5 Takeaways From Los Angeles Rams Week 4 Win Over Arizona Cardinals

Tavon Austin’s Key Punt Return

The Rams invested a ton of money into Tavon Austin during the offseason, and even though his inconsistency is frustrating at times, Sunday was the perfect example of the type of threat he can be with the football.

Austin may have only finished the game with two catches for 14 yards, but his 47-yard punt return to the Arizona 34 late in the fourth quarter put Los Angeles in the perfect position to tie the game or take the lead. Five plays later, Case Keenum found Quick in the end zone on a four-yard touchdown that would end up being the deciding factor in the 17-13 win.

His numbers may not always be impressive, but this punt return by Austin was one of a few reasons why the team was able to leave Arizona with a win on Sunday. Without Austin’s return, chances are the Rams wouldn’t have been able to score when considering they had been shutout the entire half leading up to that drive.

Last year, Austin proved to be a threat at multiple positions, and even though this return failed to result in a touchdown, the field position took some of the pressure off Keenum and the rest of the Rams’ offense on a drive that ended up being the difference maker.