{"id":15136,"date":"2017-09-18T17:07:26","date_gmt":"2017-09-18T21:07:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thehogs.net\/blogs\/?p=15136"},"modified":"2025-06-01T23:14:45","modified_gmt":"2025-06-02T03:14:45","slug":"the-loser-papers-2017-edition-i","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/the-hogs.net\/blogs\/2017\/09\/18\/the-loser-papers-2017-edition-i\/","title":{"rendered":"The Loser Papers &#8211; 2017 &#8211; Edition I"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Is it that time already? Yes, Redskins fans, it is! After a tumultuous off-season, we are finally playing real football again. And, with the first victory of the young season in the books, the editors here at TLP have searched the greater Los Angeles area for newspaper articles to explain how the hometown Rams, led by former Redskins OC, Sean McVay let this one slip away. In case you didn&#8217;t know, that&#8217;s what TLP is all about; Giving you insight, from the other team&#8217;s perspective, on how they were beaten by the Washington Redskins. Was it the refs? A bad bounce? A costly mistake? Or did they simply not play up to their potential? Let&#8217;s find out. From the pages of The Los Angeles Times, we bring you two articles:<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<article class=\"trb_ar\">\n<header class=\"trb_ar_h\">\n<div class=\"trb_ar_hl\">\n<blockquote>\n<h1 class=\"trb_ar_hl_t\">Rams coach Sean McVay sees life pass before his eyes in loss to Redskins<\/h1>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"trb_ar_main\">\n<blockquote>\n<div class=\"trb_ar_la\">\n<aside class=\"trb_em\" data-content-pgcredit=\"\" data-content-id=\"94638472\" data-content-size=\"leadart\" data-content-type=\"gallery\" data-content-slug=\"la-sp-rams-redskins-20170917-photos\" data-content-subtype=\"photogallery\" data-carousel-options=\"outer&amp;removePagesOnClose\" data-role=\"carousel carousel_swipe lightbox_container imgsize_ratiosizecontainer\" data-content-key=\"43073939c03e2221b018f43e824fe4bb\">\n<div class=\"trb_em_mb\" data-role=\"carousel_view\">\n<div class=\"trb_em_m\">\n<aside class=\"trb_em trb_em_th\" data-content-pgcredit=\"\" data-content-id=\"94638472\" data-content-size=\"leadart\" data-content-type=\"image\" data-content-subtype=\"photo\">\n<figure class=\"trb_em_ic_figure\" data-role=\"lightbox_open imgsize_nonLightboxImage imgsize_item\"><img class=\"trb_em_ic_img\" title=\"Rams vs. Washington Redskins\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1260px) 750px, (min-width: 1060px) calc(100vw - 559px), (min-width: 840px) calc(100vw - 419px), (min-width: 800px) 800px, 100.1vw\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.trbimg.com\/img-59bf15b0\/turbine\/la-sp-rams-redskins-20170917-photos\/350\/350x197 350w, http:\/\/www.trbimg.com\/img-59bf15b0\/turbine\/la-sp-rams-redskins-20170917-photos\/400\/400x225 400w, http:\/\/www.trbimg.com\/img-59bf15b0\/turbine\/la-sp-rams-redskins-20170917-photos\/450\/450x253 450w, http:\/\/www.trbimg.com\/img-59bf15b0\/turbine\/la-sp-rams-redskins-20170917-photos\/500\/500x281 500w, http:\/\/www.trbimg.com\/img-59bf15b0\/turbine\/la-sp-rams-redskins-20170917-photos\/550\/550x309 550w, http:\/\/www.trbimg.com\/img-59bf15b0\/turbine\/la-sp-rams-redskins-20170917-photos\/600\/600x338 600w, http:\/\/www.trbimg.com\/img-59bf15b0\/turbine\/la-sp-rams-redskins-20170917-photos\/650\/650x366 650w, http:\/\/www.trbimg.com\/img-59bf15b0\/turbine\/la-sp-rams-redskins-20170917-photos\/700\/700x394 700w, http:\/\/www.trbimg.com\/img-59bf15b0\/turbine\/la-sp-rams-redskins-20170917-photos\/750\/750x422 750w, http:\/\/www.trbimg.com\/img-59bf15b0\/turbine\/la-sp-rams-redskins-20170917-photos\/800\/800x450 800w, http:\/\/www.trbimg.com\/img-59bf15b0\/turbine\/la-sp-rams-redskins-20170917-photos\/850\/850x478 850w, http:\/\/www.trbimg.com\/img-59bf15b0\/turbine\/la-sp-rams-redskins-20170917-photos\/900\/900x506 900w, http:\/\/www.trbimg.com\/img-59bf15b0\/turbine\/la-sp-rams-redskins-20170917-photos\/950\/950x534 