For the Los Angeles Rams, the clock is ticking

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — While the Los Angeles Rams remain confident, their march to potential greatness is proceeding slowly.

Already frustrated with whom they see in the mirror, the Rams had even more to dislike after a 37-34 overtime loss to the Buffalo Bills on “Monday Night Football.”

After rallying to tie the score at 34 on a touchdown with five seconds remaining in regulation, the Rams’ 48-yard field-goal attempt that would’ve won the game in overtime was blocked, capping yet another horrendous special teams performance. Facing Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, the defense’s showing was also unsettling.

The Rams repeatedly failed to contain the gifted runner in the pocket, and Allen’s legs powered the Bills on the game’s decisive drive. In total, Allen led the Bills with 121 rushing yards on only 10 attempts, and he put them in position for kicker Tyler Bass to end the game with a 45-yard field goal.

After Week 5, the Rams, the overwhelming preseason favorites to win Super Bowl LXI, are 2-3 overall and 1-2 at SoFi Stadium – their home field where the Super Bowl will be played in February. At the moment, however, the Rams are focused on achieving modest goals.

Getting back to basics on special teams, executing better on offense and holding it together on defense until dominant edge rusher Myles Garrett returns from injured reserve top a busy to-do list for head coach Sean McVay and his staff.

On Monday, McVay did not sugarcoat his assessment of where things stand for the underachieving group he leads.

“This, this one is … this is the one that stinks, and it’s gonna hurt,” he said. “It’s been a while since I’ve been this pissed after a game, too.”

Although his mood was ruined by so much, let’s start with special teams.

The unit was such an embarrassment last season that McVay worked overtime in the offseason to fix it. As with many areas on the Rams, that rebuilding project is still in progress.

On Monday, Bills backup running back Ray Davis returned the opening kickoff 70 yards to help set up a Bass field goal. On the Rams’ ensuing possession, kicker Harrison Mevis missed a 50-yard attempt. And more than three hours later, with the game on the line in overtime, the Bills blocked Los Angeles’ would-be game-winner.

“I felt like I hit it good,” Mevis said of the blocked kick. “I mean, I hit it good, gave it a chance. They had good rush teams.”

Similarly, Mevis was optimistic about his missed kick in the first quarter. Well, initially, anyway.

“I feel like I hit it solid, [I] just came around it a little bit, pushed it to the left,” he said. “Gotta be fixed. Gotta make those. Gotta go back to the training ground.”

The Rams have a lot to review on defense, too.

There’s no shame in being torched by Allen in the running game. He’s one of the greatest dual-threat quarterbacks in NFL history.

That established, the Rams needed to be more disciplined in maintaining their rush lanes against Allen, better at containing him in the pocket and more efficient at tackling him when they got hands on him. Obviously, accomplishing all of that is easier in theory in meeting rooms than on the field.

Allen produced 331 yards of offense — including 210 passing yards — and two touchdowns. Running back James Cook rushed for 111 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries. The Bills racked up 234 yards on the ground.

As the Rams put it bluntly, not good.

Allen, as is usually the case for Buffalo’s opponents, was the biggest problem.

“We made a lot of mistakes,” outside linebacker Byron Young said. “[Allen] ran for [121] yards, and that basically won them the game. He was getting good field position, getting positive yards. Just us as a D-line, we gotta be better. We know how to rush — and that’s unacceptable. If we want to win games … we can’t let that happen.”

At least defensively for the Rams, major help may be coming soon.

Garrett, who underwent arthroscopic knee surgery in mid-September, is “making good progress,” McVay told reporters recently. His potential return to the lineup early next month could be a game changer for a group that needs one.

Additionally, future Hall of Fame defensive lineman Aaron Donald, who came out of retirement this season, was disruptive against the Bills. Cornerback Jaylen Watson, a key part of the Rams’ secondary makeover in the offseason, had an interception Monday.

On offense, quarterback Matthew Stafford (383 passing yards, three touchdown passes) and wide receiver Puka Nacua (17 receptions, 138 yards, one touchdown) had monster games. There’s no doubt about it: The Rams are loaded.

McVay sees potential for greatness. But the potential must materialize — soon.

“None of it makes me feel good right now,” he said. “Other than I’m proud of the effort.”

Of course, that alone won’t get the Rams to where many predicted they’ll finish the season. And the clock is ticking.

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