7 winners and 5 losers in Rams 2nd consecutive win over tumbling 49ers
By Bret Stuter
The lingering euphoria of an LA Rams victory at SoFi Stadium over the visiting San Francisco 49ers is something that I could definitely get used to. That is especially true if the Rams come back to claim a victory in such a dramatic soul-stealing way each time. It was a masterpiece of a game by veteran QB Matthew Stafford, a game that continues to emphasize his mastery of football, of this offense, and of the synergy that he shares with HC Sean McVay.
GIve Stafford time, give him some protection, and he can dissect any secondary. Give him a running game, and he can hurl bomb after bomb, embarrassing safeties who try to crowd the box, but find retreating in pursuit of WR Tutu Atwell impossible to accomplish.
The Rams 12 personnel was the perfect configuration to confuse the 49ers defense. And Matthew Stafford was Megatron, leader of the Decepticons (sorry, Calvin Johnson). Stafford did not pass for 400+ yards, nor did he throw 4+ touchdown passes. But he led a toothless and clawless offense into the face of the 49ers defense, a defense at full strength, and put up 27 points to claim victory.
20 of those points went on the scoreboard in second half.
He only needed 2:47 to put up the final 10 points of the game for the Rams, just enough to win the game.
Few other quarterbacks can pull that off with a fully healthy offense team around him. But veteran Matthew Stafford, the quarterback who helped launch three different wide receivers into the NFL All-Time Records book, does so with backups
It's certainly spectacular to witness.
While a sensational display of offensive firepower, this team cannot hope to win many games if the plan is to spot the opponent a 14-point lead, and they roar to life in dramatic fashion to win by fourth quarter heroics. But a win is a win. So who were the players to contributed to success, and who may need to up their game in the future?