LA Rams white-knuckler win sends team to NFC Championship Game

Talk about a dramatic finish. The LA Rams tried their damnedest to lose, but in the end, a field goal by Matt Gay with no time remaining proved to be the difference-maker.  A win is a win is a win. But it’s clear. With this team, no lead is safe.

This team led the San Francisco 49ers in Week 18 by a score of 17-0. The Rams went on to lose that one in overtime by a score of 27-24. That was a lesson that the team needed, as the team would find themselves in the lead once more.  Leading, and squandering, a lead through a ridiculous series of gaffes, mental mistakes, and buffoonery.

Although the LA Rams entered the Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs, this team would have none of it. At least two and a half quarters of play, that is. Even a first-half fumble by RB Cam Akers proved to be harmless, as the half ended. The Rams controlled the game clock, the tempo, and the scoreboard by climbing to a 27-3 lead. Then, the Rams forgot to keep the handle on the football.

Rams suffer fumbilitis outbreak at the worst time

The LA Rams outbreak of fumbilitis began to turn disastrous when Cooper Kupp fumbled the football on the LA Rams 43-yard line.  The Buccaneers recovered the ball at the LA Rams 30-yard line. That was the start of the dam breaking for the Rams.

The Buccaneers needed just seven plays to score, bringing them to within two touchdowns of the Rams. But even as the score was 27-13, there was a comfortable feeling. The fourth quarter had begun. Surely the Rams would hold on with a 14 point lead and just one-quarter of regulation play remaining, right?

After the LA Rams were held to a three-and-out, punting the ball away, the defense came up big as veteran OLB Von Miller sacked Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady, stripped the football from him, and recovered the ball at the Tampa Bay 25-yard line. But as the Rams offense took the field, center Brian Allen pulled complete buffoonery, hiked the ball well over the head of an unsuspecting quarterback Matthew Stafford, which ended up being recovered by the Buccaneers defense at the 45-yard line.

The Rams would go on to sputter until the Buccaneers tied the game with just 42 seconds remaining.

After a sack, Matthew Stafford would find WR Cooper Kupp for 20 yards (and out of bounds to stop the clock) then down the middle for 44 yards. Stafford rushed to the line to spike the football with just four seconds remaining.

The Rams opted to kick the winning field goal with just four seconds remaining. The kick was up, and it was good as time expired. The LA Rams snatched a victory from the jaws of defeat.

Now, it’s the LA Rams hosting the NFC Championship Game. Their opponent? Their NFC West nemesis, the San Francisco 49ers.