Historians will remember Week 5 of this NFL season as the week that head coaches apologized, admitted mistakes and otherwise regretted their decisions in front of their teams and in public — and Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay is the latest to join them.
The Rams lost in overtime to the Buffalo Bills in what was perhaps the most entertaining game of the season on Monday Night Football.
This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you register or place a bet, FOX News may be compensated. This content was created by a team that works independently of FOX editorial staff.
Afterward, McVay was unhappy with himself, calling himself “sick” and “regretting” a decision that wasn’t necessarily bad but wasn’t optimal and didn’t help his team in what could have been a make-or-break situation.
THE CRAIG CARTON SHOW – UNFILTERED, WITHOUT EXCELLENCE AND UNMISSABLE. DOWNLOAD HIS DAILY PODCAST NOW!
Head coach Sean McVay celebrates after a third quarter touchdown by Puka Nacua #12 of the Los Angeles Rams against the Seattle Seahawks during the NFC Championship Game at Lumen Field on January 25, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Here is the situation:
The game is in overtime. The Rams stopped the Bills on their first possession, so all points McVay’s team won the game.
And the Rams appear to be headed toward those points and that victory when they move from their 20-yard line to the Buffalo 30 primarily by attempting five straight passing plays.
Buffalo’s defense is struggling under Matthew Stafford’s barrage of passes. But on third-and-5 from the Bills’ 30-yard line, McVay calls a run for Kyren Williams at right tackle.
No gain.
This was clearly the coach setting his team up for a field goal rather than dwelling on the problem. Except the Rams had their field goal blocked on fourth down, continuing a multi-season struggle with their special teams that cost them several games.
Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay speaks during a news conference after an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025, in Inglewood, California. (AP Photo/Marcio José Sánchez)
“Yeah, you know what? If I had known,” McVay told reporters afterward. “I wish I had a better game and went out there, made it a lot tighter. I’m sick right now with myself.
“…I’m proud of the way we fought and I’m sick that we failed and I’ll regret giving that kick and not having a better choice to be able to advance on third down…
“It’s my fault.”
We heard this several times during week 5.
Washington Commanders coach Dan Quinn said “it’s my responsibility” for handling the blown clock at the end of his team’s game against the New York Giants that turned a likely victory into a tie.
Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni attends rookie minicamp at the NovaCare Complex in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on May 1, 2026. (Bill Streicher/Imagn Images)
Philadelphia Eagles coach Nick Sirianni was blamed for his team’s last-second loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars due to a decision he made during the kickoff.
“I lost us that game,” Sirianni said.
NICK SIRIANNI MAKES DECISION THAT OPENED THE DOOR TO A COMEBACK VICTORY FOR THE JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
These coaches are apparently fighting over Harry Truman’s Oval Office sign “The Buck Stops Here.” And that’s good.
A head coach’s responsibility, especially when taken publicly, sets a good example for the players and how they will act privately within the team.
But that’s not the point.
Referees stand on the field before the game between the Houston Texans and the Baltimore Ravens at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas on December 25, 2024. (Troy Taormina/Imagn Images)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
The fact is, three coaches who took teams to the Super Bowl — McVay and Sirianni won on the NFL’s biggest stage — made significant mistakes during the same week of NFL action. The errors were so obvious that everyone decided to take public responsibility for them.
Last week the NFL was bogged down by officials making mistakes and getting suspended and that was the big story.
These star coaches all blowing up in the same week have shifted the focus to the quality of coaching decisions around the league.
FOLLOW ARMANDO SALGUERO ON X: @ARMANDOSALGUERO
Gn sports
