Okay—first things first—this week’s On The Rampage comes to you a little later than usual. I was flat-out down for the count—sick Friday and Saturday, and then Sunday I might as well have been in a coma because I swear I slept for 20 hours straight. So before diving into the chaos that unfolded this past week in sports, let me apologize to the teams I live and die with—and to the fans who ride this emotional rollercoaster with me. Because lately? We can’t win anything. We meaning all of my teams if you set aside the Flyers which i am sure they lost too in pre season on sunday to the Devils, however, the Flyers have not competed for a Playoff in years.
Between the Rams coughing up a Thursday Night game they had no business losing, Maryland collapsing in truly Maryland fashion after a 20-3 lead, and the Phillies somehow forgetting how to hit a baseball even though I blame the week off from play—this week was a full-blown sports disaster for my life.
Let’s start with the biggest blunder of them all which are the rams somehow not beating the Niners by 35 points only to lose the entire game basically and from the beginning too…
🐏 Rams Fall Apart Late Against the 49ers, Lose 26-23 in Overtime
There’s losing, and then there’s what the Los Angeles Rams did Thursday night. Despite outgaining the San Francisco 49ers and having multiple chances to win, Sean McVay’s squad found new and creative ways to throw the game away—literally and figuratively.
The 49ers, already limping into the matchup without Brock Purdy, George Kittle, Brandon Aiyuk, and half their offense, still found a way to grind out a 26-23 overtime win behind backup quarterback Mac Jones—yes, that Mac Jones—who suddenly looked like Tom Brady in a Niners jersey, throwing for 342 yards and two touchdowns.
Matthew Stafford, to his credit, went toe-to-toe with Jones, racking up 389 yards and three touchdowns. But when the game mattered most, mistakes defined the Rams’ night.
The biggest gut punch came when Kyren Williams fumbled at the goal line late in the fourth quarter. That touchdown would’ve sealed it. Instead, the ball popped loose, and the 49ers capitalized, driving down the field for a clutch 59-yard field goal by Eddy Piñeiro to take a late lead.
The Rams managed to force overtime but fell short again when McVay decided to go for it on 4th-and-1 from the 11-yard line instead of kicking the game-tying field goal. Williams was stuffed. Game over. Another lesson in how to lose the hard way.
It’s a shame because the Rams actually played well enough to win. Puka Nacua set an NFL record for most catches in a player’s first five games, passing his teammate Cooper Kupp. Stafford was sharp, the passing game clicked—but the team couldn’t get out of its own way.
And let’s talk about special teams for a second: kicker Joshua Karty missed a 53-yard field goal and had an extra point blocked. Those four lost points? The exact margin the Rams lost by.
Now the Rams sit at 3-2, third in the NFC West behind San Francisco (4-1) and Seattle (3-2). It’s not panic time yet—but it’s close. You can’t keep losing games like this in the NFC and expect to survive January.
I am supposed to cover the game this down in Baltimore and i am not that psyched to do it.
🐢 Maryland’s Historic Collapse Continues Tradition of Letdowns Against Big Football Programs
If you’re a Maryland Terrapins fan, you knew this one was coming the second they went up 20-0.
The Terps had Washington on the ropes at SECU Stadium. They were rolling. Quarterback Malik Washington had the offense humming, the defense was swarming, and everything looked perfect… until it wasn’t.
Washington—the Huskies, not Malik—rallied for 24 unanswered points, flipping a would-be statement win into yet another Maryland heartbreak special.
The moment the tide turned was painfully familiar: penalties, missed opportunities, bad coaching decisions, and an offense that went from explosive to nonexistent.
Maryland hasn’t beaten a real powerhouse program in decades. Not since the 1960s have they consistently shown up against top-tier opponents. As someone who was there during the Penn State heartbreak years ago when Alvyn Blunt fumbled with under 30 seconds left, I can tell you—it’s the same script, different decade.
After their 20-point lead, Maryland’s offense gained just 52 yards on 19 plays. That’s not a typo. Washington took control, with quarterback Demond Williams Jr. tossing two touchdowns and leading the Huskies to their biggest road comeback since 1993.
Coach Michael Locksley summed it up best: “Quarterbacks are judged on winning, and we didn’t win.” That’s Maryland football in a nutshell. A lot of promise, not enough follow-through.
⚾ Phillies on Life Support, Trail 0-2 Heading Into LA
As if the football carnage wasn’t enough, we turn to baseball—where the Philadelphia Phillies are on the brink of elimination in the NLDS against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Phils dropped both games at Citizens Bank Park (5-3, 4-3), and now they’ve got to claw their way back in enemy territory at Dodger Stadium. Only 11% of teams in MLB history have come back from an 0-2 hole in a best-of-five series.
It’s bad. Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber have combined for 1-for-15 with eight strikeouts. The energy, the swagger, the power—gone. It’s eerily similar to when Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman went ice-cold last October for the Dodgers.
Game 3 puts Aaron Nola on the mound against Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who’s been lights-out all season. The Phillies have to win—there’s no other way to put it. Lose tonight, and the dream dies in LA.
The irony? I actually thought the Phillies were the team to beat down the stretch. But looking back, maybe that was just because everyone else started to slump. Now, they look flat, lost, and desperate for a spark.
The Los Angeles Rams are heading into Week 6 sitting at 3-2 after a gut-wrenching overtime loss to the San Francisco 49ers—a defeat that exposed both the brilliance and the heartbreak that come with this team’s brand of football. Now, Sean McVay’s group faces another tall task: a cross-country trip to Baltimore to face a Ravens team built to test every inch of this Rams roster, physically and mentally.
