Stetson Bennett, like this Rams team, shows feisty ways to win games

If you hoping for LA Rams backup QB Stetson Bennett to fail in Game 2, you are likely disappointed. If you wanted to see Stetson Bennett execute perfectly in Game 2, you are also likely disappointed. Stetson Bennett offered fans a bit of good and a bit of bad. But in the end, the guy is 2-0 for the Rams in preseason games. And the Rams were the underdogs at SoFi Stadium this week.

In fact, per ESPN, the Rams have been the underdog in both preseason games.

You can cite the Rams stalwart defense as the reason for the wins. And you would be correct, partially. After all, this young defense that is playing no starters and had even taken the football field without some key backups has been flying all over the place. This defense has not tossed a shutout quite yet, but they have limited two NFL opponents to just 21 points, or seven field goals, in eight regulation quarters of play.

But that means the Rams have allowed 21 points to be scored. Winning games requires the offense to score more points than their opponents. And yes, the Rams offense has done that. 26 points in two games. Not much, but enough. Just enough it seems.

While some fans may grab torches and pitchforks to march on SoFi Stadium and demand the Rams shed their young quarterback Stetson Bennett, I would not be so hasty. Bennett, like this team, embodies a feisty spirit that simply refuses to surrender. And while the Rams fell behind for the second week in a row, Bennett has led the team to another fourth-quarter comeback in the fourth quarter.

It was eerily similar to Week 1. In fact. let's compare the two games in a quick data table:

Bennett did a much better job of decision making (in terms of three fewer interceptions thrown. So where do you stand in deliberating Stetson Bennett's fate?

If you want him gone, you have enough to want him gone. Toss 2023 stats out the window. So far in the 2024 NFL preseason, Bennett has completed 41 of 69 passes (59.4 completion rate) for 437 yards, two touchdowns and five interception. But there are some extenuating circumstances.

Bennett is playing with young NFL hopefuls who may not even make the roster. And even when playing with rostered teammates, the vanilla plays are not exactly designed to exploit opposing team defenses. He continues to show an indominable feistiness that becomes more and more determined as the game plays out. Ultimately, he finds a way to win the game.

I know preseason wins and losses have no meaning once the regular season starts. But at the same time, we are discussing a backup quarterback role on the roster for the first two games. And the Rams, ugly or not, have found a way to claw and scratch a way to win the game in the fourth quarter twice. That is something the Rams have not done in a very long time. In fact, the last time the Rams have claimed two consecutive victories in preseason was in 2019. If the Rams defeat the Houston Texans in Game 3, it will be the first time that the Rams have won three preseason games since hiring HC Sean McVay in 2017.

Style points, or gutsy wins? You decide. But I cast my vote to give the guy more time. He may not be pretty in the pocket, but I like the way that he finds some way to win.

Even in preseason, that is a quality that I'd like to keep in the locker room.

FINAL SCORE

LA Rams 13
Los Angeles Chargers 9

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