SNF Opening drive sets the pace for LA Rams home opener

We were trying to figure out what the LA Rams starters are made of. After all, they’ve been stuck in the lab all through OTAs, training camp, and preseason games. It was a risk, a calculated risk, to preserve the 35 or so players who were earmarked to be on the LA Rams sideline for this one.

Sure the LA Rams trained and scrimmaged. But the timing of offensive and defensive plays requires practice in its own right. Not playing starters risked clumsy mental mistakes and harmful penalties as starters get up to speed at… well… starting in their Sunday Night Football home opener.

Before the game began, all NFC North Division teams lost, and all the NFC West Division teams won. So at kickoff, the Bears were in first place and the Rams were in last place. Looks like that will change.

Kickoff would open with the Rams winning the toss, opting to receive the ball in the second half. After kicking the ball eight yards deep, the Bears kick returner Khalil Herbert returned the ball by 50 yards.  After the Bears offense took the field, quarterback Andy Dalton passed for a short four-yard gain to wide receiver Darnell Mooney. Then a simple handoff to running back David Montgomery gashed the middle for a 41-yard gain.  From there, the Bears ran for no gain, tossed a nine-yard pass. Then with a third down and one at the Rams’ third-yard line, Dalton dropped back to pass, inside linebacker Kenny Young tipped the pass, and cornerback David Long Jr. intercepted the pass in the end zone.

Bend but not break.

It took the LA Rams offense 3 plays and 1:18 to respond. The first play from the 20-yard line was a Darrell Henderson run for six yards. Next Stafford passed to tight end Tyler Higbee for seven yards and a first down. After that?  Matthew Stafford connected on a 67-yard bomb for a touchdown. Well, Van Jefferson fell at the 20-yard line untouched, got back up, and ran it in for the score

Rams 7  Bears 0