950w, http:\/\/www.trbimg.com\/img-59bf15b0\/turbine\/la-sp-rams-redskins-20170917-photos\/1000\/1000x563 1000w, http:\/\/www.trbimg.com\/img-59bf15b0\/turbine\/la-sp-rams-redskins-20170917-photos\/1050\/1050x591 1050w, http:\/\/www.trbimg.com\/img-59bf15b0\/turbine\/la-sp-rams-redskins-20170917-photos\/1100\/1100x619 1100w, http:\/\/www.trbimg.com\/img-59bf15b0\/turbine\/la-sp-rams-redskins-20170917-photos\/1150\/1150x647 1150w, http:\/\/www.trbimg.com\/img-59bf15b0\/turbine\/la-sp-rams-redskins-20170917-photos\/1200\/1200x675 1200w, http:\/\/www.trbimg.com\/img-59bf15b0\/turbine\/la-sp-rams-redskins-20170917-photos\/1400\/1400x788 1400w, http:\/\/www.trbimg.com\/img-59bf15b0\/turbine\/la-sp-rams-redskins-20170917-photos\/1600\/1600x900 1600w, http:\/\/www.trbimg.com\/img-59bf15b0\/turbine\/la-sp-rams-redskins-20170917-photos\/1800\/1800x1013 1800w, http:\/\/www.trbimg.com\/img-59bf15b0\/turbine\/la-sp-rams-redskins-20170917-photos\/2000\/2000x1125 2000w, http:\/\/www.trbimg.com\/img-59bf15b0\/turbine\/la-sp-rams-redskins-20170917-photos\/2048\/2048x1152 2048w\" alt=\"Rams vs. Washington Redskins\" data-baseurl=\"http:\/\/www.trbimg.com\/img-59bf15b0\/turbine\/la-sp-rams-redskins-20170917-photos\" data-c-nd=\"2048x1152\" data-role=\"imgsize_srcsetdisplayitem\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/aside>\n<div class=\"trb_em_r trb_embed_gallerywhole\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"trb_ar_by\">\n<figure class=\"trb_ar_by_i_f\"><\/figure>\n<p><span class=\"trb_ar_by_nm_pm\"><span class=\"trb_ar_by_nm_au\" data-byline-withoutby=\"\"><a class=\"trb_ar_by_nm_au_a\" href=\"http:\/\/www.latimes.com\/la-bio-gary-klein-staff.html#nt=byline\">Gary Klein<\/a><\/span><a class=\"trb_ar_by_cl\" href=\"mailto:gary.klein@latimes.com?subject=Regarding:%20%22Rams%20coach%20Sean%20McVay%20sees%20life%20pass%20before%20his%20eyes%20in%20loss%20to%20Redskins%22\" data-role=\"sc_sEmail\">Contact Reporter<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"trb_ar_dateline\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div>\n<div class=\"trb_ar_page\" data-role=\"pagination_page\" data-content-page=\"1\">\n<blockquote><p>Standing on the Coliseum sideline,\u00a0Rams\u00a0coach Sean McVay could see the past, the present and the future pass before his eyes.<\/p>\n<p>Kirk Cousins, the quarterback McVay helped develop as the\u00a0Washington Redskins\u2019 offensive coordinator, masterfully moved his team down the field and passed for a go-ahead touchdown late in the fourth quarter.<\/p>\n<p>Jared Goff, the young Rams quarterback McVay is charged with developing, then came onto the field with a chance to engineer a game-winning drive.<\/p>\n<p>Goff had extended plays throughout Sunday\u2019s game and made some good throws. But on the first play of their final drive, linebacker\u00a0Mason Foster\u00a0intercepted Goff\u2019s pass, sealing the Rams\u2019 27-20 defeat before a crowd of 56,612.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI probably could have given us a better play,\u201d McVay said, \u201cand we could have made a better decision with the football.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Rams also could have done a much better job stopping Washington\u2019s rushing attack and eliminating penalties and fumbles.<\/p>\n<p>But McVay and the Rams won\u2019t have much time to dissect a loss that evened their record at 1-1. They play the\u00a0San Francisco 49ers\u00a0in a\u00a0NFC West\u00a0game at Levi\u2019s Stadium on Thursday.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"trb_em\" data-content-id=\"94628244\" data-content-size=\"small\" data-content-type=\"story\" data-content-slug=\"la-sp-rams-redskins-farmer-20170917\" data-content-subtype=\"story\" data-role=\"sc_item imgsize_ratiosizecontainer \" data-state=\"\">\n<div class=\"trb_em_m\">\n<figure class=\"trb_em_ic_figure\" data-role=\"imgsize_item\"><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>That\u2019s probably a good thing for team that showed it is neither the juggernaut that routed the undermanned\u00a0Indianapolis Colts\u00a0in its opener, nor a group that will be overmatched by a top quarterback.