
The Rams are going to the playoffs.
The one questions now: Can they maintain on to the No. 1 seed within the NFC and have home-field benefit for all the postseason. And can receiver Davante Adams be match for the stretch run?
The Rams clinched a playoff spot on Sunday with a 41-34 victory over the Detroit Lions earlier than 74,701 at SoFi Stadium in a sport that featured Adams’ fourth-quarter departure due to a left hamstring damage.
Matthew Stafford outdueled Jared Goff, Puka Nacua continued his torrid receiving tempo and the Rams protection shut down the Lions within the second half because the Rams improved their file to 11-3 and ensured their seventh playoff look beneath ninth-year coach Sean McVay.
It was an enormous victory for a Rams staff that will likely be examined once more Thursday evening once they play the Seattle Seahawks in Seattle.
The Seahawks (11-3) defeated Philip Rivers and the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday in Seattle, organising the Thursday evening showdown. The Rams at the moment maintain the tie-breaker over the Seahawks due to their Nov. 16 victory over the Seahawks at SoFi Stadium.
Can they seize dwelling subject all through the playoffs for the primary time?
They superior to the Tremendous Bowl within the 2018 and the 2021 seasons with out the good thing about enjoying each playoff sport at dwelling.
The Rams end the common season with video games in opposition to the Seahawks, a highway journey to Atlanta and a house sport in opposition to the Arizona Cardinals.
As anticipated, the victory over the Lions (8-6) didn’t come straightforward.
The Rams overcame an early interception and 10-point deficit late within the second quarter.
Adams, who has been nursing a hamstring problem, left the sector for the locker room and didn’t return to the sport after showing to endure an damage early within the fourth quarter.
McVay stated Adams’ damage “didn’t look good” and wasn’t certain if Adams would have the ability to play in opposition to the Seahawks.
Stafford got here alive within the second half, main three consecutive scoring drives within the third quarter to present the Rams a 34-24 lead.
Stafford stored alive his drive for the NFL most respected participant award by finishing 24 of 38 for 368 yards and two touchdowns, with an interception.
Nacua, coming off a efficiency in opposition to the Arizona Cardinals that earned him NFC offensive participant of the week honors, caught 9 passes for 181 yards. Adams caught 4 passes for 71 yards.
Tight finish Colby Parkinson caught two landing passes, Kyren Williams rushed for 2 touchdowns and Blake Corum additionally scored on the bottom.
Defensive lineman Kobie Turner had a key sack for a protection that gave up three landing passes and a number of other large performs within the first half, however neutralized Goff for many of the second.
Goff and receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown began quick and helped the Lions take a 24-17 lead.
Stafford had a hand in that, throwing a ball into the ready arms of Lions edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson, who returned the interception 58 yards. On the following play, Goff discovered St. Brown for a landing.
Williams’ two quick landing runs gave the Rams the lead halfway by means of the second quarter. However Goff linked with St. Brown for a brief landing after which hit Jameson Williams with a 31-yard scoring go to place the Lions forward, 24-14.
The Rams reduce the deficit to seven factors when Harrison Mevis closed the primary half with a subject aim.
The Rams opened the second half with one other subject aim to chop the Lions’ result in 4 factors.
The protection then pressured the Lions to go three and out, forcing them to punt for the primary time.
Stafford put the Rams forward with a 26-yard landing go to tight finish Colby Parkinson to present the Rams a 27-24 lead.
Turner’s sack of Goff helped arrange one other punt, and it took Stafford solely 52 seconds to engineer one other landing. He linked with Nacua for a 39-yard acquire, and Blake Corum prolonged the lead with an 11-yard landing run.
The Lions kicked a subject aim halfway by means of the fourth quarter to trim the Rams’ result in seven factors, however Stafford’s second landing go to Parkinson gave the Rams a 14-point lead with slightly below 5 minutes left.
David Montgomery’s quick landing run late within the fourth quarter reduce the lead again to seven.
Goff accomplished 25 of 41 passes for 338 yards and three touchdowns. St. Brown caught 13 passes for 164 yards and two touchdowns.