This week’s On The Rampage dives deep into the state of the Rams: the emotional aftermath of last Thursday’s collapse, where they stand in the NFL power rankings, and how linebacker Shaun Dolac’s powerful personal journey has become a rallying point inside the locker room as the Rams try to reset and reignite.
🐏 The Fallout: Lessons from the 49ers Overtime Loss
There’s no sugarcoating it—the Week 5 Thursday Night Football loss to the 49ers stung. A 26–23 overtime defeat that felt like it slipped away not because of talent or effort, but because of execution and decision-making.
The Rams outgained San Francisco, Matthew Stafford threw for 389 yards and three touchdowns, and Puka Nacua continued to carve out history by setting an NFL record for the most catches in a player’s first five games, surpassing Cooper Kupp. But football is a cruel sport—especially when the little things unravel the big picture.
A blocked extra point, a missed field goal, and a heartbreaking Kyren Williams fumble at the goal line turned what could’ve been a statement win into a frustrating “what if.” And then there was McVay’s bold—but costly—decision to go for it on fourth-and-one in overtime rather than kicking the tying field goal. It backfired.
The loss dropped the Rams to third in the NFC West behind the 49ers (4–1) and Seahawks (3–2). But make no mistake—this team is better than that record suggests. The Rams have shown offensive explosiveness, defensive grit, and flashes of the brilliance that defined their Super Bowl run just a few seasons ago. What they haven’t yet found is consistency in closing out games.
📊 Rams Power Rankings: Holding Steady Despite the Setback
Despite the heartbreak, the Rams didn’t plummet down the national rankings. Across major outlets—ESPN, NFL.com, CBS Sports, and USA Today—the Rams are generally hovering around the 10–12 range, still viewed as a legitimate playoff team.
Most analysts agree: the Rams are competitive, dangerous, and capable of hanging with any team in football. But the concerns are real—red zone execution, special teams breakdowns, and an inability to finish drives are preventing the Rams from crossing that next threshold.
Still, Stafford looks rejuvenated, Cooper Kupp is nearing full form after his injury comeback, and Nacua is playing like a seasoned veteran. Add in Kyren Williams’ dynamic running ability (fumbles aside), and this offense remains among the league’s most balanced.
Defensively, Aaron Donald continues to anchor a young, aggressive unit that has outperformed expectations. New additions like Bryce Huff and Trevis Gipson have stepped up, creating pressure and setting a tone up front. The secondary, led by Derion Kendrick and Russ Yeast, continues to evolve—flashes of brilliance, mixed with growing pains.
💪 Shaun Dolac’s Story: Turning Pain Into Purpose
Off the field, one of the most powerful stories in the Rams organization this week comes from inside linebacker Shaun Dolac, who opened up on Rams Revealed (Episode 138) about overcoming personal loss and how those experiences shaped his drive to reach the NFL.
Dolac spoke candidly about losing two influential people early in his life—losses that could have derailed his focus but instead became the fire that fueled his journey from an undrafted rookie to an active contributor on one of the NFL’s most disciplined defensive squads.
His message has resonated in the Rams locker room, particularly among the younger players still finding their way. McVay called Dolac’s perseverance “the embodiment of what we want our culture to represent.”
It’s that kind of inner strength that defines teams capable of bouncing back from adversity—and after the 49ers loss, the Rams will need every ounce of it.
🏈 Week 6: Rams vs. Ravens – A Battle of Grit
Now, the focus shifts to Baltimore. The Rams will face a 4–1 Ravens team led by Lamar Jackson, who remains one of the most dynamic dual-threat quarterbacks in the game. Baltimore is coming off a dominant defensive showing, and their front seven—anchored by Roquan Smith and Justin Madubuike—will test the Rams’ offensive line protection schemes.
This matchup at M&T Bank Stadium marks the first of two straight road games for Los Angeles, and it could set the tone for the middle stretch of their season. The Ravens have one of the league’s most balanced teams, but the Rams’ offensive firepower can go toe-to-toe with anyone if they execute cleanly.
For the Rams to win, a few things must happen:
- Ball Security: Kyren Williams and the offense cannot afford costly turnovers.
- Red Zone Efficiency: Settle for field goals, and Baltimore will bury you.
- Pressure on Lamar: The Rams’ front must contain Jackson’s mobility and force him into quick decisions.
- Special Teams Discipline: The missed kicks and blocked PATs that doomed them last week cannot happen again.
This isn’t just another game—it’s a character test. Win in Baltimore, and the Rams prove they can recover from heartbreak. Lose, and the questions about their ability to close big games will only grow louder.
🔥 Final Take: Time to Turn Pain Into Momentum
So yeah—it’s been a week. The Rams self-destructed in overtime, Maryland blew a 20-point lead like it was nothing, and the Phillies are hanging by a thread. I don’t know what sports gods I angered, but if they’re reading this, I surrender.
The Rams have shown flashes of greatness this season—but flashes don’t win divisions. They need four full quarters of smart, composed football to beat a team like Baltimore.
Still, there’s a belief inside this locker room that this is the kind of game that can flip a season. A win on the road against one of the AFC’s elite could erase the sting of the 49ers loss and reestablish the Rams as a top-tier contender.
This week, the mission is simple: no moral victories, no excuses—just execution. The time for learning lessons is over. The time to win is now.
Because if the Rams can bring that relentless “Rams House” energy to M&T Bank Stadium this Sunday, they might just walk out of Baltimore back On The Rampage.
Still, that’s what being a fan is about—riding the highs, surviving the lows, and coming back next week for more. Because eventually—eventually—one of these teams has to break through, right?
Right?
Until then, we’re On The Rampage.