McVay takes blame for Rams' Australia travel schedule after Week 2 rout of Giants
The short version
- Rams beat the Giants 28-6 after losing 27-7 to the 49ers in Melbourne in Week 1
- McVay blamed his own travel plans for the Melbourne loss; Rams arrived about 28 hours before kickoff
- The 49ers arrived in Melbourne roughly six days ahead of the game
- Stafford threw four TDs and Adams had 195 yards and two scores against New York
- McVay said he does not want the Rams to play in Australia again
Sean McVay criticized his own travel planning for the Rams' season-opening loss in Melbourne, a week after Los Angeles rebounded with a 28-6 win over the New York Giants.
Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay pointed the finger at himself when asked about the difference between his team's first two games of the NFL season. After a 27-7 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Melbourne on Sept. 10, the Rams rebounded with a 28-6 win over the New York Giants on Monday night.
"Sometimes you win, sometimes you learn," McVay said in his postgame news conference. "And sometimes you have a dumbass coach that makes travel plans that put you in a bad spot." He was referring to the team's decision to arrive in Melbourne roughly 28 hours before kickoff, while the 49ers traveled to Australia about six days in advance.
The Melbourne game was part of the NFL's effort to expand internationally, with the Rams and 49ers serving as the first teams to make the trip. Los Angeles had used a similar short-arrival approach for a game in London the previous season, when it beat the Jacksonville Jaguars 35-7, but the far longer journey to Australia produced a lopsided defeat.
Against the Giants, playing without Myles Garrett and Puka Nacua, the Rams delivered a strong performance. Matthew Stafford threw four touchdown passes, Davante Adams had 195 receiving yards and two scores, and the defense did not surrender a touchdown. New York spent most of the game with backup quarterback Jameis Winston under center.
McVay has said he does not want the Rams to play in Australia again, with or without him as head coach.
