Myles Garrett’s nightmare Rams debut leaves Sean McVay searching for answers
The Rams expected Myles Garrett to change their defense. Instead, the 49ers completely shut him down.
The massive impact expected from Myles Garrett on the Los Angeles Rams ’ defense was nowhere to be found during his debut with his new team on Thursday.
The two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year was virtually invisible in the Rams’ 27-7 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Melbourne, Australia . Garrett failed to record a sack, a tackle, or a quarterback hit, completely disappearing from the stat sheet.
It was only the fourth time in Garrett’s career that he finished a game without registering any of those three defensive statistics.
The highly anticipated dominance from Los Angeles’ new defensive centerpiece will have to wait, as the 49ers successfully neutralized one of the Rams’ biggest threats in a disappointing debut.
To make matters worse, the Rams’ offense also struggled to find answers. Since Matthew Stafford took over as the franchise’s starting quarterback, the team’s seven points against San Francisco marked its lowest scoring output in a game.
The loss also marked the first time since 2024 that Los Angeles has fallen by at least 10 points, raising concerns after an offseason filled with high expectations.
What did Sean McVay say after the loss?
“They outplayed us in every facet. I didn’t do nearly a good enough job. This was a humbling day for us. This will only define us if we allow it,” Rams head coach Sean McVay said. “Sometimes sports can humble you, and today was one of those days. I make no excuses. Whether you want to say it was about travel or whatever, we just weren’t good enough.”
