McVay wins debut as Goff shines in Rams route of Colts, 46 – 9

In a day of firsts, Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay, and quarterback Jared Goff earn the first win of their respective careers, beating the Indianapolis Colts 46 – 9.

Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay won in his NFL coaching debut, as LA routed the Indianapolis Colts 46-9 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, on an afternoon where the offense, defense, special teams, and coaching dominated.

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Second year quarterback Jared Goff looked confident and in command, as the once winless QB locked up his first ‘W’ before the end of the third quarter. Throwing for 306 yards on 21 of 29 passing and a touchdown, the question as to where his game is at was apparently answered today. The guy who once looked hapless and lost in the woods commanded the Rams offense in a way former head coach Jeff Fisher could have never conceived of.

Los Angeles, who has dominated the bottom of NFL statistical categories two years running, saw the Rams score 27 points, and racking up 245 yards before halftime.

Rookie receiver Cooper Kupp got in on the action early catching four passes for 76 yards and a touchdown. Offseason acquisition Sammy Watkins also had five catches for 58 yards, while Robert Woods caught three passes for 53. And while the numbers might not necessarily jump off of the final stat sheet, Todd Gurley had a day that gives you confidence that maybe he’s on his way back to finding his old form, rushing for 40 yards on 19 carries.

As for the Rams defense, even without Pro Bowl defensive tackle Aaron Donald, they dominated the Colts. With two interceptions, four sacks, and a safety, as defensive coordinator Wade Phillips had his unit swarming. The eventual addition of Donald will only bolster what fans got a taste of today.

Trumaine Johnson had a pick 6 early in the first, adding to an early lead the Rams would never look back from.

But the star of the day was Goff.

Having led the Rams to seven straight losses to close out a disappointing 2016 season in the return to Los Angeles, Goff may have put the questions to rest. At the helm of a revamped offense, McVay may have the guy who can help him turn the corner with a long dormant team.

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As for McVay himself?

It’s one game, but a solid start to 2017. It won’t be an easy assignment next week when his former team, the Washington Redskins come to Los Angeles looking for their first win of their season, but today is a new day in LA.

For Rams fans, it’s the best they could have hoped for.