In Week 3, the Rams had two fourth-quarter field goals blocked by the Eagles in an eventual 33-26 loss, the second of which was a go-ahead attempt that was instead returned for a Philadelphia touchdown at the buzzer. Two weeks later, the Rams allowed the 49ers to block a fourth-quarter extra point, went to overtime a short time later and lost to San Francisco.
The tipping point for former special teams coordinator Chase Blackburn came in a Dec. 18 loss to the Seahawks, after a 58-yard punt return touchdown by Seattle’s Rashid Shaheed proved the catalyst for Los Angeles blowing a late 16-point lead. The Rams fired Blackburn two days later, but issues persisted through the postseason.
Trailing Seattle by four entering the second half of the NFC Championship Game, the Rams forced a punt on the Seahawks’ opening drive of the third quarter — only for Xavier Smith to muff the catch and set Seattle up at L.A.’s 17-yard line. The Seahawks scored a touchdown on the very next play to extend the lead to 11, and ended up punching their ticket to the Super Bowl with a narrow 31-27 victory.
On top of such noteworthy gaffes, the Rams also finished with the league’s fifth-worst field goal percentage (78.6) and sixth-worth average punt return yards allowed (19.8).
Games are never won or lost on one play alone, but Los Angeles’ special teams consistently erred, and over the course of the season diminished the Rams’ chances at capturing the NFC West — and eventually the conference.
Ventrone provides hope in that regard.
In 2023, Ventrone’s first season as Cleveland’s special teams coordinator, Dustin Hopkins knocked in a team-record eight field goals of 50-plus yards, Corey Bojorquez set a franchise record for punt average with 49.4 and the Browns blocked three field goals. Bojorquez set another franchise record with 36 punts inside the 20 during Ventrone’s second season there, with his 16 punts downed inside the 10-yard line leading the NFL.
Considering the Rams boasted the league’s top scoring offense and a top-10 defense in points allowed, even moderate special teams improvement could propel them over the hump.
Ventrone’s been brought on to do that much and more in 2026.
