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Cooper Kupp takes blame for Rams' loss to Seahawks after drop


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LOS ANGELES – One by one, teammates came by Cooper Kupp’s locker to offer a quick word of encouragement.

Quarterback Jared Goff hung around longer, pulling up a folding chair to sit beside Kupp, the two young players talking quietly as teammates made their rushed exits from the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum after the Rams’ 16-10 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.

Plenty of Rams could share the blame for the loss. Goff threw two interceptions and lost a fumble. Star running back Todd Gurley had a touchdown overturned after replays showed he fumbled the ball out of the end zone. Head coach Sean McVay said he’d take a critical look at his own performance as a play caller as well.

But Kupp tried to shoulder the blame himself after he failed to catch a game-winning touchdown.

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Goff’s final two passes in the end zone in the game’s final seconds fell incomplete, including a third-down throw in which a pass hit Kupp’s fingertips.

“At the end of the day, I have to make that play,” Kupp said. “I take responsibility for it.”

Goff said he wanted to reassure Kupp of his confidence in him and told the rookie receiver there was a reason he was the intended target of the final two passes.

Kupp, a third-round pick from Eastern Washington, has endeared himself to Goff and McVay – not to mention Rams fans who cheered each of his three catches Sunday with a loud chant of the nickname “Coop” - with his ability to get open and make tough catches. But Goff has also quickly learned the Kupp is a perfectionist, and the missed opportunity for what would have been a highlight-reel worthy grab was devastating.

“He wants to make that play. That's a tough, tough catch. It would have been an incredible catch. But his standards are so high, and that's the type of play he likes to make,” Goff said. “I told him don't worry about it. It's a long season, and we're going to have so many more situations hopefully throughout our career together just like that.”

Follow Lindsay H. Jones on Twitter @bylindsayhjones.

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