Less than an hour before Rams and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers kicked off Sunday, fans in Sophie Stadium burst into applause.
Watching a giant video screen, the crowd celebrated as the Philadelphia Eagles took the lead and lost to Dallas Cowboys.
This collapse of the defending Super Bowl champions allowed the surging Rams to rise to the top of the NFC.
Defender Matthew Stafford continued his MVP-caliber play by throwing three passes, and the defense also created big chances as the Rams took advantage of the opportunity by making victory with a score of 34-7 this extended their winning streak to six games and improved their record to a conference-best 9–2.
This makes the Rams the number one seed in the NFC playoffs.
Wrong coach Sean McVay celebrated.
“Remember who was in first place six weeks before the end of last year?” McVeigh said. “Me too.”
Yes, there is still a long way to go. And the Eagles hold the tiebreaker over the Rams thanks to their Victory in the third week in Philadelphia.
But if the Rams maintain sole possession of first place and secure home-field advantage, they will avoid another potential January trip to Lincoln Field to play the Eagles, who eliminated the Rams there in the NFC divisional round last season.
“It's Nice” by Edge Rusher Jared Wehrs said he was No. 1 in the NFC, “but that's what we expected.”
Rams tight end Davis Allen catches a pass in the second half against the Buccaneers on Sunday.
(Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times)
The Rams play at Carolina and then Arizona next week before returning to Sophie Stadium for another NFC game against the Detroit Lions. The Rams finish the season with a Thursday night game in Seattle, a trip to Atlanta and a home game against the Cardinals.
So the biggest question for McVay and the Rams is: Are they peaking too early?
Despite being without veteran tight end Tyler Higbee, right tackle Rob Havenstein and defensive end Quentin Lake (all of whom were placed on injured reserve last week), the Rams seemed nearly unstoppable on offense in the first half and dominated defense throughout the game.
The Rams scored at least 34 points for the fourth time in five games. Stafford threw two touchdown passes to Davante Adams and one to tight end Colby Parkinson, raising his league-leading total to 30 with just two interceptions. Stafford hasn't intercepted a pass in eight games.
On Sunday, the 17-year pro completed his first 12 passes and completed 25 of 35 for 273 yards as the crowd chanted “MVP” after each of his last two touchdowns.
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford threw three more touchdowns Sunday against the Buccaneers, giving him a league-best 30.
(Eric Thayer/Los Angeles Times)
“I just know I’m having fun,” Stafford said.
So did Adams.
After bemoaning his performance in last week's 21-19 win over the Seahawks, the 12-year pro was happier, catching five passes for 62 yards and adding to his league-best 12 total touchdown catches.
After his second touchdown Sunday, Adams ran down the tunnel as former Raiders running back Bo Jackson once did.
“I made it to 405 [freeway]Adams joked.
That evening, the Rams honored future Hall of Fame lineman Aaron Donald with a bobblehead and other awards. Wehrs and cornerback Kobe Turner each had two sacks.
Before the game, Wehrs said the defense wanted to “put on a show” for Donald.
“I feel like we definitely did it,” he said.
Rams linebackers Jared Wehrs (left) and Josiah Stewart (center) and cornerback Coby Turner celebrate the first half.
(Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times)
The secondary, which intercepted four passes against the Seahawks, deflected two more, quarterback Kobe Durant returned one for a 50-yard touchdown and Emmanuel Forbes Jr. caught a desperation rush on the final play of the first half.
Durant thanked the defensive line.
“They make our lives easier,” Durant said. “They play quarterback every game.”
The Rams' special teams, which cost the team dearly in losses to the Eagles and San Francisco 49ers, appear to be working effectively as kicker Harrison Mevis has replaced Joshua Carty and veteran Jake McQuaid has replaced Alex Ward as the kicker.
After Mevis only made extra points in his first two games, McVay finally gave him field goal opportunities and Mevis converted from 40 and 52 yards.
“Keep calm, enjoy it and just put it on the racks,” Mevis said of his mindset.
The Rams derailed Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield's return to the stadium where he revived his career in 2022, leading the Rams to a last-second victory over the Las Vegas Raiders in just two days of practice.
Mayfield suffered a left shoulder injury and did not play in the second half. He completed nine of 19 passes for 41 yards and a touchdown with two interceptions.
It all led to a convincing victory for the Rams.
And here's a scary thought for the rest of the NFL: The Rams are on track to get stronger going forward.
Wide receiver Tutu Atwell is eligible to return from injured reserve next week. Cornerback Akello Witherspoon, who broke his collarbone in the second game of the season, is close to returning. McVay said Higbee and Havenstein could return for four games, and Lake could return for the playoffs.
This boost would be a desirable situation for any Super Bowl contender in the NFC.
Especially the one on top now.