<\/p>\n<p>The loss ended an emotional week for McVay, who claimed there was no extra motivation for defeating a team he spent seven seasons working for before the Rams made him the youngest coach in modern\u00a0NFL\u00a0history.<\/p>\n<p>Rams players have talked for months about how McVay has infused the organization with an ethos of accountability. McVay displayed it on Sunday, taking responsibility for the loss \u2014 and just about everything else \u2014 when the Rams came up short against an opponent the coach knows better than any other.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt starts with me,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>The penalties and other mistakes?<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019ll look at ourselves critically in the mirror, coaches included, starting with me,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>Defensive coordinator Wade Phillips will need to examine the rush defense. Even with the return of star lineman Aaron Donald, who ended his holdout last week, the Rams gave up 229 rushing yards. Donald had two tackles, including one for a loss.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cJust need to knock out the cobwebs and get out there and play a lot better to help my team try and pull out close games like this,\u201d Donald said.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"trb_em \" data-content-embedlocation=\"Embed + (2)\" data-content-id=\"94641761\" data-content-size=\"large\" data-content-type=\"video\" data-content-slug=\"la-sp-rams-redskins-breakdown-20170917\" data-content-subtype=\"premiumvideo\" data-role=\"sc_item mediamanager_container imgsize_ratiosizecontainer lightbox_container \" data-state=\"\" data-embed-id=\"94641761\">\n<div class=\"trb_em_mb\">\n<div class=\"trb_em_m\">\n<div class=\"trb_em_r\" data-role=\"lightbox_metadata\">\n<div class=\"trb_embed_related_credit_and_caption\">\n<p>The Times&#8217; Gary Klein and Lindsey Thiry break down the Rams 27-20 loss to the Washington Redskins in Week 2. The Rams fall to 1-1.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>Washington running back Robert Kelley gained 78 yards in the first half before being sidelined by a rib injury. Chris Thompson rushed for 77 yards and two touchdowns. And Samaje Perine gained 67 yards.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey executed really well in what they were doing and kind of caught us in some bad calls sometimes,\u2019\u2019 linebacker\u00a0Alec Ogletree\u00a0said. \u201cAnd also we just weren\u2019t playing physical enough to stop the run.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd when you don\u2019t, that\u2019s the kind of yards they\u2019re going to put up.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>A Rams defense that produced multiple turnovers and 16 points last week against the Colts could not force Cousins into a turnover. The veteran completed 18 of 27 passes for 179 yards, including an 11-yard touchdown pass to\u00a0Ryan Grant\u00a0with 1 minute 49 seconds left that put Washington ahead, 27-20.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAlways want to make plays in the passing game,\u201d Cousins said. \u201cMake no mistake, I also like to just hand it off to Chris Thompson and watch him go 50, 60 yards for a touchdown.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo I\u2019ve got no complaints with that either.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Goff was not as sharp as he was last week against the Colts, but he completed 15 of 25 passes for 224 yards and helped the Rams come back from a 13-0, first-half deficit.