When you think of Sean McVay, you likely picture a high-flying passing attack that lights up scoreboards across the NFL. The Los Angeles Rams head coach has built his reputation as one of the league's sharpest offensive minds, guiding quarterbacks like Matthew Stafford and Jared Goff to career-defining seasons. But if you look closely at what happened inside the 20-yard line in 2025, a different story emerges—one that's all about grinding it out on the ground.

According to data from @fball_insights, McVay posted a negative pass rate over expectation (PROE) inside the red zone last season. That's right: the man known for creative play-action and deep shots actually favored the run when it mattered most. Inside the 20-yard line, his PROE sat at -1.8%, and inside the five-yard line, it dropped to -1.1%. While those numbers might not seem extreme league-wide, they represent a notable shift for McVay, who had a balanced 0.3% overall PROE across all situations.

What makes this even more intriguing is how McVay's tendencies played out on shorter down-and-distances, especially third down. Instead of dialing up a pass, he leaned into the run, showing a deep trust in his offensive line and running backs to punch it in. That trust paid off handsomely. The duo of Kyren Williams and Blake Corum combined for 15 rushing touchdowns from inside the 15-yard line, with only two longer scoring runs on the season—a 48-yard burst from Corum and a 45-yarder from Puka Nacua.

The strategy wasn't just bold; it was effective. The Rams finished the season with a 63.2% red zone touchdown conversion rate, good for seventh in the entire league. So while McVay's reputation as a pass-heavy innovator remains intact, his willingness to get physical near the goal line is a reminder that even the sharpest offensive minds know when to keep it simple—and keep the chains moving.