McVay Stands Firm on Ventrone After Blocked Kick Costs Rams in Buffalo

LOS ANGELES — Sean McVay shut down speculation about a special teams overhaul Wednesday, delivering an unambiguous endorsement of coordinator Bubba Ventrone less than 48 hours after a blocked field goal helped hand the Rams a 37-34 overtime loss to the Bills.

“I have a lot of confidence in Bubba Ventrone,” McVay told reporters. “There’s no changes that are going to be made there. And we’re going to keep working.”

The declaration came after Harrison Mevis‘ 48-yard attempt to win the game at the end of regulation was swatted down by Buffalo defensive end Greg Rousseau. The block set up Tyler Bass’ 45-yard game-winner in the extra period, dropping Los Angeles to 2-3 on the season.

Mevis, an undrafted rookie signed off the practice squad in Week 3, was released Tuesday. The Rams have now missed four field-goal attempts through five weeks, a conversion rate that ranks among the league’s worst.

Ventrone, hired in 2023 after eight seasons as an assistant in Indianapolis and New England, inherited a unit that had cycled through five kickers in two years under previous coordinator Joe DeCamillis. The Rams entered 2024 with Joshua Karty, a sixth-round pick, as their presumed starter before a preseason hip injury derailed his rookie campaign.

McVay’s loyalty to his coaching staff is well documented. Since taking over in 2017, he has made just one in-season coordinator change — firing defensive coordinator Wade Phillips in 2019 — and has consistently preferred scheme and personnel adjustments over staff shakeups. The head coach’s Wednesday comments align with that pattern.

The blocked kick against Buffalo exposed protection issues that extend beyond the kicker. Rousseau came clean off the right edge, suggesting a breakdown in the Rams’ slide protection or a missed assignment by the personal protector. Los Angeles also had a punt partially blocked earlier in the game, though the Bills failed to capitalize.

Offensively, the Rams produced one of their most complete performances of the season. Matthew Stafford threw for 383 yards and three touchdowns without an interception, while Puka Nacua set a franchise single-game record with 17 receptions for 185 yards. Cooper Kupp added nine catches for 107 yards in his second game back from an ankle injury.

Yet Los Angeles has now lost three games by a combined 11 points, with special teams miscues playing a decisive role in each. A missed extra point proved costly in a Week 2 loss to Arizona, and a shanked punt set up a short field for San Francisco in Week 3.

The NFC West remains tightly packed. Seattle leads at 3-2, followed by San Francisco and Arizona at 3-2 and 2-3 respectively. The Rams’ next three games — at Green Bay, home against Las Vegas, and at Minnesota — will likely determine whether their playoff aspirations survive October.

Karty returned to practice this week in a limited capacity, potentially giving the Rams a more established option for Sunday’s trip to Lambeau Field. Veteran free agents including Matt Gay and Greg Zuerlein remain available, though McVay indicated Wednesday the team would evaluate internal options first.

For now, Ventrone keeps his job. The Rams’ margin for error does not.