LOS ANGELES (AP) — Although the Los Angeles Rams’ tenure atop the NFC standings ended quickly with their most surprising loss of the season by far, coach Sean McVay says he saw nothing to change his optimistic outlook for the rest of the season.

The main areas in which the Rams (9-3) struggled in their rain-soaked, 31-28 loss to the Carolina Panthers on Sunday hadn’t been big areas of concern for McVay’s team before this game, and he doesn’t think the problems will linger.

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