Niner Noise
FanSided

Ranking the NFL’s 5 most disappointing teams of 2019

By Peter Panacy

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 21: Head coach Sean McVay of the Los Angeles Rams looks on during warm ups before the game against the Los Angeles Rams at Levi's Stadium on December 21, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 21: Head coach Sean McVay of the Los Angeles Rams looks on during warm ups before the game against the Los Angeles Rams at Levi's Stadium on December 21, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 6
Next
Jared Goff, Rams
Jared Goff #16 of the Los Angeles Rams (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /

8-7. . Los Angeles Rams. 3. team. 51.

The 49ers essentially ended the Panthers’ 2019 NFL campaign way back in the middle of the year. San Francisco literally ended the Los Angeles Rams’ playoff hopes by pulling off a 34-31 Week 16 win.

One year removed from representing the NFC in Super Bowl LIII, the Rams have gone from an offensive powerhouse to merely an OK squad, one with a good enough defense paired with an underperforming offense.

The blame can go in one of many different directions. Perhaps it’s head coach Sean McVay for not coming up with an offensive system designed to overcome teams not biting on his play-action attempts. Or, just as possible, it’s Los Angeles’ lack of offseason moves to properly improve its offensive line. Maybe quarterback Jared Goff is nowhere close to proving he’s capable of putting an offense on his shoulders when the running game isn’t working.

Speaking of the running game, one which was so crucial to Goff and the Rams’ success in 2018, it’s averaging just 3.8 yards per attempt — good for 26th in the league.

With so much money committed to Goff and running back Todd Gurley, who has been largely ineffective this season, one can only wonder about the uncertain future the Rams face in coming seasons.

So much for L.A. returning to the big game.