How bad was the Rams first half? No one’s been that bad against the Jets

As time expired to end the first half on Sunday, Matt Gay made a 45-yard field. It put the Los Angeles Rams on the board, and remarkably saved them from being shut out in the first half for the first time since Sean McVay took over as head coach.

It’s a bit stunning that they came a few seconds away from that happening, against the New York Jets of all teams. The 0-13 New York Jets, who had led at halftime just twice all season.

The 13-3 lead that the Jets held over the Rams at the half matched their largest halftime lead of the season, as they were beating the New England Patriots 20-10 in Week 9. And again, the Rams needed a 45-yard field goal — something that has not exactly been a gimme for them this year — just to get on the board.

The three points is the fewest scored against the Jets in the first half all year, and just the second time that New York has held a team to single digits in the first half. This type of futility is not supposed to happen against a team that looks poised to go winless.

It’s safe to say that LA has some things to turn around. The Jets ran 16 plays with the lead in the first half alone, after just 75 such plays in their first 13 games.

But if there’s a bright side for the Rams, it’s that the Jets are still winless. Yes, they held a 20-10 halftime lead over the Pats, but they got outscored 20-7 in the second half. And yes, they held a 10-6 lead over the Buffalo Bills in Week 7, but they got shutout 12-0 after halftime.

The Rams should still win. But my word first halves don’t get much uglier than that.