<\/p>\n<p>Goff kept alive plays for substantial gains, running back Todd Gurley ran for a short touchdown and turned a short pass into a spectacular scoring play, and\u00a0Greg Zuerlein\u00a0stayed perfect on field-goal attempts this season.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"trb_em\" data-content-id=\"94640291\" data-content-size=\"small\" data-content-type=\"story\" data-content-slug=\"la-sp-rams-aaron-donald-20170917\" data-content-subtype=\"story\" data-role=\"sc_item imgsize_ratiosizecontainer \" data-state=\"\">\n<div class=\"trb_em_m\">\n<figure class=\"trb_em_ic_figure\" data-role=\"imgsize_item\"><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>The Redskins led 20-17 in the fourth quarter when Rams punter\u00a0Johnny Hekker\u00a0completed a pass to rookie Josh Reynolds for a first down at Washington\u2019s 17-yard line. But the Rams committed multiple penalties that forced them to settle for Zuerlein\u2019s game-tying field goal.<\/p>\n<p>Washington got the ball with 7:16 left and Cousins moved down the field with several clutch passes to Terrelle Pryor and Jamison Crowder.<\/p>\n<p>Rams cornerback\u00a0Trumaine Johnson\u00a0left the field during the drive because of what McVay said were cramps. Cousins made the Rams pay, finding Grant in a matchup with rookie cornerback Kevin Peterson, who had been activated from the practice squad on Saturday.<\/p>\n<p>Grant got open in the left corner of the end zone and hauled in the pass for a 27-20 lead.<\/p>\n<p>Washington linebacker Mason Foster then intercepted Goff\u2019s pass on the ensuing drive.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTough way to end it,\u201d Goff said, \u201cbut I think there\u2019s a lot of good things to learn from.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<aside class=\"trb_ar_rail\">\n<div id=\"trb_ad_articleCube_2_3_\/sports\/rams\/la-sp-rams-redskins-20170917-story.html\" class=\"trb_gptAd trb_ar_rail_ad\" data-role=\"adloader adloader_ad\" data-adloader-size=\"300x250\" data-withinviewport-options=\"bottomOffset=100&amp;topOffset=1000000\" data-adloader-position=\"articleCube\" data-adloader-adtype=\"articlecube\" data-adloader-label=\"\" data-google-query-id=\"CImBuOLKr9YCFcatZAodllgEDw\" data-state=\"adloader_loaded\"><\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<div class=\"trb_ar_e_d\" data-role=\"extendablePage_summaryStart\" data-load-type=\"scrollintoview\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.latimes.com\/sports\/rams\/la-sp-rams-redskins-20170917-story.html\">\u00a0http:\/\/www.latimes.com\/sports\/rams\/la-sp-rams-redskins-20170917-story.html<\/a><\/div>\n<div data-role=\"extendablePage_summaryStart\" data-load-type=\"scrollintoview\"><\/div>\n<div data-role=\"extendablePage_summaryStart\" data-load-type=\"scrollintoview\"><\/div>\n<div data-role=\"extendablePage_summaryStart\" data-load-type=\"scrollintoview\">And:<\/div>\n<div data-role=\"extendablePage_summaryStart\" data-load-type=\"scrollintoview\"><\/div>\n<div data-role=\"extendablePage_summaryStart\" data-load-type=\"scrollintoview\">\n<header class=\"trb_ar_h\">\n<div class=\"trb_ar_hl\">\n<blockquote>\n<h1 class=\"trb_ar_hl_t\">Rams have their problems, but they&#8217;re at least showing promise<\/h1>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"trb_ar_main\">\n<blockquote>\n<div class=\"trb_ar_la\">\n<aside class=\"trb_em\" data-content-id=\"94639443\" data-content-size=\"leadart\" data-content-type=\"image\" data-content-slug=\"la-sp-rams-redskins-20170917-photos-002\" data-content-subtype=\"photo\" data-role=\"sc_item imgsize_ratiosizecontainer\" data-state=\"\">\n<div class=\"trb_em_m\">\n<figure class=\"trb_em_ic_figure\" data-role=\"imgsize_item\"><img class=\"trb_em_ic_img\" title=\"Todd Gurley\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1260px) 750px, (min-width: 1060px) calc(100vw - 559px), (min-width: 840px) calc(100vw - 419px), (min-width: 800px) 800px, 100.1vw\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.trbimg.com\/img-59bf15b6\/turbine\/la-sp-rams-redskins-20170917-photos-002\/350\/350x197 