Rams facing backlash over ‘shameless’ NFL rule change proposal that left Sean McVay apoplectic

The Los Angeles Rams plan to put forward a change to the NFL’s rule book, after they were burned by the Seattle Seahawks this season.

In Week 16. the eventual Super Bowl champion Seahawks mounted a stunning comeback from 16 points down to win a dramatic overtime game 38-37.

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Mike Macdonald’s team became the first in NFL history to win in OT on a 2-point conversion, and that victory went a long way to securing the NFC West title over the Rams.

There was little controversy over how the game was won at the death, but Seattle also attempted two other 2-point conversions in regulation time, and converted both.

The one that tied the score 30-30 in the fourth quarter was a point of contention.

Sam Darnold’s deflected pass, intended for Zach Charbonnet that went into traffic, was initially ruled incomplete when the running back picked up the loose ball in the end zone.

But after a replay review, officials determined it to be a backward pass recovered by the offense — and therefore — a successful conversion.

Charbonnet, who had casually picked up the loose ball, was credited with the points.

The moment was described by Thursday Night Football announcers as the ‘craziest 2-point conversion ever’ — but it left Rams head coach Sean McVay apoplectic.

“Didn’t get a clear explanation of everything that went on just because of some of the timing of it,” he told reporters at the time.

“I’ve never seen anything or never been a part of anything like that. And I’ve grown up around this game. I’m not making excuses.

“We don’t do that. I don’t believe in that.

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“It doesn’t move us forward, but we do want clarity and an understanding of the things that we can do to minimize that when we rejected the 2-point conversion.”

Given how important that single moment was to Seattle’s season — they went on to have a bye and home advantage throughout the playoffs en-route to Super Bowl LX — Los Angeles doesn’t want to ever see that unique situation unfold again.

Rams to propose NFL rule change for 2026 season

According to Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports, the Rams plan to propose a rule change that would make the outcome of the play in question an unsuccessful 2-point try.

No details have yet been provided as to what the change would be, but a source claimed the team’s goal is to ‘fix what went wrong in a few places.’

Jones added that while Los Angeles plans to propose at least one rule change, there may be a second proposal aimed at certain details around that play.

Teams often submit rules proposals toward the start of the new league year, which begins in March, and some could surface around next week’s NFL Scouting Combine.

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Jones speculated that the Rams could wish to ‘apply the fumble rules on a 2-point try to a lateral that has been touched by the defender and goes forward.’

He added that the team might want to have a ‘time limit for a review to be initiated,’ or that the change could be related to the ball being possessed after the whistle blew.

It could, of course, be none of those.

Fans slam Rams over ‘insane’ proposal

News of a potential rule change quickly spread across social media, with many fans dismissing Los Angeles’ effort as sour grapes.

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“Still crying about the right call months later is insane,” one wrote on X.

“The Rams look salty for proposing this,” another claimed.

“Wouldn’t have mattered if their players didn’t have butter fingers on a lose ball,” a third wrote, referencing the missed opportunity for the Rams defence to intercept the pass.

“Crazy how much crybaby energy the Rams have emitted this offseason,” a fourth concluded.

“Shameless,” added another

Whether the proposal comes from a place of frustration or not, if 75 percent of owners agree with the Rams at meetings in March, changes will indeed be implemented for 2026.

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