Sean McVays failure to address elephant in room may derail Super Bowl hopes

The Rams have assembled a roster capable of taking them all the way to the Super Bowl.It would help if their special teams stopped leaving banana peels along the route.Sunday’s escape in Philadelphia offered another reminder that, for all their offensive firepower and defensive talent, Los Angeles remains capable of sabotaging themselves in the few seconds between one unit leaving the field and another arriving.The Rams survived it against the Eagles.But they should be careful about interpreting that as permission to keep trying.There is a substantial difference between barely overcoming your own mistakes against a wounded, struggling opponent and beating a championship contender while handing it free yards, extra opportunities and favorable field position.The Buffalo Bills, who visit SoFi Stadium on Monday night, would be happy to demonstrate.“We need better,” Rams coach Sean McVay said.They needed better last season, too.That is what makes this so maddening.The Rams changed coaches.

They changed personnel.They had every reason to approach special teams with the urgency reserved for a problem that had already helped wreck a championship opportunity.Yet here they are again, with a unit that continues to be anything but special.Sunday’s inventory was familiar.Britain Covey returned a punt 41 yards to the Rams’ 17, setting up an Eagles touchdown two plays later.

Harrison Mevis, who helped stabilize the Rams kick game last year, missed a 48-yard field goal that would have cut a 10-point deficit to seven.Then, after the Rams finally pulled within three late in the fourth quarter, Mevis kicked out of bounds, handing Philadelphia possession at its own 40.The defense rescued them.That does not make the mistake less alarming.Neither did the return game provide much relief.

A second-quarter punt Bachman allowed to bounce was downed at the Rams’ 4, leaving the offense backed against its goal line.Later, a holding penalty wiped away valuable return yardage.Each...