Rams' McVay Loses Battle to Lou Anarumo on Monday Night Football

The Los Angeles Rams lost to a more talented Cincinnati Bengals team on Monday, despite Joe Burrow playing hurt. How much of this loss is on Sean McVay?

Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo has made a name for himself as one of the league’s most feared minds on his side of the ball. It’s no accident—time and time again, he’s shut down high-powered offenses playing at their highest level.

On Monday night, his Bengals beat a visiting Los Angeles Rams team, 19-16. They did so with a hobbled quarterback in Joe Burrow who was struggling to put adequate velocity on rudimentary passes. Against Los Angeles’ dangerous offense, they needed a quality start, if not a shutout, from the defense. Anarumo delivered.

The Rams were held under 300 yards, failed to maintain any semblance of rhythm on the ground, and committed two turnovers. They ultimately fell short in the red zone, costing them points and, likely, a victory.

Anarumo’s win is, of course, a defeat for Los Angeles head coach Sean McVay.

With a brief hat-tip to hindsight bias, it was pretty clear McVay was bested today. He came into the day calling plays for an offense that had allowed a single sack, paving the way for breakout stories in running Kyren Williams and receivers Puka Nacua and Tutu Atwell.

The Rams were out of sorts all night. Quarterback Matthew Stafford was 18-of-33 for 269 yards and a score, but the yardage totals cloud the reality of the Week 3 contest. Anarumo took away his first read with regularity and allowed his talent to win the day. Each time Stafford held onto the football, it felt like a sack was imminent.

Cincinnati totaled six sacks in the win. Some were perfectly dialed-up blitzes that sent a free rusher Stafford’s way. Other times, the Bengals’ defensive line simply dominated. Where Cincinnati also found success was remaining disciplined against McVay’s misdirections. They were able to sniff out screens with ease and fit the run well, holding Williams to less than four yards per attempt.

They had an answer for everything.

Matthew Stafford pressured by Bengals defense / USA Today Sports

For Los Angeles, this is bad news. It may very well put a hard ceiling on this team’s future.

McVay’s prowess helped the Rams shock the Seattle Seahawks in Week 1. A week later, it was a clash of play-calling titans, but the more talented team (the San Francisco 49ers) outlasted their rival. On Monday, though, Los Angeles was in position to win against a team with a wounded bird at quarterback. They met Cincinnati with equal dysfunction.

The Rams’ path to beating more talented teams was by winning the battles between the headsets. McVay is a savant, hiding inexperience and heightening his players’ biggest strengths. But when he falls short, like he did on Monday, they stand little chance of taking on more talented teams.

Of course, the season isn’t over. However, stealing a win against an effectively neutralized quarterback would have given Los Angeles an edge in the wildcard race.

Expect McVay to take accountability in his press conferences this week. His own ability to counterpunch Anarumo's—and soon, the league’s—adjustments could make or break his team’s season.