“I’m just not trusting the kicker” SHARPE

“I think there’s a greater chance something bad happens with me trotting my kicker ass out there on the field as opposed to trusting Matthew Stafford,” Shannon Sharpe said.

Speaking on Nightcap after Buffalo’s 37–34 overtime win over the Los Angeles Rams on October 12, Sharpe questioned Sean McVay’s decision to attempt a field goal. Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson and Joe Johnson defended the choice, arguing that the Rams needed a way to finish a game in which their defense struggled to stop Josh Allen.

The Rams had an opportunity to win after James Cook lost a fumble on Buffalo’s opening overtime possession. Greg Rousseau blocked Harrison Mevis’ 48-yard attempt, and Tyler Bass later made a 45-yard field goal to give the Bills the victory. Mevis had also missed from 50 yards in the first quarter.

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Should McVay have trusted Stafford?

01:50

“I’m just not trusting the kicker,” Sharpe said.

His preference was to keep the ball with Stafford, who finished with 383 passing yards and three touchdowns. Sharpe pointed to the Rams’ late scoring drive that forced overtime and questioned taking the decision out of their quarterback’s hands.

“The mere fact that Matthew Stafford just went down the field in a minute and 35 seconds to get you into overtime lets you know in the second half he was dealing,” he said.

Joe Johnson sided with Ochocinco on using special teams to finish the game.

“I’m with Ocho on this one. We talk about the three phases of football,” Joe said. “I know he missed one earlier, but hey, man, I’m trying to get off this damn field because ain’t nothing we can do with these boys.”

Allen’s running threat

Allen threw for 210 yards and a touchdown, but his 121 rushing yards on 10 carries helped Buffalo answer Stafford. He gained a combined 32 yards on two runs during the winning possession.

“Josh Allen was at his absolute best,” Sharpe said. His assessment centered on the running lanes that opened when the Rams spread out to cover Buffalo’s receivers.

“If one guy, one defensive lineman get out of his lane, if you give up gap integrity, he out the front door and off he goes,” Sharpe said.

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Josh Allen and the running lanes

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Ochocinco described Allen waiting for his receivers to carry defenders downfield before taking off.

“And if it’s not there, he wait good until everybody’s down the field. And then he takes off,” Ochocinco said.

The coverage disagreement

Sharpe wanted the Rams to switch away from man coverage and keep defenders facing Allen. He also argued that the pass rush needed to prioritize containment.

“Don’t rush to sack him because if you get past him, he’s jumping out of the window. Rush to contain him,” Sharpe said.

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The man coverage debate

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Ochocinco agreed that containing Allen was the goal but questioned how readily defenders could carry it out.

“One thing about it with Josh, it’s easy to say it. It’s another thing to be able to execute it,” he said.

Joe Johnson raised the other side of the coverage choice, suggesting that zone could give Allen openings to throw.

“He got a strong arm. He can make plays. I understand you saying they don’t have guys who can consistently beat you one-on-one, but I think he’ll find them gaps, bro,” Joe said.

Sharpe maintained that Allen’s running ability should determine the approach.

“I know his legs are more dangerous than any receiver he got,” he said.

Giving the kicker another chance

The panel returned to whether Mevis’ earlier miss should change McVay’s decision. Sharpe compared it with a receiver carrying the memory of a dropped pass into a later critical play. Ochocinco used that same comparison to argue for another opportunity.

“As a receiver, you dropped the ball early in the game, right? What’s the first thing your coach or your quarterback do for you? They give you an opportunity to redeem yourself,” Ochocinco said. “McVay gave him an opportunity to redeem himself and win that game.”

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Why Ocho and Joe backed the kick

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Joe Johnson compared the situation with a basketball player who had struggled before being given the final shot.

“I ain’t made a shot all damn game. But this last shot that y’all done drew up for me to make, I’m going to do what I can to make it,” he said.

“I think that’s what McVay was doing for the kicker, bro. He just didn’t come through, man.”