LA Rams squelch Cooper Kupp rumors with outstanding Week 8 win

It was a must-win game for the LA Rams. And no, that's not some melodramatic pitch intended to trigger an emotional respons from fans and readers. Thursday Night Football was the last stand for the team to prove that they know how to win, and do not want teammate Cooper Kupp to be traded to any other team. If the Rams lost, a 2-5 record would have been enough proof that perhaps the team needed to regroup around the 2025 NFL season.

But this is a feisty LA Rams football team. And far too many players have strong friendships and ties with veteran WR Cooper Kupp. In a game that meant the difference between keepin Kupp in Los Angeles, or fielding calls and trade offers, the players made their point. They don't want Kupp going anywhere.

His young understudy, WR Puka Nacua, put on a display of pass catching proficiency. He hauled in seven of nine passes for 106 yards on the night. Kupp himself caught five of eight for 51 yards and a touchdown. And veteran WR Demarcus Robinson, delighted to be running routes against less-talented NFL defensive backs, hauld in two of three passes for 35 yards. But both receptions happened to be in the end zone.

Even RB Kyren Williams seemed to have a skip to his step in Week 8. He rushed 23 times for 97 yards. While he failed to run for a touchdown, he did manage to haul in five of seven passes for 19 yards and a touchdown.

But the player whose performance was clearly at another level was that of starting QB Matthew Stafford. Despite one errant throw that led to an interception, he was a man posssesed. On the night, he completed 25 of 34 passes for 279 yards, four touchdowns, and that one interception.

But this was more than an offensive-exclusive effort. After allowing two quick touchdowns in the first quarter, the Rams defense settled in and held the Vikings offense to two field goals throughout the final three quarters. And one field goal came as a result of that Stafford interception.

The Rams held the Vikings to just 64 rushing yards on 22 carries, to a very respectable average of just 2.9 yards per carry. Despite completing his first eight passes, the Rams settled in to hold Darnold to 18 of 25 passing for 240 yards and those first two first-quarter touchdowns.

It all adds up for a very important Rams win.