Three heroes carry the LA Rams to Week 17 victory

Pickpocket

The game seemed well in hand for the Baltimore Ravens when the LA Rams punted the ball to them at the 2:00 minute mark of the first half. The Ravens rushed twice, getting a first down and keeping the clock moving. That forced the Rams to burn two timeouts as time ran down to 1:42.

But the Baltimore Ravens are a gambling offense. On first down and ten yards to go from their own 28-yard line, the Ravens’ offense decided that it was time to take a shot downfield. Reserve quarterback Tyler Huntley dropped back and launched a long pass downfield to wide receiver Marquise Brown. But Brown and Huntley miscommunicated, and defensive back Jordan Fuller stepped up for the crucial interception.

The perfect moment for his first pick

It was Jordan Fuller’s first interception of the 2021 NFL Season. But he was not about to go down. Instead, he grabbed the football on a dead run at the LA Rams 37-yard line. He was able to advance the football 34 yards, finally being brought down at the Ravens’ 29-yard line.

That single play changed the momentum of the game. And the Rams offense, held at bay for the entire first half, sprang into action. The Rams needed just 45 seconds to strike. First,  quarterback Matthew Stafford found running back Sony Michel for 11 yards. Then, after an incompletion intended for TE Tyler Higbee, Stafford found Cooper Kupp for an 18-yard touchdown pass.

While the Rams were still behind, the interception and touchdown placed the LA Rams down by just one score. With deferring the opening kickoff, the Rams would get the football to open the second half.