Sean McVay and Matthew Stafford talk about the comeback win in Week 3 against the 49ers
“I see better than I hear. I saw a team respond last week after a really humbling week. And three hours will never define you, good or bad, unless you let it, and we’ve got to do a good job of building on that.” – McVay
A week after losing a divisional game on the road, the Rams found themselves back against the wall again. This time, they stayed competitive and picked up their first win of the season against another divisional opponent. Trailing by 10 points early in the fourth quarter, the Rams emerged victorious. A number of players contributed to this improbable comeback.
Wide receiver Tutu Atwell caught a 50-yard pass from Stafford, setting up running back Kyren Williams’ tying goal. McVay said that made him realize Atwell “probably should have had other opportunities.” McVay also talked about making an effort to get the ball to Williams more often, which he translated into 116 yards and three touchdowns that “probably gave his owners a good fantasy day.” And then rookie kicker Joshua Karty scored the game-winning goal from 37 yards out.
Above all, McVay emphasized how proud he was of the group for persevering when things were going badly, especially the players who took on different or larger roles due to injuries.
“We have to give a lot of credit to our coaches. I mean, it wasn’t the players we normally have out there, but I also have to give a lot of credit to our guys because they took every role they were given this week, went out there, attacked and helped our team win.” – Stafford
A number of Rams players who would normally be backups stepped into action when they were needed to complete a seemingly impossible comeback victory. They adapted to injury circumstances and took on larger roles to earn a much-needed win. Stafford said it was “a real testament to the guys in our locker room and the coaching staff. Safety Kamren Kinchens, Atwell, wide receiver Jordan Whittington and offensive lineman Logan Bruss are just a few of those guys.
Stafford said Atwell in particular had a big impact with some “decisive catches” at the end. He acknowledged that “the NFL is an incredible business” and that they deserved the win by staying true to their core values as a team, regardless of the personnel situation.
In the end, Stafford said, “You just have to appreciate the good moments and figure out why they happened” so you can repeat the success.
