42 seconds defined Matthew Stafford to Cooper Kupp’s season

The score was tied when LA Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford stepped onto the football field. The scoreboard at Raymond James Stadium stared back with the harsh reality. The LA Rams, once in the lead by the score of 27-3, had squandered that lead and now the team faced elimination. The Rams had 75 yards to go, 42 seconds to move the ball, and a dug-in and determined Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense standing in their way.

Stepping onto the football field with Stafford was WR Cooper Kupp. Kupp had already caught seven passes out of nine targets on the day for 119 yards and a touchdown. But it stood to be in that category that gets swept away at times like these. The Rams were tied with the defending Super Bowl Champions on the road in their stadium. Tie games invariably end up being losses. Stafford had 42 seconds to prevent it.

If you want to follow along, you can click on this link here. While the game video is available in its entirety, you can fast forward to the final scoring drive by the Rams by advancing to the 2:30:00 mark.

75 yards to go in less than a minute

The ball was spotted at the LA Rams 25-yard line. Everyone in the stadium knew what the LA Rams had to do. Stafford, who had already thrown 26 of 35 passes for 305 yards and two touchdowns would need to throw again.  The LA Rams team, a team that had gone all-in before the season began, was all-in once more. It came down to this possession. Stafford knew what he had to do. The Bucs defense knew what he had to do. The fans in the stadium knew what he had to do.

The LA Rams opened up with an empty backfield, a formation that did not surprise anyone. As soon as the ball was snapped, Stafford did not like what he saw, pulled down the football, and rushed forward. The play lost a yard, and the offense appeared to be on life support.  The play forced the team to use their third and final timeout, stopping the game clock with just 35 seconds left to play.

On the next play, the Rams once more emptied their backfield, and Stafford found Cooper Kupp at the left hash mark about 18 yards downfield. Cooper Kupp put some insane quick-twitch triple moves on Buccaneers starting CB Sean Bunting-Murphy, practically snapping his ankles as he tumbled to the ground. That left Kupp wide open.

Beat the clock

Knowing that he needed to get out of bounds, he raced to the sidelines and did so, stopping the clock. The Rams moved the chains, resetting the down and distance to first-down and 10 yards to go from their own 44-yard line. 28 seconds remained on the clock.

On the very next play, Stafford dropped back in an empty backfield once more.  This time, Kupp blew right past Buccaneers safety Antoine Winfield Jr. for a huge 44-yard completion with 20 seconds remaining. The Buccaneers blitzed on that play, forcing Winfield to cover Kupp one on one deep downfield. Kupp won that matchup handily.

Immediately, Stafford sprinted to the spot where the play ended and demanded that the offense reform at the line of scrimmage in time so that he could spike the ball. Stafford spiked the ball with four seconds remaining to stop the clock. That set up the LA Rams for a field goal try with just four seconds remaining on the game clock. As time ran out, the football sailed off placekicker Matt Gay‘s foot through the uprights for a field goal. The LA Rams won the game, thanks to the heroics of Matthew Stafford and Cooper Kupp.

With 42 seconds to play, the chemistry between Cooper Kupp and Matthew Stafford was never more on display. This was the Rams’ offense completely innovating their plays. Kupp proved in two plays why he is the best receiver in the NFL. Even knowing that he would be the Rams’ go-to guy, he managed to move the football 64 yards in just 29 seconds. The LA Rams made a lot of mistakes against the Buccaneers in this one.

But when the game was on the line, it came down to Stafford connecting with Kupp. There was no mistaking that strategy. It’s what gave the Rams the victory.