Three problems Sean McVay, Rams must fix after near-upset vs. Panthers

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Three problems Sean McVay, Rams must fix after near-upset vs. Panthers originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Los Angeles Rams are still alive in the NFC, advancing to the NFC divisional round. The Rams were very fortunate, however to survive their wild-card road scare in Carolina.

Initially, it looked like they would blow out the Panthers after jumping to a 14-0 lead. Instead, they needed some magic from Matthew Stafford,connecting with tight end Colby Parkinson on a magnificent passing TD in the last final minute to pull off a 34-31 win.

Stafford's 54th career successful fourth-quarter comeback saved the day with the game-winning drive. As double-digit point favorites, however, there's no doubt the 12-5 Rams underachieved vs. the Panthers with several self-inflicted wounds.

Stafford did throw a bad late third-quarter interception that helped put his team into a 24-20 early fourth-quarter hole. There also were a few big plays left on the table, critical missed connections with wide receivers Puka Nacua and Davante Adams.

But those things happen, especially in windy conditions in outdoor playoff games. There are three issues, however, that the Rams would need to clean up if they plan on going deeper in a tough NFC field and making the conference championship game.

Here's what Sean McVay must work on with his team most before next weekend:

The Rams can't afford so many penalties again

This was a shocker to see. The Rams were undisciplined with nine accepted infractions that added up to 83 yards going against them. That included key pass-interference flags and the worst no-no, linebacker Nate Landman's late helmet-to-helmet hit that set up an easy Panthers go-ahead rushing TD that made it 24-20.

The Rams had a league-low 75 penalties for 573 yards during the regular season, averaging 4 for 33 yards per game. Losing their heads with fouls in key moments should have cost them a lot more and it will against a better team on the road in the divisional round.

MORE: Why Matthew Stafford's performance dipped after taking hit to hand

The Rams can't struggle on third down again

The Rams were 3-of-13 converting third downs against the Panthers, despite their typical scoring output. That is 23.1 percent, well down from their 39.6 percent from the regular season that ranked them No. 17 in the league.

Considering six of the teams in the top seven that converted at 42.7 percent or better made the playoffs, that is a relative weakness for the Rams, despite their running and receiving talent.

The Panthers did a good job containing the Rams' running game, which didn't get any chunk runs with a high gain of eight yards. They were smart in pressure and coverage so third-and-long wasn't easy for Stafford.

The Rams are a strong red zone touchdown team, so the key is making them sustain long drives and limiting big plays. The Panthers did that to facilitate their comeback. The Panthers, however, let them off the hook, by going for two failed midfield fourth-down attempts that twice gave the Rams favorable short fields.

The Rams can't afford to be sloppy on special teams

McVay fired former Panthers linebacker Chase Blackburn as his teams' special teams coordinator three weeks ago. Ben Kotwica, who once held that role with the Broncos, has had a short time taking over in interim.

The Rams had a punting adventure with Ethan Evans. He did do well to drop three punts inside the 20, but he telegraphed a fourth-quarter attempt and was blocked by Isaiah Simmons resulting a short TD drive that put the Panthers up again, 31-27 late in the fourth quarter. Evans also was shaky on his kickoffs to help the Panthers in the transition game.

When returning, the Rams got nothing from Xavier Smith, going backward two yards on his lone attempt fielding a punt. Los Angeles is average at best in the third phase and more woes with Kotwica will spell doom against teams who excel in that area.

MORE: How crucial a drop, turnovers cost Carolina in wild-card loss to Rams

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