Rams coach Sean McVay cracks joke about Cowboys defense ahead of Week 8 matchup

Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay is preparing his offense to face the Cowboys defense on Sunday afternoon just a few days after welcoming his first child, Jordan John McVay, into the world with his wife Veronika Khomyn.

Upon returning to the Rams facilities to get back to work on the Week 8 game plan, McVay joked with reporters about the challenge he expects from Dallas this weekend.

“As excited as I was yesterday, once you really dive into the tape (of the Cowboys’ defense) you’re thinking, ‘Wow, maybe I should have stayed at the hospital!’” McVay joked on Wednesday.

Leading the Cowboys defense with five sacks is edge rusher Micah Parsons. He and the defensive unit are holding teams to 20.1 points per game, and creating points off of turnovers in nearly every game so far this season.

Stopping Parsons from getting to quarterback Matthew Stafford will be a top priority for the Rams offense on Sunday. So far this season, Stafford has taken 18 sacks for a loss of 136 yards.

“Micah’s an amazing player and he has versatility and the ability to play on either edge or sometimes at nose,” McVay said. “He plays as an off-ball backer, but he’s a special player. His twitch, his overall athleticism, his ability to close and be a finisher. That’s what the best players in the league are. They’re finishers and that’s what he is.”

McVay welcomes first child ahead of Week 8

McVay and his wife announced their happy news that they were expecting last Father’s Day. The pair met when the Rams coach was working for the Redskins in D.C. and she was a student at George Mason University. McVay popped the question in 2019 while they were on vacation together in France. They tied the knot in Beverly Hills, California.

The Rams coach opened up to ESPN about what the first few days of fatherhood have been like in the midst of the football season.

“Everybody kind of tells you what to expect, and it couldn’t even be as good as everybody says,” McVay said. “And they certainly talked about what a special moment it was. Just amazing how well my wife handled it and what a stud she was throughout that whole process, and even yesterday. The people were amazing in terms of the nurses and the doctors, and their help.

“So he’s here, he’s healthy, he’s feeling good. And what a blessing it is.”

McVay’s son, Jordan John, was named in honor of the coach’s late grandfather, former San Francisco 49ers executive John McVay.

“The influence that you guys know my grandfather had on me — but also our family, he had a special relationship with Veronika as well — and so thought that was only appropriate to be able to name him, have his middle name after my grandfather,” McVay shared.

“His legacy he lives on and I know he’s looking down, smiling with what occurred yesterday.”