Midnight Mode, certainly.
On the day the Rams donned black uniforms for the one time this season, the offense largely went darkish.
Purple-hot quarterback Matthew Stafford cooled. Star receivers Davante Adams and Puka Nacua struggled to constantly make the clutch performs that they usually make look routine.
However security Kamren Kinchens and the Rams’ protection managed to maintain the Seattle Seahawks at bay — simply barely.
Kinchens intercepted two passes, and cornerbacks Cobie Durant and Darious Williams additionally picked off passes because the Rams held off the Seahawks for a 21-19 victory on Sunday at SoFi Stadium that was not secured till Seattle’s Jason Myers missed a 61-yard subject purpose as time expired.
“I’m pleased with our soccer crew,” coach Sean McVay stated. “We’re not going to apologize for locating alternative ways to win.”
No apologies essential. Regardless of some struggles Sunday, the Rams reside as much as expectations as a Tremendous Bowl contender.
Stafford continues to play with out main errors, the defensive entrance continues to strain quarterbacks into errors, and kicking-game points look like solved.
And now the secondary, considered a possible legal responsibility earlier than the season, is stepping up.
Stafford tossed landing passes to Adams and tight finish Colby Parkinson, and Kyren Williams rushed for a landing because the Rams improved to 8-2, prolonged their successful streak to 5 video games and assumed sole possession of first place within the NFC West.
Rams coach Sean McVay tries to rev up his gamers earlier than Sunday’s 21-19 win over the Seahawks at SoFi Stadium.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Occasions)
“We discovered a solution to win with out enjoying good soccer towards a very good soccer crew,” Stafford stated. “So I’ll take it.”
So will Adams, whose lone catch marked the 1,000 of his profession and his league-leading tenth landing reception this season.
“It wasn’t prefer it was the worst of all time,” he stated of the offense’s efficiency, “however to our customary it undoubtedly was not there.
“However, I imply, it makes you are feeling even higher realizing you possibly can play like crap … and nonetheless come out with a victory towards a very good crew.”
The Rams can thank Kinchens, a second-year security who has six profession interceptions, together with 4 towards the Seahawks. His interceptions arrange Williams’ one-yard landing within the first quarter and Parkinson’s six-yard rating within the fourth.
Rams security Kamren Kinchens celebrates with teammates after intercepting a move within the second half towards Seattle on Sunday at SoFi Stadium.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Occasions)
“Man, they need to throw the ball,” a chuckling Kinchens stated in explaining his success towards the Seahawks. “Those who need to form of put it down the sector or give us a shot — large mistake.”
Or, as Durant put it: “Preaching what we do daily, man — take the ball away.”
The Rams went into the sport having scored no less than 34 factors in every of their final three video games. However that manufacturing was absent towards a Seahawks crew that fell to 7-3 and had its four-game successful streak finish.
Stafford elevated his league-leading whole of landing passes to 27 and didn’t have a move intercepted for the seventh consecutive sport. However the Seventeenth-year professional was not as sharp as he had been throughout a stretch that put him within the dialog for NFL most dear participant.
“I’m clearly excited that we acquired the win,” stated Stafford, who accomplished 15 of 28 passes for 130 yards. “Don’t get it twisted on me right here, however on the similar time I do know I will be higher too.”
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford slings a move to tight finish Colby Parkinson within the first half Sunday at SoFi Stadium.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Occasions)
Stafford loved a banner day in comparison with Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold.
The Rams’ entrance didn’t sack Darnold but it surely pressured him into poor selections, and Kinchens, Durant and Williams made him pay. Darnold accomplished 29 of 44 passes for 279 yards with 4 interceptions.
Seahawks receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who was on tempo to set an NFL report for yards receiving in a season, caught 9 passes for 105 yards. However he didn’t rating.
Cooper Kupp, the previous Rams star making his return to SoFi Stadium, didn’t have a catch within the first three quarters however had three throughout a late scoring drive that trimmed the Rams’ result in two factors.
With 1 minute 41 seconds left, Rams punter Ethan Evans kicked the ball 50 yards to the Seahawks’ one-yard line. The Seahawks drove previous midfield, however Myers couldn’t match his career-best 61-yard subject purpose towards the Rams in 2020.
This time it went vast proper, producing a roar from the gang, a sigh of aid from the Rams and a joyous locker room celebration.
“It’s lots of enjoyable in there,” McVay stated.
With extra, seemingly, to come back.
Rams defensive finish Braden Fiske (55) and linebacker Byron Younger (0) strain Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold within the fourth quarter.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Occasions)
