McVay said. "I'm aware of it because of the questions that [the media asks], but I try to stay pretty blind to it. We try to be as inside out as possible."
Even after a slow start, the Rams weren't phased, at least not after their bye week. They finished 7-1 down the stretch en route to securing the No. 6 seed in the NFC playoffs.
"What I loved, and I mentioned this to you when we've kind of connected, is the way these guys continue to come to work and the consistency at which they did it was on display really when we were 3-6," McVay said. "Then when we were able to finish up 7-1, I think we were getting healthy. I think we started to find our identities. I love the consistency of our coaching staff. It's about coming together at the right time and continuing to gel as a group."
This sets up the biggest game of the season for Los Angeles. McVay will reunite with his former quarterback in Jared Goff on Sunday, and quarterback Matthew Stafford will return to his former city when the Rams face the Detroit Lions in the Wild Card round.
Kickoff between L.A. and Detroit is set for 5 p.m. PT, and the game will be televised on NBC.
