The Los Angeles Rams lost their second straight game on Sunday, losing 24-19 to the Green Bay Packers. Like the loss to the Chicago Bears, this was another frustrating read. Here are ten lessons from the loss to the Packers.

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

Sunday afternoon followed a similar trend that has been happening since Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua started dating. The Rams don’t have a wide receiver who can win in the red zone or be successful in tight areas. Rams pass catchers not named Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp have combined for four catches on 17 red zone targets. Within 10, that drops to one catch on 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 a lot of that is 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 you just throw or just run, the offense becomes one-dimensional and predictable. That’s currently where the Rams offense is at right now. Being 6-foot-4, Colby Parkinson has one red zone reception on six targets. The Rams simply don’t have the receivers with the ability to run routes or use their size to win in tight areas.

2. McVay’s call to go for it was the right one

It’s easy to say after the fact that the Rams should have just kicked the field goal. However, ESPN Analytics gave the decision a +2.5 percent win rate increase to go for it, and Ben Baldwin’s model gave a +1.4 percent win rate increase to go for it. The decision to go for it must be evaluated in a vacuum, regardless of the outcome, and the decision itself was the right one.

There were potential issues with the play calling or even Parkinson’s attempt to make the catch. However, the decision itself was right. If the Rams had kicked, there’s no guarantee Joshua Karty makes it either. Later in the game, the rookie kicker would miss an extra point. McVay coached to win the game, and that should be commended. The phone call worked too. Defensively, the Rams got a three-and-out and gave the offense good field position. The next offensive drive resulted in a touchdown.

3. McVay has been mixing it up well in the run game

We have a Blake Corum sighting! McVay ultimately opted to use Blake Corum in the run game and it provided a glimpse of what the duo of him and Kyren Williams could look like. Corum had five carries for 25 yards, while Williams eclipsed the 100-yard mark. The Rams also involved TuTu Atwell in a jet sweep.

McVay has done well in the run game from a personnel perspective. The Rams mixed it up with inside and outside runs. A big reason for the Rams’ success was that they kept Green Bay’s defense on its heels. The Rams running into the red zone five straight times was also a pleasant sight.

4. Byron Young shows positive progress in year two

Young may not be a dominant pass rusher, but he has made positive progress this year. He’s done a good job building on a strong rookie season. Young had a very strong first half against the Packers, capped off by second-year edge rusher making 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 pin their ears back and focus on the quarterback, could ice games. The Rams appear to have a good edge duo in Young and Verse. If they both start finding success at the same time, they will be scary.

5. Defense must play 60 minutes

Whether it’s youth or coaching, the Rams defense is far too inconsistent. It’s true they played better on Sunday, but 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. Bad tackles led to Tucker Kraft scoring on a long catch and run. These types of plays need to be eliminated.

The defense played a very strong 25 minutes to start the game. Four of their first five possessions ended in a three-and-out. Jaylen McCollough’s pick-six was on third down on the third play of the drive. After the sixth pick, however, it seemed like the defense lost focus. The Packers’ next three possessions were field goal, touchdown, touchdown. It was better, but like the offense, there are too many costly mistakes.

6. Aries are not good enough to overcome timely mistakes

That said, this Rams team isn’t good enough to overcome these types of mistakes. Every team makes mistakes, but what separates the good teams from the bad ones is that the mistakes are limited and if made, they can overcome them.

A coaching blunder led to a “too many men on the field” penalty, which extended a Packers drive late in the half, resulting in a field goal. The Rams had a chance to take control in the second half before Kyren Williams fumbled. Matthew Stafford threw an interception on third down. Missed blitz pickups on the offensive line or holding the ball too long put the Rams out of field goal range or left them with the game on the line for a second time and long. There are simply too many mistakes right now from both sides of the ball and from the coaching staff.

7. Colby Parkinson needs to play to his beat

It doesn’t help that the Rams aren’t getting much production from their free agents. One in particular is tight end Colby Parkinson. Parkinson has not shown so far that he can win with his size. He has been targeted in the red zone six times and has one catch with no touchdowns. That’s not all his fault, but it does speak to the 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 is give an outstretched arm. Without Higbee, the Rams need more from their tight ends and that starts with Parkinson.

8. I can’t keep staying 10+ down and expect to win

In all but one game this season, the Rams trailed by 10 points entering the fourth quarter. Against the Bears, they trailed by eight. The Rams can’t keep putting themselves in losing positions at crucial times 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, that is not a sustainable way to win matches. The Rams showed plenty of fight late when they could have folded. At the same time, they put themselves in that position to begin with. It’s just not a winning football brand.

9. In other news…The NFC West is not good

If there’s a silver lining, it’s that the NFC West isn’t looking very good right now. The Rams were a touchdown drive away from 2-3 and one game out of the NFC West lead. On Sunday, the Arizona Cardinals came back from 23-10 to beat the San Francisco 49ers 24-23. The Seattle Seahawks suffered a surprising defeat at home against the New York Giants.

Unlike in previous years where more than five losses weren’t good 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 the season is lost, the answer probably lies somewhere in the middle. There is still a lot of season left, but we have to be realistic about what this team is and right now that is a 7-10 team at best.

10. It’s ‘look in the mirror’ time

Which brings us to my final point here. Last season, the Rams were 3-6 heading into their bye week. It was at that moment that 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 to make the playoffs. This Rams team is in a similar spot at 1-4.

The Aries are 1-4 years old and will get healthier after the bye week. That said, the Rams can’t pretend all their problems will be solved once Kupp, Jackson and Avila return. The underlying problem remains. Until the defense finds consistency, absolute perfection is expected from the offense. As we have seen in the past two weeks, that is not realistic or sustainable.