FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — A brief week of preparation, a protracted cross-country flight and an early kickoff for West Coast physique clocks introduced the Rams with a problem Sunday.
And coach Sean McVay’s crew regarded drowsy within the early levels in opposition to the New England Patriots.
However the Rams awoke in time to place away the Patriots, driving Matthew Stafford’s 4 landing passes, 100-yard receiving efforts from Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua and stout when-it-needed-to-be protection to a 28-22 victory in entrance of 64,628 at Gillette Stadium.
McVay alternately described it as “a strange game” and “a weird day.”
Regardless, the victory improved the Rams’ document to 5-5. After beginning the season 1-4, they’ve gone 4-1.
So was Sunday’s efficiency proof of an actual awakening? Or are the Rams destined to be a .500 crew that may miss the playoffs?
“I fully believe that we are capable of continuing to trend in the right direction and continue to improve,” McVay mentioned. “What that looks like? I’m excited for us to be able and go swing.”
Sunday’s recreation was the primary in what may very well be termed the third quarter of the season, a stretch that features subsequent Sunday night time’s recreation in opposition to the Philadelphia Eagles, a visit to New Orleans to play the Saints, and a house recreation in opposition to the Buffalo Payments.
The Rams conclude the season with a Thursday night time recreation in opposition to the San Francisco 49ers, a remaining journey to the East Coast to play the New York Jets and residential division video games in opposition to the Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks.
“You gotta string wins together, that’s what you got to do,” Stafford mentioned when requested what the Rams should do to make a run to the playoffs. “Each game is a different one, and it’s going to have a different flow to it.”
Stafford was feeling it Sunday.
Ten years after experiencing one of many worst passing performances of his profession in his solely earlier recreation at Gillette Stadium in opposition to the Patriots, Stafford didn’t miss probabilities to proceed leaving his mark on the NFL document guide.
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford threw 4 landing passes in opposition to the Patriots and had a quarterback ranking of 142.7.
(Steven Senne / Related Press)
He tossed two landing passes to Kupp and one every to Nacua and tight finish Colby Parkinson.
“Obviously,” he mentioned of his efficiency within the venue, “better today than we had in the past.”
Stafford, a Sixteenth-year professional, has 370 profession landing passes, placing him in sole possession of tenth place on the league’s all-time record.
Kupp continues to play a significant position in Stafford’s ascent. His five-yard landing catch within the second quarter tied the rating, 7-7.
Then, one play after rookie defensive lineman Braden Fiske sacked Patriots quarterback Drake Maye and compelled a fumble, Stafford linked with Nacua for a 12-yard landing that gave the Rams a lead they by no means relinquished.
Rams defensive sort out Kobie Turner (91) recovers a fumble in opposition to the New England Patriots. Turner completed with seven tackles, a move damaged up, a quarterback hit and a sort out for misplaced yardage.
(Greg M. Cooper / Related Press)
Stafford and Kupp mixed for the play of the sport shortly after halftime.
On the second play of the third quarter, Stafford learn a blitz and located Kupp on a mid-range route in the course of the sphere. Patriot cornerback Jonathan Jones dived whereas making an attempt to interrupt up the move, and Kupp ran untouched for a 69-yard landing and a 21-10 lead.
The Patriots pulled inside six factors with about 5 minutes left, however rookie security Kam Kinchens sealed the victory with an interception.
Kupp caught six passes for 106 yards. Nacua, who was assisted off the sphere after his landing catch however remained within the recreation, had seven catches for 123 yards.
“It helps everybody, the vibe, the mojo,” Nacua mentioned of how his and Kupp’s performances influence the crew. “I mean that’s our leader, that’s our guy. So when No. 10 is feeling great, it bleeds into everybody else.”
Rams gamers mentioned they had been assured they might end the second half of the season robust.
There isn’t any secret, in keeping with Kupp.
“Trust that what we’re doing is the right thing,” Kupp mentioned. “We’re not trying to reinvent the wheel or anything like that.”
The Rams should discover methods to eradicate groups, “instead of just going into dogfights,” mentioned cornerback Cobie Durant, who had two move breakups.
“We need to figure out how we can go ahead and just cancel teams out early,” Durant mentioned. “Once we figure that out, we’ll be all right.”
Stafford agrees.
“When those opportunities arise in games to finish people off,” he mentioned, “we have to do a good job of finishing people off.”
The Rams get their subsequent alternative in opposition to an Eagles crew that’s 8-2.
“We got a super hot team coming to town,” McVay mentioned. “This is what you love — it’s a great challenge.”
