5 years in the past, on Jan. 12, 2017, the Rams employed then-30-year-old Sean McVay, making him the youngest coach in fashionable NFL historical past.
On Monday, McVay celebrated his thirty sixth birthday by starting to organize for the NFC championship sport in opposition to the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday at SoFi Stadium.
“I really feel actually grateful for these 5 years,” McVay stated throughout a videoconference with reporters. “Has it accelerated my growing old? Sure. It’s like canine years, however I’ve beloved each second of it.
“However I undoubtedly really feel like I’ve aged greater than 5 years during the last handful of seasons.”
The Rams have been on the verge of taking years off McVay after they misplaced 4 fumbles and blew a 24-point lead in a divisional-round playoff sport in opposition to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday in Tampa, Fla. However Matthew Stafford’s lengthy move to Cooper Kupp arrange Matt Homosexual’s game-winning discipline aim for a 30-27 victory over Tom Brady and the defending Tremendous Bowl champions.
The win put the Rams again within the NFC championship sport for the primary time since 2018, when McVay led his group to Tremendous Bowl LIII. McVay has a 55-26 document within the common season, 5-3 within the playoffs.
“I’m very refreshed,” McVay stated when requested how previous he felt. “In case you stated, ‘What’s the birthday current I wished?’ It’s to have the ability to nonetheless maintain working.”
Now, to meet their mandate to play in Tremendous Bowl LVI at SoFi Stadium, McVay should determine a approach to get previous the 49ers and coach Kyle Shanahan, his good friend, mentor and nemesis who has little question accelerated McVay’s growing old course of.
The Rams haven't defeated the 49ers since 2018, a streak of six video games.
In November, the Rams misplaced to the 49ers, 31-10, at Levi’s Stadium. Within the season-finale on Jan. 9, the Rams blew a 17-point lead and misplaced in time beyond regulation, 27-24, at SoFi Stadium.
So why have the Rams not been capable of recover from the hump in opposition to their NFC West rival?
“The straightforward reply is that they’re a very good group,” McVay stated. “These earlier matchups they discovered a approach to get it accomplished. ... However you’re not going to get any excuses out of me.
“They’ve accomplished a fantastic job, they discovered a approach to win. ... We’ve acquired to do a fantastic job of taking part in our greatest ball for a full 4 quarters, and if we'd like one other additional quarter to try this, then so be it.”
The 49ers superior to the NFC championship by defeating the top-seeded Inexperienced Bay Packers at Lambeau Discipline. That enabled the fourth-seeded Rams to host the championship sport.
“Earlier than the sport, we have been like, ‘The celebs are all aligned for us to return and play the 49ers at SoFi,’ ” offensive lineman Joe Noteboom stated Monday. “We wouldn’t need anything.
“They’ve overwhelmed us the final handful of instances, so we have to go in there and get a win on them. ... Everybody’s excited to go on the market and provides it a shot.”
Noteboom began at left deal with instead of injured Andrew Whitworth, and he was among the many unheralded gamers who made important contributions in opposition to the Buccaneers.
Reserve tight finish Kendall Blanton, an undrafted free agent who spent most of his three seasons with the Rams on the follow squad, caught his first landing move.
“Simply that second like within the playoffs in opposition to Tom Brady, the GOAT,” Blanton stated. “It nonetheless actually hasn’t like totally kicked in and set in. ... I wish to act like I’m robust and say I’m not an emotional man, however it acquired to me a bit of bit.”
So did a celebratory headbutt from tight finish Tyler Higbee. “All the pieces was a blur after that,” Blanton stated.
Blanton had one remorse.
“I used to be simply emotional … and gave away the gloves to a fan,” he stated.
Security Nick Scott was within the beginning lineup as a result of Jordan Fuller and Taylor Rapp have been sidelined due to accidents. Scott intercepted a move by Brady.
“Any interception is nice,” Scott stated Monday, including, “however there undoubtedly is sort of a little added, I assume delight while you decide off anyone of Tom Brady’s caliber.
“I imply he’s the GOAT. He’s been doing it for a very long time. He’s not who he's for throwing interceptions, so any time you will get one off him it’s a one thing to be pleased with.
“So, I used to be clearly fairly overvalued about that, however in the end simply excited to get a playoff [victory] and assist us be able to win.”
And so on.
Whitworth (ankle) and Rapp (concussion) are progressing and probably may play in opposition to the 49ers, McVay stated. ... Linebacker Ernest Jones, activated from injured reserve two weeks in the past, may play Sunday, McVay stated. Working again Darrell Henderson, defensive lineman Sebastian Joseph-Day and cornerback Robert Rochell, who got here off the injured record and started working towards final week, is not going to be accessible Sunday, McVay stated.
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