LA Rams knack for slow starts explodes with scoring spree after D stop

After their first two possession, the New England Patriots had scored a touchdown from the completion from rookie QB Drake Maye to wide receiver Kedrick Bourne. It was the culmination of a 77-yard scoring drive that took the Patriots offense seven plays to advance the football 77 yards. And in that drive, Maye completed four of five passes for 70 yards. The Rams secondary is a problem.

On the opposite side of the football field, after two possessions the Rams offense remained scoreless. Touchdowns are tough to come by this season for the Rams. The team had completed just one of three passes for 37 yards to wide receiver Puka Nacua. The rushing attack was exclusively handled by feature running back Kyren Williams, who ran six times for 32 yards. But the second possession featured a huge 18-yard rush by Williams, followed by two short runs and an incompletion.

The Rams offense is a bit inconsistent.

That's a problem.

Rams defense needs some help

The Rams offense has to shake off this slump. The defense cannot carry the weight of the team consistently each game for all four quarters. As long as the Rams struggle to score, opponents have a blank check to dictate the teams of the game. The ability for opposing offenses to set the pace, the momentum, and the personnel packages, limits what the defense can do.

Until the Rams prove that they can score consistently, the defense is forced to blitz and try to take chances to create turnovers or big plays. But it also squelches the Rams' ability to control the game clock. You see, the team has a nasty habit of abandoning the run if they fall behind, no matter how much time is left on the clock.

But the team managed to dig itself out of a hole. After allowing the Patriots to get a first down on the Rams 32-yard line, the defense stiffened. And the Patriots did themselves no favors. After two five-yard penalties, the Rams pushed the Patriots out of field goal range, and the offense took over.

Rams finally put 2 scoring drives together

This time, the offense finally started to gel. The Rams opened up with a huge 25-yard completion to WR Puka Nacua to push the ball to the 45-yard line. That started a series of completions to various receivers, with a couple of runs by rookie RB Blake Corum to keep the offense moving.

The scoring drive ended with a pretty five-yard completion from Rams QB Matthew Stafford to WR Cooper Kupp. But the Rams were not done scoring.

Rookie defensive tackle Braden Fiske rocked Patriots QB Drake Maye with a strip sack, and teammate NT Kobie Turner recovered the fumble. With first and ten at the Patriots' 12-yard line, Matthew Stafford found wide receiver Puka Nacua in the end zone. Even as the Rams struggled to score in Week 10, the team put up 14 points in less than two minutes.

This game is still early. And there is plenty of concern on the Rams sideline as Puka Nacua was shaken up on the play. The Rams took an early lead in this one, despite the team struggling to be consistent on offense, the offense and defense work together to get the Rams a pair of quick scores.

Is this a result of the Rams opting to start rookie Beaux Limmer at center? It's certainly a refreshing change of pace to see the team put up some touchdowns. It's the first time in seven years that the Rams have scored touchdowns in consecutive offensive plays.

At Halftime

Los Angeles Rams 14
New England Patriots 10

The Rams get the football to open the second half. Hopefully, the team will find the endzone a few more times. And the Rams did trot Puka Nacua back onto the field to end the first half.

But as the half ends, rookie K Joshua Karty missed a chip shot field goal.

Thanks for reading.

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