Rams are running out of explanations for poor start. They're also nearly out of chances to fix it

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Six games into a season that began with Super Bowl aspirations, the Los Angeles Rams are having existential crises instead.

The Rams (2-4) have played significantly better than their record by many statistical measures, but they've also failed at their biggest moments. Their injuries are already mounting, and their big-picture margin for error has almost vanished halfway through October.

It's enough to make Sean McVay philosophical after his Rams' latest monumental failure in a game they had no business losing.

“We’re going to continue to fight,” McVay said Monday after LA's embarrassing 18-16 home loss to the Arizona Cardinals. “We’re going to continue to swing. These moments force you to learn a lot about yourself and about the people around you.”

McVay didn't disagree with the notion that the Rams might have still been affected by their heartbreaking overtime loss to the Buffalo Bills six days earlier while they stumbled and bumbled their way through Sunday's two-point loss to a rebuilding NFC West rival.

The veteran coach prides himself on building a positive working environment for his players, so the Rams' pervading absence of passion or poise hits him personally.

“I think the overall energy, the edge and the consistent way that we expect to be able to play, we could do a better job of that,” McVay said. “I feel tremendously responsible. I think that’s one of your jobs as a coach is to try to get your group as ready to go and be able to have that energy and that vibe. There were some things, just based on my expectations for the group, and I think that they would agree, that that was lacking.”

To make this predicament even worse, the Rams' latest defeat came packaged with several disquieting injuries.

Star receiver Davante Adams (hamstring) is out for at least six weeks and quite possibly more, while defensive tackle Poona Ford (triceps) is out for the season and defensive tackle Kobie Turner (groin) will miss a few games on injured reserve.

Even if McVay rights the Rams' emotional ship, even if Matthew Stafford rediscovers the swashbuckling flair with which he won an MVP award last season, and even if the Rams overcome their mounting injury woes, the math is simple: They can't afford to have many more down weeks if they hope even to make the playoffs, let alone contend for a title.

That's not what this supposed super team expected a mere six weeks ago — but nothing gets McVay's full attention like a complicated obstacle.

“This has presented a bunch of different challenges, but that’s what you sign up for,” he said. “You don’t just sign up for all the good moments. What makes it worth it is because it is hard. This is a good, challenging moment, and this is where we’re going to lean in.”

The LA defense didn't underperform against the undertalented Cardinals, holding them to 4.8 yards per play and allowing no touchdowns on five trips inside the red zone despite a huge time of possession disparity caused by the Rams offense's ineptitude.

An offense run by a coach of McVay's stature should not struggle in as many basic aspects as this one did Sunday — and much of that awfulness was due to McVay's erratic play-calling and Stafford's inconsistent decisions. All-Pro receiver Puka Nacua, who caught 17 passes last week, somehow received only three targets against Arizona before the Rams' desperate final drive.

Kyren Williams appeared to express postgame frustration with his lack of snaps down the stretch against Arizona, but McVay said the running back came to him later and smoothed it over, saying he was just emotional after a loss. Williams is averaging 4.9 yards per carry, and he has been one of the league's top pass-catching running backs. If he could break more chunk-yardage plays, he would be having a monster season.

The pass rush expected from the Rams’ loaded defensive front has not materialized in Myles Garrett’s absence. Los Angeles has only eight sacks, second fewest in the NFL, after failing to drop the eminently sackable Jacoby Brissett on Sunday. The Rams are posting a strong quarterback pressure rate, but they need more finishes.

Along with the losses of Adams, Turner and Ford, the Rams will have their third kicker in three games this week after Blake Grupe's season-ending knee injury, which occurred because LA's abysmal special teams coverage unit forced the 5-foot-7 Grupe to make a tackle. Garrett is also not returning to practice this week, meaning he will miss his sixth straight game.

9 — The Rams' combined margin of defeat in their three most recent losses, with two decided in the final seconds of regulation and the third in overtime.

There's so much to do before the Rams head to Vegas: Identify a new starting receiver to replace Adams, whether internally or through trade; sign a kicker and instruct him to show caution in making tackles, no matter how badly the players in front of him are doing their jobs; decide who will play extra snaps on the defensive line to make up for the holes left by Ford and Turner.

See AP’s full NFL coverage here

Los Angeles Rams tight end Tyler Higbee, left, dives forward in front of Arizona Cardinals cornerback Max Melton during the second half of an NFL football game in Inglewood, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua, left, has his face mask grabbed by Arizona Cardinals linebacker Jack Gibbens during the second half of an NFL football game in Inglewood, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay speaks at a news conference after an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals in Inglewood, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) reacts toward teammates during the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals in Inglewood, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Freddy Peralta threw 5 1/3 gritty innings, Junior Caminero and Yandy Díaz each hit a two-run homer and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Cleveland Guardians 7-3 in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series on Monday night to advance to the World Series for the third time in the franchise’s 29 seasons.

The Rays will face the Milwaukee Brewers in the first matchup in which both teams are seeking their first World Series title since 1980, when the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Kansas City Royals.

Game 1 is Friday night in Milwaukee.

“We got one more bite!” Rays manager Kevin Cash told his team as the clubhouse celebration started.

The loss extended Cleveland’s World Series championship drought to 78 years.