350w, http:\/\/www.trbimg.com\/img-59bf15b6\/turbine\/la-sp-rams-redskins-20170917-photos-002\/400\/400x225 400w, http:\/\/www.trbimg.com\/img-59bf15b6\/turbine\/la-sp-rams-redskins-20170917-photos-002\/450\/450x253 450w, http:\/\/www.trbimg.com\/img-59bf15b6\/turbine\/la-sp-rams-redskins-20170917-photos-002\/500\/500x281 500w, http:\/\/www.trbimg.com\/img-59bf15b6\/turbine\/la-sp-rams-redskins-20170917-photos-002\/550\/550x309 550w, http:\/\/www.trbimg.com\/img-59bf15b6\/turbine\/la-sp-rams-redskins-20170917-photos-002\/600\/600x338 600w, http:\/\/www.trbimg.com\/img-59bf15b6\/turbine\/la-sp-rams-redskins-20170917-photos-002\/650\/650x366 650w, http:\/\/www.trbimg.com\/img-59bf15b6\/turbine\/la-sp-rams-redskins-20170917-photos-002\/700\/700x394 700w, http:\/\/www.trbimg.com\/img-59bf15b6\/turbine\/la-sp-rams-redskins-20170917-photos-002\/750\/750x422 750w, http:\/\/www.trbimg.com\/img-59bf15b6\/turbine\/la-sp-rams-redskins-20170917-photos-002\/800\/800x450 800w, http:\/\/www.trbimg.com\/img-59bf15b6\/turbine\/la-sp-rams-redskins-20170917-photos-002\/850\/850x478 850w, http:\/\/www.trbimg.com\/img-59bf15b6\/turbine\/la-sp-rams-redskins-20170917-photos-002\/900\/900x506 900w, http:\/\/www.trbimg.com\/img-59bf15b6\/turbine\/la-sp-rams-redskins-20170917-photos-002\/950\/950x534 950w, http:\/\/www.trbimg.com\/img-59bf15b6\/turbine\/la-sp-rams-redskins-20170917-photos-002\/1000\/1000x563 1000w, http:\/\/www.trbimg.com\/img-59bf15b6\/turbine\/la-sp-rams-redskins-20170917-photos-002\/1050\/1050x591 1050w, http:\/\/www.trbimg.com\/img-59bf15b6\/turbine\/la-sp-rams-redskins-20170917-photos-002\/1100\/1100x619 1100w, http:\/\/www.trbimg.com\/img-59bf15b6\/turbine\/la-sp-rams-redskins-20170917-photos-002\/1150\/1150x647 1150w, http:\/\/www.trbimg.com\/img-59bf15b6\/turbine\/la-sp-rams-redskins-20170917-photos-002\/1200\/1200x675 1200w, http:\/\/www.trbimg.com\/img-59bf15b6\/turbine\/la-sp-rams-redskins-20170917-photos-002\/1400\/1400x788 1400w, http:\/\/www.trbimg.com\/img-59bf15b6\/turbine\/la-sp-rams-redskins-20170917-photos-002\/1600\/1600x900 1600w, http:\/\/www.trbimg.com\/img-59bf15b6\/turbine\/la-sp-rams-redskins-20170917-photos-002\/1800\/1800x1013 1800w, http:\/\/www.trbimg.com\/img-59bf15b6\/turbine\/la-sp-rams-redskins-20170917-photos-002\/2000\/2000x1125 2000w, http:\/\/www.trbimg.com\/img-59bf15b6\/turbine\/la-sp-rams-redskins-20170917-photos-002\/2048\/2048x1152 2048w\" alt=\"Todd Gurley\" data-baseurl=\"http:\/\/www.trbimg.com\/img-59bf15b6\/turbine\/la-sp-rams-redskins-20170917-photos-002\" data-c-nd=\"2048x1152\" data-role=\"imgsize_srcsetdisplayitem\" \/><\/figure>\n<div class=\"trb_em_r\" data-role=\"lightbox_metadata\">\n<div class=\"trb_embed_related_credit_and_caption\"><span style=\"color: #ffcc00;\">Rams running back Todd Gurley breaks the plane of the goal line to score a touchdown against the Redskins in the third quarter. (Luis Sinco \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"trb_ar_by\">\n<figure class=\"trb_ar_by_i_f\"><\/figure>\n<p><span class=\"trb_ar_by_nm_pm\"><span class=\"trb_ar_by_nm_au\" data-byline-withoutby=\"\"><a class=\"trb_ar_by_nm_au_a\" href=\"http:\/\/www.latimes.com\/sports\/lanews-sam-farmer-20130507-staff.html#nt=byline\">Sam Farmer\u00a0<\/a><\/span><a class=\"trb_ar_by_cl\" href=\"mailto:sam.farmer@latimes.com?subject=Regarding:%20%22Rams%20have%20their%20problems,%20but%20they%27re%20at%20least%20showing%20promise%22\" data-role=\"sc_sEmail\">Contact Reporter<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"trb_ar_dateline\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div>\n<div class=\"trb_ar_page\" data-role=\"pagination_page\" data-content-page=\"1\">\n<blockquote><p>The\u00a0Rams\u00a0had a spark, they moved the ball, they located the end zone \u2026 and they wound up losing to Washington 27-20.<\/p>\n<p>A year earlier, in making their Los Angeles debut with a 9-6 victory over Seattle, the wrong-way Rams were as flat as a Johnny Unitas haircut.