Turf Show Times
Throughout an NFL season, every team must overcome some form of adversity. The Los Angeles Rams faced that adversity on Sunday, losing 31-28 to the Carolina Panthers. They got outplayed and out-coached by a team they had no business getting outplayed or out-coached by. It was another reminder that the Rams can’t just show up and expect to win games. They still have to be able to execute. Sunday’s loss was a frustrating one so let’s jump right into it.
Despite somewhat of a shaky start on defense, the Rams offense was moving the ball well to begin this game. It helped that they started the opening drive at the Panthers’ 35-yard line, but they still scored a touchdown in six plays. While the next drive resulted in a red zone turnover followed by another interception later, the offense easily marched down the field and took a 21-17 lead into halftime. Their two drives in the second quarter resulted in touchdowns.
It may not have been a good day for the defense, but it felt like a game that the Rams may have been able to outscore the team on the other side. That’s what this team was built to do. Stafford may not have been sharp, but he was doing enough. The running game was moving well. Over the past two months, the Rams offense has started strong and that was the case in this one as well.
At this point, defenses have to know what’s coming and they are still getting beat by Davante Adams in the red zone. The Rams had a RPO called on the opening drive and Stafford hit Adams on a slant. Later in the game, Stafford once again found Adams in the back of the end zone after extending the play.
Adams now has 14 touchdowns on the season which are the most he’s had since 2022. The Rams may need to find another red zone option eventually, but if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it. Stafford and Adams have it figured out in the red zone and until teams begin to stop it, there isn’t a need to change anything. Adams now has 28 career games with multiple touchdown catches which is tied with Don Hutson for the sixth-most all time. He also now has 117 career touchdown receptions which passed Antonio Gates for the seventh-most in NFL history.
For much of the season, Matthew Stafford has seemed invincible at times and it’s a reason why he’s led the MVP race. Following his first touchdown pass, he broke the record for most consecutive touchdown passes without an interception. When bad things happen, they happen in bunches and that was the case for Stafford. His first interception wasn’t necessarily his fault as it came off of a tipped ball at the line of scrimmage. However,...
