After 16 games in 17 weeks, the 2019 season has officially come to an end for the Los Angeles Rams. They missed the playoffs for the first time since 2016, heading home for the offseason early after finishing the year 9-7.
They did end the season on a high note with a 31-24 win over the Cardinals, but it was barely a silver lining to an otherwise underwhelming campaign. They simply weren’t consistent enough to make the postseason, coming up just one game shy in the standings.
Here are four takeaways from Sunday’s win, which was the Rams’ sixth in a row against the Cardinals.
Special teams remains an issue
After two years with one of the best special teams units in the NFL, the Rams took a huge step back in 2019. Greg Zuerlein missed his ninth field goal of the season on Sunday, a 47-yard attempt. The Rams also failed to pick up the first down on a fake field goal try from their own 17-yard line, which Sean McVay was not happy about.
There seemed to be a disconnect between McVay and John Fassel on that fake punt call, with McVay saying to his special teams coordinator after the play, “What are you doing?” It was a microcosm of the Rams’ season on special teams, struggling to find any sort of consistency punting, kicking field goals and in the return game.
Tyler Higbee is a top tight end in the NFL
This wasn’t uttered by anyone before the season began, or even before the calendar flipped to December. However, it’s now become pretty clear that Higbee is one of the better tight ends in the NFL right now. With eight more catches for 84 yards and a touchdown, Higbee set franchise records for receptions (69) and yards ( 734) by a tight end in a single season.
That doesn’t happen by accident or to a player without the ability to contribute consistently. He’s emerged as one of Jared Goff’s favorite and most reliable targets, often gaining valuable yardage after the catch. He’s a good blocker, too, both in the running game and in pass protection against edge rushers.
He’s making the Rams look smart for extending him this season.
Rams don’t lack depth at cornerback
It’s almost as if the Rams knew what they were doing when they traded away Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib mid-season. They have excellent depth at cornerback with Jalen Ramsey, Troy Hill, Nickell Robey-Coleman, Darious Williams and David Long Jr. Williams and Long were the starters outside on Sunday, while Robey-Coleman assumed his role inside.
Williams picked off one pass and broke up another on a deep pass over the middle, showing off his ball skills and coverage technique. There’s still a lot to be decided with the 2020 roster, but Williams made a strong case against the Cardinals – and in the last two games, really.
Long should be part of the secondary in 2020 regardless because of his draft pedigree and potential, being a lockdown corner at Michigan previously. With Ramsey and Hill returning next year, the Rams have plenty of options in the secondary.
Jared Goff ends down year on high note
It was a disappointing season for Goff, one filled with criticism from media members and fans, alike. Entering Week 17, he only had 19 touchdown passes and 16 interceptions, completing 62.8 percent of his passes. On Sunday, he capped off a down year with a strong performance. He completed 29 of 45 passes for 319 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions or fumbles. His passer rating of 107.5 was his fourth-best of 2019.
What was most impressive about his game was the fact that he didn’t do it all rolling out of the pocket like he had in recent weeks. He was dropping straight back and finding open receivers, making accurate throws short and in the intermediate levels of the field.