<\/p>\n<p>Sunday\u2019s was a hopeful loss. Last year\u2019s version was a hopeless win.<\/p>\n<p>Make no mistake, these Rams have a long way to go. They made mistakes, they left plays on the overworked turf, they were stalks of corn when it came to stopping the run, but there\u2019s something different about this team.<\/p>\n<p>Maybe that it\u2019s actually interesting.<\/p>\n<p>Coach Sean McVay has breathed life into the franchise, drawing up a game plan that plays to Jared Goff\u2019s strengths, cuts loose\u00a0Todd Gurley, covers up deficiencies along the offensive line, and gives the feeling that the seeds of success are planted.<\/p>\n<p>Last season felt like a dead-end street, like those four wins were only rest stops on the road to irrelevance.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLast year it would have been a lot different,\u201d Gurley said. \u201cIt would have been 27 to, you know 3, instead of, you know, just us as an offense being able to put points on the board and be able to keep our defense in it. So it\u2019s a start.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Rams can take heart in this, too: The rest of the\u00a0NFC West\u00a0looks lousy. The\u00a0Seahawkssqueaked past winless San Francisco with a 12-9 victory in Seattle. Arizona, missing star running back\u00a0David Johnson\u00a0perhaps for the season, barely beat woeful Indianapolis, 16-13.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"trb_em\" data-content-pgcredit=\"\" data-content-id=\"94638472\" data-content-size=\"large\" data-content-type=\"gallery\" data-content-slug=\"la-sp-rams-redskins-20170917-photos\" data-content-subtype=\"photogallery\" data-carousel-options=\"outer&amp;removePagesOnClose\" data-role=\"carousel carousel_swipe lightbox_container imgsize_ratiosizecontainer\" data-content-key=\"03d1166bf0d01a911fdbbd75280a2cea\">\n<div class=\"trb_em_mb\" data-role=\"carousel_view\">\n<div class=\"trb_em_m\">\n<aside class=\"trb_em trb_em_th\" data-content-pgcredit=\"\" data-content-id=\"94638472\" data-content-size=\"large\" data-content-type=\"image\" data-content-subtype=\"photo\">\n<figure class=\"trb_em_ic_figure\" data-role=\"lightbox_open imgsize_item\"><\/figure>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>In retrospect, we didn\u2019t learn all that much about the Rams with their season-opening 46-9 win over the\u00a0Colts.<\/p>\n<p>Now, with clear eyes, we can say that the Rams played the\u00a0Washington Redskins\u00a0in Week 2, and the Washington Generals in Week 1. Even\u00a0Andrew Luck\u00a0getting healthy isn\u2019t going to fix that mess.<\/p>\n<p>As for the Rams, they play at the\u00a049ers\u00a0on Thursday with a chance to wash away the bad taste of Sunday\u2019s loss. It\u2019s no layup \u2014 remember, the Rams accounted for San Francisco\u2019s only two wins last season \u2014 but McVay\u2019s team can create problems for an opponent.<\/p>\n<p>Gurley, greeted in the backfield last season seemingly every time he touched the ball, generated 136 yards of offense Sunday both out of the backfield and on swing passes.<\/p>\n<p>Goff was sacked twice, had the ball raked out of his hand, and had a game-ending interception. However, he also made some nice plays, including wheeling right against a defense designed to lure him into throwing left, and hitting tight end\u00a0Gerald Everett\u00a0in stride for a 69-yard gain.<\/p>\n<p>Cooper Kupp\u00a0made another Velcro-palmed catch, and punter\u00a0Johnny Hekker, a former high school quarterback, coolly zipped a pass to\u00a0Josh Reynolds\u00a0for 28 yards on a fake punt. Everett, Kupp and Reynolds are all rookies, reminders that the Rams weren\u2019t entirely hamstrung by trading away so many picks to move up and take Goff No. 1 in 2016.