Midnight mode, indeed.
per day Rams donned the black uniform for the only time this season, the offense largely went dark.
Hot Defender Matthew Stafford cooled. Star receivers Davante Adams And Puka Nacua tried their best to constantly make clutch games look routine.
But safety Chamber Kinchens and the Rams defense managed to hold off the Seattle Seahawks—barely.
Kinchens intercepted two passes, and the defense Kobe Durant And Darius Williams also picked off passes as the Rams held off the Seahawks for a while. victory with a score of 21-19 on Sunday at Sophie Stadium, which was not secured until Seattle Jason Myers missed a 61-yard field goal as time expired.
“I'm proud of our football team” coach Sean McVay said. “We’re not going to apologize for finding different ways to win.”
No apology required. Despite some struggles on Sunday, the Rams are coming out on top. expectations from a Super Bowl contender.
Stafford continues to play without making major mistakes, the defensive line continues to force quarterbacks into mistakes, and the kicking issues appear to have been resolved.
And now the secondary situation, seen as a potential pre-season liability, is intensifying.
Stafford threw touchdown passes to Adams and tight end Colby Parkinson and Kyren Williams rushed for a touchdown as the Rams improved to 8-2, extended their winning streak to five games and took sole possession of first place in the NFC West.
Rams coach Sean McVay is trying to energize his players ahead of Sunday's 21-19 win over the Seahawks at Sophie Stadium.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
“We found a way to win without playing perfect football against a really good football team,” Stafford said. – So I'll take it.
The same will happen for Adams, whose lone catch was the 1,000th of his career and his league-leading 10th touchdown reception this season.
“It’s not like it was the worst thing ever,” he said of the offense’s performance, “but by our standards it certainly wasn’t.
“But I mean, it makes you feel even better knowing you can play like crap… and still get a win against a really good team.”
The Rams can thank Kinchens, a sophomore cornerback who has six career interceptions, including four against the Seahawks. His interceptions set up Williams' one-yard touchdown in the first quarter and Parkinson's six-yard score in the fourth.
Rams safety Camren Kinchens celebrates with teammates after intercepting a pass in the second half against Seattle on Sunday at Sophie Stadium.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
“Man, they want to throw the ball,” Kinchens said with a chuckle, explaining his success against the Seahawks. “People who want to delay this or give us a chance are a big mistake.”
Or, as Durant put it: “Preach what we do every day, man—take the ball.”
The Rams entered the game having scored at least 34 points in each of their last three games. But that performance wasn't there against a Seahawks team that lost 7-3 to end its four-game winning streak.
Stafford increased his league-leading total of touchdown passes to 27 and went without an interception for the seventh straight game. But the 17-year pro wasn't as sharp as he was during the hiatus that led to him becoming the NFL's MVP.
“I'm certainly glad we got the win,” said Stafford, who completed 15 of 28 passes for 130 yards. “Don’t push me too hard, but at the same time I know I can improve too.”
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford throws a pass to tight end Colby Parkinson during the first half Sunday at Sophie Stadium.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Stafford had better day than Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold.
The Rams didn't fire Darnold, but they made him make bad decisions, and Kinchens, Durant and Williams made him pay. Darnold completed 29 of 44 passes for 279 yards with four interceptions.
Seahawks wide receiver Jackson Smith-Njigbawho was on track to set the NFL record for most receiving yards in a season, caught nine passes for 105 yards. But he didn't score.
Cooper CoupThe former Rams star returning to Sophie Stadium didn't have a catch in the first three quarters but made three catches during a late scoring drive that cut the Rams' lead to two points.
With 1 minute, 41 seconds remaining, Rams kicker Ethan Evans took the ball 50 yards to the Seahawks' one-yard line. The Seahawks drove past midfield, but Myers was unable to match his career-best 61-yard field goal against the Rams in 2020.
This time the ball went right, prompting roars from the crowd, sighs of relief from the Rams and joyous celebrations in the locker room.
“It’s a lot of fun,” McVay said.
Apparently, there is more to come.
Rams safety Braden Fisk (55) and linebacker Byron Young (0) pressure Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold in the fourth quarter.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
