Los Angeles Rams offensive lineman Alaric Jackson is defending teammate Xavier Smith after critics say his play cost the Rams the NFC Championship.
The Los Angeles Rams narrowly lost to the Seattle Seahawks 31-27 in the NFC Championship, meaning their NFC West rivals are heading to the Super Bowl to battle the New England Patriots.
Naturally, fans and critics alike are looking for someone to blame, and it seems they found it in wide receiver Xavier Smith.
Specifically, they point to when Smith muffed a punt return, allowing the Seahawks to recover the ball and take the lead.
Naturally, the internet has taken this moment and used it to heavily criticize Smith, especially since this was his second blown return in the game. Some even suggested that Smith's teammates were furious with him, but offensive lineman Alaric Jackson quickly put those rumors to bed.
"Never," Jackson said on social media, "it's a part of the game. Mistakes happen. We still had a chance to win in the end, just have to execute better as a whole."
Jackson isn't the only member of the Rams organization who has come to Smith's defense. Quarterback Matthew Stafford explained after the game that the best thing he could do for Smith was show him support.
“I told him I loved him,” Stafford said, per Michael David Smith of NBC Sports. “And I do. The guy wants to go out there and make every play he possibly can, and sometimes it doesn’t happen. I’ve been in those situations. It doesn’t change how I feel about the human being, the person, the player.
"I love the guy, I trust him and wish nothing but the best for him. Obviously a mistake he doesn’t want to have happen, but we had our opportunities after that to grab hold of the game and make enough plays to win. We just didn’t do it.”
Stafford went on to explain that the game came down to much more than a single play, saying, “It was a battle the whole game. ... We had our opportunities, didn’t make it.”
Head coach Sean McVay echoed the sentiment, praising Smith for how consistent he had been before that moment.
“It’s tough because X-Man has been so reliable,” McVay said. “He bobbled the first one and we were lucky to get back on it. And that one, it was costly. I love him. He’s done a nice job. … That was a tough one.”
In the end, the Rams' loss doesn't come from a specific moment. Both teams had plenty of opportunities to come out with the win. The Seahawks were just able to capitalize more.