Sean McVay's Struggles Lead Rams to 2-4 Start

Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay, once lauded as one of football's brightest offensive minds, is facing scrutiny as his team stumbles to a 2-4 record six weeks into the 2026 NFL season. The Rams, currently last in the NFC West, are watching their Super Bowl aspirations diminish, with many pointing to a pattern of self-inflicted wounds and questionable decision-making under McVay's leadership.

Special teams have become an annual concern for the Rams, a problem that McVay has allowed to persist. The team's revolving door at kicker has been a source of frustration, most notably highlighted by Harrison Mevis missing four field goals before his release. One critical miss was a 48-yard attempt in overtime against Buffalo that contributed to a loss. This decision came after McVay opted for a long field goal on fourth-and-5 rather than trusting quarterback Matthew Stafford to gain a first down, a choice McVay later admitted he regretted.

"I wish I would have had a better play call and gone forward, got it a lot tighter. I’m sick right now with myself," McVay stated following the game.

The team has also struggled with a notable lack of discipline, a departure from their usual standing as one of the NFL's least-penalized teams. False starts, holding calls, and other mental errors have repeatedly derailed promising drives. McVay acknowledged these issues, stating, "We had some critical moments in critical situations where you jump offsides on fourth-and-three…then you jump offsides on the first play of their two-minute drive when you’re trying to sustain the lead and win the game. We have to do a better job and it starts with me."

McVay's play-calling has also drawn criticism. Against Arizona, he called a fourth-and-1 handoff to tight end Davis Allen, who had no prior NFL carries, and later a predictable screen pass on fourth-and-8 that was easily stopped. These decisions contributed to an 18-16 loss to the Cardinals, who entered the game as significant underdogs.

Throughout the season, the Rams have frequently found themselves in close games, with four consecutive contests decided on the final play, resulting in three losses. This pattern suggests an offense that often struggles to build comfortable leads and allows opponents to remain in contention.

Even the season-opening loss in Australia has been attributed to McVay's decisions, including his travel plans which saw the team arrive in Melbourne only a day before kickoff, contrasting with the San Francisco 49ers' earlier arrival. McVay himself called it a "dumbass coach" move that put the team in a bad spot.

While McVay cannot control the extensive injury list that has sidelined key players like Poona Ford, Kobie Turner, Davante Adams, Puka Nacua, and Myles Garrett, nor incidents like Alaric Jackson's suspension or questionable officiating, these factors do not fully explain the team's struggles. McVay acknowledged the need for improvement, stating, "We won’t win a game unless we figure out how not to beat ourselves."

Despite the current difficulties, there is no suggestion that McVay's job is in jeopardy. He remains highly regarded in the league, holding the distinction of being the youngest head coach to win a Super Bowl and is widely considered one of the NFL's premier coaches. The Rams would face a significant challenge in finding a comparable replacement.

With 11 games remaining in the season, McVay has an opportunity to guide the team back toward the success they experienced in 2021 and during their Super Bowl run in 2025. The turnaround is expected to begin with their upcoming game against the Las Vegas Raiders. The coach who once made the league look a step behind now has the chance to recapture that innovative spirit and lead the Rams out of their current slump.