Rams’ huge win leaves Sean McVay with one clear move he can’t ignore

Imagine the dilemma of Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Tutu Atwell. Speed sells in the NFL, and the 4.22-second 40-yard dash time by the former Louisville Cardinals wide receiver is swift and desirable. That was one of the reasons the team brought him back for 2025.

But speed is relative. It's valuable on the football field, but useless on the bench. And so far this season, the five-year NFL veteran had hauled in just one of three passes for four yards.

But in a tied score against the Colts with just 1:33 left on the game clock and 88 yards from the end zone, the underused offensive player punctuated his value to this offense, hauling in a deep pass up the sideline from Matthew Stafford and taking it to the house for the game-winning score. It should send a clear message to Sean McVay to get Atwell more involved in the offense.

Rams HC Sean McVay must give Tutu Atwell more touches

One pass turned into one touchdown. And in that one play, the ability of the Rams offense to score from anywhere on the football field became reality once more. It was the echoes of 2021 reverberating in SoFi Stadium, as Los Angeles pulled off another fourth-quarter comeback.

Yes, this was a total team effort. And every contributor delivered a vital piece to ensure a win in a difficult Week 4 contest. Ironically, other contributors do not need to beg for targets. Only wide receiver Jordan Whittington and tight end Colby Parkinson had fewer opportunities in this game. But of the two passes thrown Atwell's way, he took one to the house at a time when all hope seemed to fail.

It was the most unlikely of game-winning throws by veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford, the king of fourth-quarter comebacks. But the pass sailed to a wide-open Tutu Atwell, who sailed 88 yards for the game-winning touchdown. Perhaps most unlikely of all, it was just his second reception of the season.

For an offense that is desperate for explosive plays, the touchdown cast a huge shadow of doubt over an offensive strategy that charts out throwing 136 passes, but only five passes to the most explosive weapon in the receiver room. Hmmm.

This was more than a touchdown pass. This was a wake-up for the entire offense. Finally, the team appeared to be just as dangerous as it was in 2021. And that bodes well for a team that has improved to a record of 3-1.

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