Sean McVay isn’t sugarcoating it. After the Rams escaped with a nail-biting overtime win against the Chicago Bears, the head coach was quick to admit what many watching already sensed - he didn’t have his best day on the sidelines. But thanks to a resilient defense and a timely interception in overtime, Los Angeles is still alive, now just one win away from the Super Bowl.
Let’s set the scene: Caleb Williams, in full magician mode, had just pulled off a game-tying throw late in regulation that had Bears fans dreaming. But the Rams defense slammed the door in overtime, picking him off and flipping the momentum right back. It was the kind of moment that can define a postseason run - and maybe save a season.
McVay, to his credit, owned it all. “I did not like the feel for the flow of the game that I had outside of the first series where our guys did a great job,” he said postgame. “Defensively, it kept us in it in spite of how poor of a job I did for our group.”
That kind of candor is rare in this league - especially after a win - but it speaks to the standard McVay holds himself to. He wasn’t looking for a pat on the back.
He gave that to his players instead. “I’m really grateful for this group being able to find a way, stick with it, and be able to overcome some bad coaching by me,” he added.
It’s a lot easier to be self-critical when you’re advancing to the NFC Championship Game.
Now, the Rams are gearing up for a heavyweight clash with the Seattle Seahawks. It’s a matchup loaded with storylines, not the least of which is McVay’s chess match against Seattle’s dynamic offense.
But there’s also a bit of recent history in play here. Last week, McVay outmaneuvered Ben Johnson in a game that felt personal - a little redemption for Matt LaFleur, perhaps, following some curious comments in a previous press conference.
The Rams are peaking at the right time, and while McVay is taking the heat for his own miscues, he’s also steering a team that’s showing serious resilience. The defense is stepping up in big moments, and the offense, while inconsistent, has shown flashes of what it can do when it clicks early - as it did on that opening drive.
There’s also been some lighthearted chatter off the field, with fans drawing viral comparisons between McVay and FBI director Kash Patel. Social media had a field day with the resemblance, sparking memes and jokes that McVay himself probably got a laugh out of - at least after the win.
But back to football - and make no mistake, McVay knows the stakes. The Rams are one win away from a return to the Super Bowl, and while he’s shouldering the blame for a rocky performance, he’s also guiding a team that’s finding ways to win in the postseason. That’s what matters in January.
Sunday’s NFC title game will be a test of adjustments, poise, and execution - all areas where McVay has historically thrived. He’ll need to be sharper than he was against Chicago. But with a defense that’s rising to the occasion and a locker room that clearly believes, the Rams are heading into the next round with momentum - and a head coach who’s not afraid to own the moment.