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"trb_em \" data-content-embedlocation=\"Embed + (2)\" data-content-id=\"94641822\" data-content-size=\"large\" data-content-type=\"video\" data-content-slug=\"la-sp-rams-optimistic-despite-defeat-20170917\" data-content-subtype=\"premiumvideo\" data-role=\"sc_item mediamanager_container imgsize_ratiosizecontainer lightbox_container \" data-state=\"\" data-embed-id=\"94641822\">\n<div class=\"trb_em_mb\"><\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>Is the foundation there for the Rams to be an interesting team?<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOh, absolutely,\u201d Redskins cornerback\u00a0Josh Norman\u00a0said. \u201cYou can see the creativity of that whole offense. Goff was back there and extended plays, made something happen when he extended those plays. Hey, man, you never know. Sky\u2019s the limit for him, especially when you have a coach like Sean McVay.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>What tipped the scales was Washington\u2019s ability to hoard the clock with the run. The Redskins dominated on the ground, 229 yards to 92, and therefore held the ball for 36 minutes, 19 seconds, compared to 23:41 by the Rams.<\/p>\n<p>That kind of lopsided disparity left the Rams dog-tired on defense and the Washington defenders fresh.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThose long drives, when you\u2019re running the ball five or six times in a row, you can kind of tell the energy\u2019s just dying down a little bit,\u201d Redskins coach Jay Gruden said. \u201cThat\u2019s when we want to put our foot on the gas.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>With the players on that side of the ball, and with crafty defensive coordinator Wade Phillips drawing up the schemes, the Rams aren\u2019t going to have a problem on defense this season.<\/p>\n<p>They are 1-1, just like last year, but their ceiling seems much higher.<\/p>\n<p>The Rams finally look to be what the relocation originally promised: an actual\u00a0NFL\u00a0team.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.latimes.com\/sports\/nfl\/la-sp-rams-redskins-farmer-20170917-story.html\">http:\/\/www.latimes.com\/sports\/nfl\/la-sp-rams-redskins-farmer-20170917-story.html<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Is it that time already? Yes, Redskins fans, it is! After a tumultuous off-season, we are finally playing real football again. And, with the first victory of the young season in the books, the editors here at TLP have searched the greater Los Angeles area for newspaper articles to explain how the hometown Rams, led &#8230; <a title=\"The Loser Papers &#8211; 2017 &#8211; Edition I\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/the-hogs.net\/blogs\/2017\/09\/18\/the-loser-papers-2017-edition-i\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about The Loser Papers &#8211; 2017 &#8211; Edition I\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":43,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15136","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-washington-redskins"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>The Loser Papers - 2017 - Edition I | The-Hogs.net<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/the-hogs.net\/blogs\/2017\/09\/18\/the-loser-papers-2017-edition-i\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Loser Papers - 2017 - Edition I | The-Hogs.net\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Is it that time already? Yes, Redskins fans, it is! After a tumultuous off-season, we are finally playing real football again. And, with the first victory of the young season in the books, the editors here at TLP have searched the greater Los Angeles area for newspaper articles to explain how the hometown Rams, led ... 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Yes, Redskins fans, it is! After a tumultuous off-season, we are finally playing real football again. And, with the first victory of the young season in the books, the editors here at TLP have searched the greater Los Angeles area for newspaper articles to explain how the hometown Rams, led ... 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