Lower than an hour earlier than the Rams and Tampa Bay Buccaneers kicked off on Sunday, followers in SoFi Stadium erupted in cheers.
Watching the enormous video board, the group celebrated because the Philadelphia Eagles blew an enormous lead and misplaced to the Dallas Cowboys.
That meltdown by the defending Tremendous Bowl champions positioned the surging Rams to maneuver to the highest of the NFC.
Quarterback Matthew Stafford continued his MVP-caliber play by passing for 3 touchdowns, and the protection additionally produced massive moments because the Rams seized the chance with a 34-7 victory that prolonged their profitable streak to 6 video games and improved their report to a conference-best 9-2.
That makes the Rams the present No. 1 seed for the NFC playoffs.
There’s nonetheless a protracted technique to go. And the Eagles maintain the tiebreaker over the Rams by advantage of their Week 3 victory at Philadelphia.
But when the Rams preserve sole possession of first place and safe home-field benefit, they’d keep away from one other potential January journey to Lincoln Monetary Discipline to play the Eagles, who eradicated the Rams there within the NFC divisional spherical final season.
The Rams play at Carolina subsequent week after which at Arizona earlier than returning to SoFi Stadium for an additional NFC measuring-stick sport towards the Detroit Lions. The Rams end the season with a Thursday evening sport in Seattle, a visit to Atlanta and a house sport towards the Cardinals.
Rams tight finish Davis Allen catches a go within the second half towards the Buccaneers on Sunday.
(Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Occasions)
So the most important query going through coach Sean McVay and the Rams: Are they peaking too quickly?
Regardless of being with out veteran tight finish Tyler Higbee, proper sort out Rob Havenstein and security Quentin Lake — all positioned on injured reserve final week — the Rams appeared practically unstoppable on offense within the first half and dominant on protection all through.
The Rams scored not less than 34 factors for the fourth time in 5 video games. Stafford tossed two landing passes to Davante Adams and one to tight finish Colby Parkinson, growing his league-leading complete to 30, with solely two interceptions. Stafford has not had a go intercepted in eight video games.
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford threw three extra landing passes Sunday towards the Buccaneers, giving him a league-leading 30.
(Eric Thayer/Los Angeles Occasions)
On Sunday the Seventeenth-year professional accomplished his first 12 passes for 121 yards and a landing earlier than a second-quarter go fell incomplete. He completed 25 of 35 for 273 yards, the group chanting “M-V-P” after every of his final two landing passes.
Adams, who had bemoaned his efficiency in final week’s 21-19 victory over the Seahawks, seemingly was happier after catching 5 passes for 62 yards and growing to 12 his league-leading complete of landing catches.
On an evening the Rams honored future Corridor of Fame defensive lineman Aaron Donald with a bobblehead giveaway and different tributes, defensive finish Kobie Turner and edge rusher Jared Verse every had two sacks. A secondary that intercepted 4 passes final week picked off two extra, cornerback Cobie Durant returning one for a 50-yard landing and Emmanuel Forbes Jr. catching a desperation heave on the ultimate play of the primary half.
Rams linebackers Jared Verse, left, and Josaiah Stewart, heart, and defensive finish Kobie Turner have a good time within the first half.
(Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Occasions)
Rams particular groups, which value the crew dearly in losses towards the Eagles and the San Francisco 49ers, look like working with effectivity since kicker Harrison Mevis changed Joshua Karty and veteran Jake McQuaide supplanted Alex Ward because the snapper.
After Mevis kicked solely further factors in his first two video games, McVay lastly gave him field-goal alternatives, and Mevis transformed 40- and 52-yard kicks.
The Rams ruined Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield’s return to the stadium the place he resurrected his profession in 2022 by main the Rams to a last-second victory over the Las Vegas Raiders with solely two days of follow.
Mayfield sustained a left-shoulder damage and didn’t play within the second half. He accomplished 9 of 19 passes for 41 yards and a landing with two interceptions.
All of it added as much as a convincing victory for the Rams. And right here’s a scary thought for the remainder of the NFL: The Rams are on monitor to get stronger down the stretch.
Receiver Tutu Atwell is eligible to return from injured reserve subsequent week. Cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon, who suffered a damaged collarbone within the second sport of the season, is nearer to a return. And McVay mentioned Higbee and Havenstein might be again in 4 video games, and Lake may return for the playoffs.
These reinforcements can be a fascinating state of affairs for any Tremendous Bowl contender within the NFC.
Particularly the one at the moment on high.
