LOS ANGELES — Jared Goff asserted himself as an MVP candidate, and the Los Angeles Rams made a prime-time statement that they were Super Bowl favorites.
That was a month ago, in a thrilling victory over the Kansas City Chiefs.
On Sunday, the Rams continued a downward trend in an uninspiring 30-23 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles (7-7) at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
It was their first loss at home this season, and the first time in Sean McVay’s two seasons as coach that the Rams (11-3) have dropped back-to-back games in the regular season. They previously were the only team in the league to not lose back-to-back the past two seasons.
Goff, for a third consecutive week, was under pressure and turned the ball over. Todd Gurley, a week after McVay failed to utilize him in a loss to the Chicago Bears, shouldered the bulk of the work in the first half but disappeared in the second.
The Monday night showdown against the Chiefs last month is now a distant memory. After that victory, players scattered for a bye week.
They haven’t been the same since. The Rams scored 54 points against the Chiefs. In the past three games, they’ve scored 59 total.
The Rams outlasted the Detroit Lions behind two fourth-quarter touchdowns from Gurley to clinch the NFC West in Week 13, but traveled to Chicago last week and were shut down by the Bears in a loss that players and coaches said was humbling.
On Sunday, the Eagles — a 13.5-point underdog and starting backup quarterback Nick Foles — appeared more physical, and played with more urgency than the Rams, who earlier in the day learned that they could not secure a first-round bye with a victory after the Bears defeated the Green Bay Packers.
Goff completed 35 of 54 passes for 339 yards, with two interceptions. For the third time this season, and in consecutive games, he did not pass for a touchdown.
In the week leading up to the game, Goff emphasized a need to eliminate turnovers.
Through 11 games this season, he was intercepted only six times, but in the past three games, Goff has seen seven passes intercepted. Over the past two games, Goff was 2-of-13 with four interceptions on passes that traveled at least 15 yards downfield, according to ESPN Stats & Information data.
Sunday, Gurley rushed for 48 yards and two touchdowns in 12 carries and caught 10 passes for 76 yards. After only 14 touches in the loss to the Bears, Gurley was involved early. He had more touches this week, but the Rams still struggled to find a rhythm in the running game and Gurley missed parts of the third quarter with a knee injury.
Two games remain the regular season. The Rams travel to face the Arizona Cardinals next Sunday before returning home for the regular-season finale against the San Francisco 49ers.
There’s time for the Rams to figure out where they lost their way.
But on Sunday night, it became clear they’re currently headed in the wrong direction.
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