Jared Verse Faces Heat After Rams' NFC Championship Loss, But There's More to the Story
When the Los Angeles Rams took the field against the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship, there was plenty of buzz surrounding Jared Verse. The second-year edge rusher - and former Florida State standout - had become a focal point for Rams fans and analysts alike. But after a 31-27 loss in Seattle, Verse found himself in the crosshairs of criticism, with many questioning his impact during the team’s playoff run.
Let’s be clear: the expectations for Verse were sky-high. After all, this is a guy who came into the league with a reputation for relentless motor and disruptive play.
He was voted to the Pro Bowl and had been a key piece of the Rams' defensive front throughout the season. But in a game where the Rams needed their stars to shine brightest, the performance didn’t quite match the billing - at least not in the eyes of some fans and analysts.
Fantasy football analyst Brian Drake didn’t hold back, pointing out that Verse had just one tackle through three quarters and no sacks in the first 11 quarters of postseason play. “For all the media hype and Pro Bowl votes, Jared Verse has completely no-showed the NFC Championship game,” Drake posted on X (formerly Twitter). It was a sentiment echoed by frustrated fans, some of whom even called on Rams GM Les Snead to make a move for Raiders star Maxx Crosby.
It wasn’t just the stat sheet that drew ire. A late offsides penalty on Verse gave Seattle a fresh set of downs and helped them drain critical time off the clock - a moment that felt emblematic of a game where the Rams defense struggled to get off the field. Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold - a journeyman who’s bounced around the league - torched the Rams for 346 passing yards, picking apart a unit that had no answers in key moments.
Still, it wasn’t all negative. Verse did manage to notch a sack, bringing his total to three for the postseason.
And for those watching closely, his effort never waned. He was active, physical, and constantly trying to disrupt from the edge - even if the stat line didn’t fully reflect it.
Braden Fiske, another former Florida State product, also left it all on the field. He came up with a late sack that pushed Seattle back eight yards, showing the kind of burst and power that made him a rising name among Rams defenders. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to turn the tide.
Not everyone was ready to pile on the criticism. Logan B.
Robinson, host of the Hear the Spear podcast, offered a more balanced take. “Feel bad for Jared Verse and Braden Fiske who both played their a---- off tonight for the Rams.
Future is ridiculously bright for them in the league,” Robinson posted.
And he’s right. It’s easy to forget that Verse is still just in his second year.
He’s already proven he belongs in the league. And while this postseason may not have had the breakout moments many were hoping for, it’s far from a referendum on his future.
The tools are there. The motor is there.
The production will come.
One more Seminole made headlines Sunday - but for a very different reason. Cam Akers, now with the Seahawks, is heading back to the Super Bowl.
It’s a full-circle moment for the former Rams back, who famously returned from a torn Achilles in time for L.A.’s last title run. This time, he’ll try to help take down his former team’s NFC rivals.
As for Verse and Fiske, their season ends with disappointment, but also with promise. The Rams have a young core on defense, and these two are very much part of that future. The criticism may be loud now, but give it time - these guys are just getting started.