Sean McVay delivers best coaching performance of season as Rams beat Raiders, revive playoff hopes

LAS VEGAS — A week ago, Sean McVay was the biggest reason the Los Angeles Rams were sitting in last place in the NFC West, their Super Bowl aspirations disappearing faster than my chips at the blackjack table.However, on Sunday afternoon at Allegiant Stadium, McVay delivered his best coaching performance of the season, and now he’s the biggest reason the Rams season is still alive.After six weeks of questionable decisions, offensive stagnation and self-inflicted wounds, McVay delivered his finest coaching performance in the Rams’ 35-21 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders.And it came at the perfect time.The Rams entered Sunday’s OG showdown between two franchises that once called Los Angeles home with a 2-4 record, having lost four of their first six games, as a season that began with Super Bowl aspirations was rapidly turning into a nightmare.McVay deserved plenty of blame for that record as well.His disastrous travel arrangements contributed to the season-opening embarrassment in Australia.His conservative play-calling helped squander opportunities against Denver and Buffalo.

His neglect of special teams has haunted him for the past two seasons.And last week’s humiliating loss to the Arizona Cardinals? That was a coaching catastrophe.McVay abandoned a productive running game, made baffling fourth-down decisions and watched his former assistant Mike LaFleur outcoach him in his own building.We called him out for it.So it’s only fair to give him his flowers when they’re due.And since we’re in Sin City, we’ll be frank like Sinatra: McVay got almost everything right on Sunday against the Raiders.After a week in which the Rams lost Davante Adams, Poona Ford, Kobie Turner and Blake Grupe to significant injuries, with Trent McDuffie and Nate Landman also sidelined and Puka Nacua battling a calf injury, McVay could have spent his postgame press conference explaining why his depleted roster couldn’t compete.For any other team decimated by injuries it wou...