LA Rams MNF game recap: Team steps out of the shadows at last

LA Rams MNF game recap: No more shadows for this team. Rams exposed their true nature in front of a national audience.

The LA Rams had it all on the line in the Monday Night Football against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In a game few expected the Rams to play well, the LA Rams scrapped the way-we-were and moved back to the future.  In a game where the Bucs seemed to know what the Rams wanted to do on offense, the Rams changed their frequency and went with their rookies.

The gamble paid off. The Rams got a first-half tying touchdown out of rookie WR Van Jefferson, and a go-ahead touchdown out of rookie RB Cam Akers. The Rams ended the first half ahead 17-14. By the end of the third quarter, the Rams were up by a touchdown, 24-17. That is not where it remained, though.

Shaky offense

The Rams were unable to run the ball in this one. And so, the familiar trend of quarterback Jared Goff throwing the ball over 50 times in a game became the game plan. It almost proved to be the Rams’ downfall in the fourth quarter, as Goff threw for his second interception of the night. That series was clearly jinxed, as the Rams fumbled the snap, were called for delay of game, and finally ended with the second pick.

The defense, already fatigued from the previous series, could not pull off a miracle stop and the Buccaneers were able to go in for a tying score. But the Rams had the ball, four minutes remaining, and drove down the field themselves. The drive stalled deep in Tampa Bay territory, and the Rams brought out kicker Matt Gay to break the tie. He was good, and the Rams found themselves ahead with just over two minutes to play.

Brady was Full’d for a second time

For many years, the script in the NFL is that any team foolish enough to give Tom Brady the ball with two minutes left on the game clock with a single-digit lead in the game is bound to lose. Thankfully, rookie Jordan Fuller did not read that script and ended the Buccaneers drive with his second interception of the game.

The Rams may not have stomped a mudhole in the Bucs, but they won an incredibly difficult game against a playoff-bound team in Tampa Bay.

For the Rams defense, you could not have asked for more. The Rams held Bucs QB Tom Brady to 26 of 48 passing for 216 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions.  The Bucs running attack ended the game with 18 carries and 42 yards. No Buccaneers receiver had 60 or more yards. A solid defensive stand.

Rams cannot hide in the shadows any longer

With the Rams, quarterback Jared Goff threw for 39 of 51 for 376 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions. While the Rams running game was only 20 carries for 37 yards, the Rams had over 100 yards from both Cooper Kupp (145 yards) and Robert Woods (130 yards).  OLB Samson Ebukam recorded the only sack in the game.

The Buccaneers (7-4) next face the Kansas City Chiefs at home.  The LA Rams (7-3) now host the San Francisco 49ers.  The Rams will need to share the status of inside linebacker Micah Kiser, who had six tackles before being shaken up and leaving the game.

The Rams wore their less-than-runway-worthy bone uniforms in this one, and once more they won the game. Rookies Van Jefferson and Cam Akers put up their first touchdowns. Rookie Jordan Fuller put up two interceptions. This was a good game to be young on the Rams roster. And if you are not young, this victory will make you feel young once more.