Turf Show Times
The Los Angeles Rams won their sixth straight game following a 34-7 demolition of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on “Sunday Night Football.” Los Angeles now sits alone atop the NFC standings due in large part to the win, and the Cowboys beating the Eagles in Dallas. So, um, thank you, Cowboys. Yuck, I feel icky saying that.
Before I wash my filthy mouth out with soap, it’s time to get into the good, the bad and the ugly from the Rams’ sweet victory.
The poor Bucs never had a chance in the first half.
After having some slow starts to games early in the season, the Rams have absolutely been piling it on lately. In their last five games, L.A. has jumped out to a double-digit lead, including 21-0 before Tampa Bay got on the scoreboard.
The Rams outscored the Bucs 31-7 in the first half, outgaining their opponent by 115 yards (224-109) and 2.9 yards per play. Baker Mayfield was even limited to 29 passing yards and was picked off twice. It was the type of performance that proved that Los Angeles might just be the team to beat in the NFC.
There were rightfully some concerns over how Sean McVay’s squad would perform with three key players having recently landed on IR. However, the Rams ensured that nothing was going to get in their way on Sunday. Home-field advantage is well within their sights, assuming they maintain their red-out play.
Matthew Stafford completed his first twelve passes of the game. The streak ended on a pass intended for Davis Allen, but it didn’t matter as the veteran quarterback turned in a dominant half.
Overall, Stafford completed 25-of-35 passes for 273 yards and 3 touchdown passes, finishing with a 122.7 passer rating. Two of those scores went to Davante Adams, who now has 9 touchdown receptions in his last five games, and 12 total on the year. His and Stafford’s chemistry is incredible. Adams was also present for three of Aaron Rodgers’ four MVP trophies, becoming the primary target in the latter two. Matthew Stafford could be the next signal caller he helps win MVP.
To illustrate just how surgical Stafford has been this season, he set an NFL record mark against TB.
Even crazier to think that he hasn’t thrown an interception since Week 3 in Philadelphia.
McVay believes his QB will play for “about 10 more years.” Given Stafford’s play, none of us would be surprised in the slightest. The Rams might want to think long and hard about drafting a quarterback high in next year’s draft, because Staff is making that decision more difficult with each passing week.
Aaron Donald’s presence worked wonders for the Rams this weekend. It should be AD bobblehead week every week, since the defense put on a clinic in front of the...
