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Cincinnati Bengals: 3 reasons loss to Rams should be extra disappointing for fans

By Steve Rivera

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 27: Cooper Kupp #18 of the Los Angeles Rams runs with the ball during the NFL London Games series match between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Los Angeles Rams at Wembley Stadium on October 27, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 27: Cooper Kupp #18 of the Los Angeles Rams runs with the ball during the NFL London Games series match between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Los Angeles Rams at Wembley Stadium on October 27, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GA – OCTOBER 20: Jalen Ramsey #20 of the Los Angeles Rams lines up in the second half of an NFL game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on October 20, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – OCTOBER 20: Jalen Ramsey #20 of the Los Angeles Rams lines up in the second half of an NFL game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on October 20, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) /

One quick glance when looking at the Rams from 2016 to 2019, is noticing the different versions of that team. When Sean McVay arrived, Los Angeles quickly became offensive centric, fast off the snap, and down field-oriented. That said, McVay also had a dominant tackle in Aaron Donald to give his team a tough defensive identity.

He also managed to take a 4-12 dumpster fire with an 0-7 second-year quarterback and turn them into an 11-5 team that made the playoffs as a wild card in the span of one season. Don’t get me wrong, he had some building blocks. But he also began to show, along with General Manager Les Snead, that they would be painting with broad strokes in the draft, in free agency, and with trading players.

In 2017, those bold strokes paid off in a Super Bowl appearance in McVay’s second season. The Rams added a host of defensive players via free agency and trades en route to a 12-4 campaign.

This season alone, Los Angeles made a bold move trading draft picks for Jalen Ramsey. While the jury is still out on that acquisition, it follows a blueprint to win and win now.

Conversely, the Cincinnati Bengals have sent a message to the league that they are effectively closed for business at the trade deadline. LA has already staked a claim to get back to the postseason, while the Bengals have settled into an 0-8 season. Week 8 in London showed what kind of difference in philosophy an aggressive nature can provide.

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