Los Angeles — Sean McVay took the podium after his team's overtime victory against Chicago and did what he always does: he owned the mistakes.

A bad play call in overtime—a quick pitch to running back Blake Corum on third-and-1 that lost 2 yards and forced a punt—ate at the Rams head coach. Before facing reporters, McVay had already apologized to quarterback Matthew Stafford on the field.

"Offensively, I did not do a very good job for our group tonight," McVay said. "But I thought our guys were able to overcome it."

This reflexive accountability has become McVay's defining characteristic. Stafford, his quarterback, called it the "coolest thing" about their working relationship.

"Whether things go the way we want it to or not, it's, 'How can we fix them? How can we be better? How can we communicate better as an offense and then ultimately play better?'" Stafford told reporters last week. "We've had that since I've been here. I appreciate the hell out of it."

McVay traces this trait to his father, Tim McVay, a former college defensive back at Indiana. Now, as the Rams head coach prepares for an NFC Championship Game against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday (6:30 p.m. ET, FOX), that philosophy of humility may be exactly what his team needs.

The Numbers Behind McVay's Success

McVay turns 40 years old on Saturday. In his nine seasons with the Rams, he has compiled seven postseason appearances and 10 playoff wins—the most for any NFL head coach before his 40th birthday.

When asked about birthday wishes, McVay was blunt: "I'm not a big birthday guy and if you guys say happy 40th, I'll slap the s--- out of you. What is a good birthday is when I'm working on my birthday and if I'm working next week. That'd be a hell of a birthday. That's the only present I want."

Fighting an Uphill Battle

The road to the Super Bowl runs through Seattle, and it won't be easy. The Rams have played seven of their last nine games away from SoFi Stadium, flying 13,500 miles since Week 16. The Seahawks, meanwhile, have logged just 6,000 air miles over the same stretch.

This is the third meeting between the NFC West rivals this season, with each team winning at home.

Building Trust Through Accountability

Carrie Hastings, the Rams' sports and clinical psychologist, attributes much of the organization's success to McVay's leadership philosophy. A former track athlete at Notre Dame, Hastings has worked for the team since 2018 and oversees mental health resources for players and coaches.

"Sean has always had a philosophy of we, not me," Dr. Hastings said. "That mantra is literally on the walls of our practice facility. 'If someone triumphs, we all triumph. If someone fails to perform, we all have to pick up the slack.' So, he really models humility and accountability."

McVay insists that trust is earned through authenticity and accountability from the coaching staff—not just the players.

"You have to be honest," McVay said. "If we expect accountability from our players, then we have to be accountable as coaches. I always want our players to know we're in it with them."

Staying Present Under Pressure

As the Rams inch closer to a potential Super Bowl appearance—their third in McVay's tenure—Hastings has one piece of advice: don't get ahead of yourself.

"We've talked about staying in the present, especially right now," Hastings said. "We have not made it to the Super Bowl yet, and I will hear from guys—especially guys who weren't there for the last Super Bowl—there's this giddiness that can kick in. And Sean and I both agree we need to slow it down a little bit and focus on the next game."