DETROIT – “We came here to try to win the game.”

That’s how Sean McVay, coach of the Los Angeles Rams, explained his aggressive style of play after a 26-20 loss to the Detroit Lions on Sunday. With 6:36 minutes left before halftime and the score tied at 3-3, the Rams were facing 4th and 4 at Detroit’s 23-yard line.

Instead of sending rookie kicker Joshua Karty out for a field goal attempt that could have given the Rams a three-point lead, McVay decided to go for it. The pass from Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford to Cooper Kupp was incomplete due to pressure from Lions defensive end Marcus Davenport.

“I thought this was a chance to get the ball to one of our best players, a guy we trust a lot, with the look we wanted, but we just didn’t execute,” McVay said.

“We came here with an aggressive attitude and mentality. It didn’t feel like we could settle for field goals. That’s why we didn’t do as well last time. And ultimately, it’s probably some of those decisions that led to us not finishing it tonight.”

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The season-opening loss was the Rams’ second consecutive loss at Ford Field. The previous loss came in last season’s wild-card game, where they lost 24-23. In that game, nine of their points came on three field goals by former kicker Brett Maher.

The Rams’ offense was successful against the Lions at various stages of the game, especially through the air. Despite being intercepted by Kerby Joseph, Stafford shredded the Lions’ newly formed secondary, racking up 317 yards and a touchdown – a nine-yard pass to Kupp with 4:30 left in regulation.

However, once they got into the red zone, the Rams failed to capitalize on several opportunities. From the start of the game through the start of the fourth quarter, their red zone trips ended with a field goal, a turnover on downs, and an interception.

“I really think that’s what hurt us at the end of the half. We lost the ball playing against the clock in a two-minute situation,” McVay said. “They fought back well and then there was the penalty. We had a walk-in touchdown, but that penalty cost us the win. That kept us from scoring, but on the next drive we managed to come back. Matthew was perfect and Cooper came in from about eight yards out, or wherever we were.”

“There were a lot of good things, but you have to give them credit for making the crucial plays when they needed to. Ultimately, we didn’t finish the 4th & 4 in the first half, and that was a big problem, too.”

The Rams used 2 of 5 opportunities to get into the red zone.