Rams Week 5 Takeaways: QB Matthew Stafford can't do it alone

The Los Angeles Rams lost their second game in a row on Sunday, falling to the Green Bay Packers 24-19. Much like the loss to the Chicago Bears, this was another frustrating book. Here are ten takeaways from the loss to the Packers.

1. The Rams don't have a pass catcher who can win in the red zone

Sunday afternoon followed a similar trend that has been the case since the departures of Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua. The Rams don't have a wide receiver who can win in the red zone or thrive in tight areas. The Rams' pass catchers not named Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp have combined for four catches on 17 targets in the red zone. Within 10, the value drops to one catch for nine targets. Demarcus Robinson's touchdown against the Packers was the first for a Rams wide receiver not named Kupp or Nacua this season.

The Rams' offense is very limited in the red zone, and that's in large part because they don't have pass catchers who can win in that area. It's true that the Rams need to run more, and they did that against the Packers. But whether it's just throwing or just running, the offense becomes one-dimensional and predictable. That’s where the Rams offense is right now. For his 6-foot-3 frame, Colby Parkinson has one red zone hit on six targets. The Rams simply don't have the receivers with the ability to route run or use their size to win in tight areas.

2. McVay's decision was correct

In hindsight, it's easy to say that the Rams should have just kicked the field goal. However, ESPN Analytics valued the decision at a win percentage increase of +2.5 percent and Ben Baldwin's model valued it at a win percentage increase of +1.4 percent. The decision to do so must be judged in a vacuum regardless of the outcome and the decision itself was the right one.

There were potential problems with the play call or even with Parkinson's attempt to make the catch. However, the decision itself was correct. If the Rams had kicked, there's no guarantee Joshua Karty would make it either. Later in the game, the rookie kicker would miss an extra point. McVay coached to win the game and that deserves praise. The call also worked. Defensively, the Rams made a three-pointer and gave the offense good field position. The next offensive attack ended with a touchdown.

3. McVay did a good job providing variety in the running game

We spotted Blake Corum! McVay ultimately decided to use Blake Corum in the run game, and that gave a glimpse of what the duo of him and Kyren Williams can look like. Corum had five carries for 25 yards while Williams surpassed the 100-yard mark. The Rams also involved TuTu Atwell in a jet sweep.

From a personnel standpoint, McVay has done a good job of shaking up the running game. The Rams mixed it up with inside and outside runs. A big reason the Rams ran the ball successfully was that they kept Green Bay's defense on its heels. It was also a pleasing sight to see the Rams run the red zone five times in a row.

4. Byron Young is making positive progress in his second year

Young may not be a dominant pass rusher, but he has made positive strides this year. He's done a good job building on a strong rookie season. Young had a really strong first half against the Packers, capped off by second-year edge rusher putting an impact pressure on Jordan Love that resulted in a pick-six.

The Rams defense needs to get into more third-and-long situations and build a lead. This is a group that, if allowed to put their ears back and focus on the quarterback, can put games on ice. The Rams appear to have a good edge duo in Young and Verse. If both of them succeed at the same time, it will scare them.

5. The defense must start playing after 60 minutes

Whether it's youth or coaching, the Rams' defense is far too inconsistent. Although they played better on Sunday, there were still far too many mistakes. Jordan Love found Jayden Reed in triple coverage 50 yards down the field to set up the Packers' first touchdown. Poor tackling led to Tucker Kraft scoring on a long catch-and-run. Such games must be eliminated.

The defense played very well for 25 minutes at the start of the game. Four of their first five possessions ended in three-pointers. Jaylen McCollough's pick-six was on third down on the third play of the drive. However, after the pick six, it was as if the defense simply lost focus. The Packers' next three possessions were field goal, touchdown, touchdown. It was better, but like offense, there are too many costly mistakes.

6. Rams aren't good enough to overcome timely errors

That being said, this Rams team isn't good enough to overcome mistakes like that. Every team makes mistakes, but what separates the good teams from the bad ones is that the mistakes are limited and when they are made, they are able to overcome them.

A coach's error resulted in a too many men on the field penalty, which extended a Packers drive at the end of the half and resulted in a field goal. The Rams had a chance to take control in the second half before Kyren Williams made a mistake. Matthew Stafford threw an interception on third down. Missed blitz pickups on the offensive line or holding on to the ball too long put the Rams out of field goal range or set them up for a 2nd-and-long with the game on the line. There are just too many mistakes on both sides of the ball and the coaching staff right now.

7. Colby Parkinson needs to play for his size

It doesn't help that the Rams aren't getting much production out of their free agents. One in particular is tight end Colby Parkinson. Parkinson hasn't shown that he can win with his size. He was targeted six times in the red zone and has one catch with no touchdowns. Not all of this is his fault, but it shows a lack of efficiency.

The Rams went to Parkinson on fourth down with the game on the line, and the best the tight end could do was give an outstretched arm. Without Higbee, the Rams need more from their tight ends, and that starts with Parkinson.

8. I can't keep going down 10+ and expect to win

In all but one game this season, the Rams trailed by 10 points until the fourth quarter. Against the Bears, they trailed by eight. The Rams can't constantly put themselves in losing positions in crunch time and expect to win.

It's great that the Rams found a way to come back and take the lead against the Lions or actually win against the 49ers. However, this is not a sustainable way to win games. The Rams showed a lot of fight late when they could have gotten out. At the same time, they put themselves in this position from the start. It's just not a successful football brand.

9. Otherwise: The NFC West is not good

If there's a silver lining, it's that the NFC West isn't looking great right now. The Rams were just one touchdown drive from 2-3 and one game out of the NFC West lead. On Sunday, the Arizona Cardinals rallied from a 23-10 deficit to beat the San Francisco 49ers 24-23. The Seattle Seahawks surprisingly lost at home to the New York Giants.

Unlike previous years where more than five losses were not enough to win the division, that may not be the case this year. It's possible that 10-7 can win the division. While it's easy to say there's a lot of season left or that the season is lost, the answer probably lies somewhere in the middle. There's still a lot of time left in the season, but we have to be realistic about this team, and right now they're a 7-10 team at best.

10. It's time to look in the mirror

That brings us to my final point here. Last season, the Rams were 3-6 entering their bye week. In that moment, the Rams had to look in the mirror and decide which direction they wanted to go. The Rams won seven of their last eight games and reached the playoffs. This Rams team is in a similar situation at 1-4.

The Rams are 1-4 and should get healthier after the bye week. That being said, the Rams can't pretend that all of their problems are solved once Kupp, Jackson and Avila return. The underlying problem remains. Until the defense finds consistency, the offense is expected to be absolute perfection. As we have seen over the last two weeks, this is neither realistic nor sustainable.