“I couldn’t be more proud of our group,” Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said. “It just hurts. It stings. Really felt like we had a team to go and just weren’t able to get there.”

On the 18-year anniversary of their first AL pennant in 2008, the Rays jumped ahead 2-0 in the second inning on Richie Palacios’ two-run double and clinched it with closer Bryan Baker on the mound.

The Guardians wouldn’t give up and had the go-ahead run at first base in the eighth when Kevin Kelly struck out Brayan Rocchio to leave the bases loaded after two runs scored.

Peralta, the ALCS MVP, allowed one run and five hits to earn his second win of the series in his third appearance. He pitched six scoreless innings to win Game 2 and got two outs in relief in Game 4.

A sellout crowd of 40,230 fans waved yellow-and-blue rally towels, rang cowbells and chanted “Let’s go Rays!” throughout the night at Tropicana Field, which needed major renovations after Hurricane Milton shredded the roof two years ago and caused extensive damage throughout the stadium.

The Rays played their 2025 home games across the bay in Tampa at the New York Yankees’ spring training complex, got new ownership before this season and secured a new stadium deal to bear ready in 2029 near the NFL’s Buccaneers. They returned to the Trop to win 55 games in the regular season. Only the Brewers had that many home wins this year.

“This is for you!” Caminero yelled to the crowd from a microphone on the field after the game. “Let’s go! I can’t hear you!”

After sweeping the Yankees in the Division Series, the Rays fell behind the Guardians 0-1 and 1-2 in this series before taking three straight games.

Caminero gave Tampa Bay a cushion with his first career postseason homer in the seventh inning. The two-time All-Star sent a drive off the left-field foul pole to give the Rays a 5-1 lead, becoming the first player to go deep on a splitter by All-Star closer Cade Smith.

Caminero turned around before reaching first base, looked toward his dugout and pounded his chest with both arms, cupped his ear rounding second to hear more cheers, stopped before reaching the plate, pointed into the stands and crossed his arms before crossing home.

Caminero hit 42 homers in the regular season but needed 33 at-bats to get his first in October.

The Guardians answered against Tyler Wells and Ian Seymour by loading the bases on two singles and a walk with two outs. Seymour walked Patrick Bailey to force in one run and hit Angel Martínez with a pitch to force in another. Kelly entered and fanned Rocchio on three changeups.

“Credit to our guys. It’s a gut punch there in the seventh. And our guys came right back," Vogt said. “Our guys never quit. They never stopped fighting. That’s who they are.”

Díaz, who guaranteed a Game 6 victory through an interpreter on Sunday, gave the Rays another four-run lead with a two-run shot off Hunter Gaddis in the bottom of the eighth.

Caminero led off the Tampa Bay second with single off opener Shawn Armstrong, who took the loss in his second start in three games. Left-hander Tim Herrin replaced Armstrong. Chandler Simpson reached on a fielder’s choice and stole second before Victor Mesa Jr. walked. Simpson advanced to third on Jonny DeLuca’s flyout to center. After Mesa stole second, Palacios looped a double to right-center for a 2-0 lead.

Armstrong, who was the opener in Game 4, faced the first four batters, becoming the first pitcher in postseason history to start a game after pitching both of the previous two days.

DeLuca’s sacrifice fly off Joey Cantillo made it 3-0 in the third but the Rays missed an opportunity to break it open with more runs after they loaded the bases with no outs.

Nathaniel Lowe’s RBI single in the sixth drove in Cleveland’s first run.

See AP’s full MLB coverage here

Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Freddy Peralta celebrates their win against the Cleveland Guardians in Game 6 of an American League Championship Series baseball game in St. Petersburg, Fla. Monday, Oct. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Bryan Baker celebrates their win against the Cleveland Guardians in Game 6 of an American League Championship Series baseball game in St. Petersburg, Fla. Monday, Oct. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

The Tampa Bay Rays base after winning Game 6 of an American League Championship Series baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians in St. Petersburg, Fla. Monday, Oct. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Bryan Baker celebrates their win against the Cleveland Guardians in Game 6 of an American League Championship Series baseball game in St. Petersburg, Fla. Monday, Oct. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Tampa Bay Rays' Junior Caminero scores past Cleveland Guardians catcher Patrick Bailey sacrifice fly during the third inning in Game 6 of an American League Championship Series baseball game in St. Petersburg, Fla. Monday, Oct. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Cam Booser celebrates the third out in the against the Cleveland Guardians during the sixth inning in Game 6 of an American League Championship Series baseball game in St. Petersburg, Fla. Monday, Oct. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Tampa Bay Rays' Junior Caminero scores past Cleveland Guardians catcher Patrick Bailey sacrifice fly during the third inning in Game 6 of an American League Championship Series baseball game in St. Petersburg, Fla. Monday, Oct. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Tampa Bay Rays' Junior Caminero celebrates a two-run home run against the Cleveland Guardians during the seventh inning in Game 6 of an American League Championship Series baseball game in St. Petersburg, Fla. Monday, Oct. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Tampa Bay Rays' Junior Caminero celebrates a two-run home run against the Cleveland Guardians during the seventh inning in Game 6 of an American League Championship Series baseball game in St. Petersburg, Fla. Monday, Oct. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)