The Los Angeles Rams entered Week 5 against the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday Night Football with several advantages. The offense had a stronger arsenal of accomplished and experienced weaponry. It was a short week, giving the hometown team the advantage of no travel time.
But most of all, in the grand scheme of NFL tie-breakers, Los Angeles needed the game more.
Still, hopes are quickly tossed aside without a solid plan in place. And those plans cannot remain rigid in the face of unexpected circumstances. It becomes a question of confidence or hubris, and it appears as though Rams head coach Sean McVay was guilty of the latter.