The Los Angeles Rams faced their toughest test yet in Week 3 when they hosted Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In what was a potential preview of the NFC Championship Game, it was Matthew Stafford and the Rams that came out on top with a convincing 34-24 victory at SoFi Stadium to improve to 3-0.
The Rams outplayed the Buccaneers in all three phases of the game, which Sean McVay made sure to highlight in his postgame press conference.
While there is still a lot of football to be played, there’s no doubt the Rams made a statement against the defending champs and the victory is something they can build off of moving forward.
I broke down what I was most impressed with on Sunday in my weekly observations and analysis:
Matthew Stafford MVP campaign underway?
It wouldn’t make sense to start anywhere other than the brilliance of Stafford, who is the main reason the Rams are now not only considered Super Bowl contenders, but potentially favorites.
Stafford actually started off slow in this game, completing just one of his first seven passes. He was pretty much perfect from there though, going 27-of-38 for 343 yards and four touchdowns without a turnover.
Through his first three games as a Ram, Stafford ranks first in the NFL in QBR (82.8), second in quarterback rating (129.8), second in yards per attempt (10.0) and second in touchdown passes (9).
With the Rams sitting at 3-0, it’s hard to pick anyone other than Stafford as the early favorite for the NFL’s MVP award. Regardless of awards though, one thing that’s clear is that the addition of Stafford gives the Rams a much more dynamic offense. His ability to throw deep is something they didn’t previously have and has been an absolute joy to watch through three weeks.
Welcome home, DeSean Jackson
Speaking of the deep ball, one thing the Rams also didn’t have last year is a receiver capable of getting behind defensive backs. They have that now in one of the greatest deep threats of all time in DeSean Jackson though and he proved that he’s still got it against the Buccaneers, catching a 75-yard bomb early in the third quarter and finishing with three receptions for 120 yards and a reception.
Jackson stayed quiet in the Rams’ first two games, but McVay made it a point this week that he was looking to get the veteran more involved and he was able to do exactly that.
The addition of Jackson not only gives the Rams a deep threat capable of hitting a home run on any play, but it also opens up the middle of the field for the other receivers because he always has to be accounted for.
The truth is, while Stafford hit Jackson for one bomb on Sunday, they easily could’ve connected on one or two more, which is a scary sight for the rest of the league.
Kenny Young stepping up
On the defensive side of the ball, everyone knows Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey are the Rams’ stars and they proved why again with exceptional games against the Buccaneers.
One player many people may not be familiar with that has been playing like a star in his own right so far this season though is linebacker Kenny Young.
Young led the Rams with 10 total tackles on Sunday, including a sack of Brady and three tackles for loss. He was everywhere.
Linebacker was the biggest question mark on defense for the Rams going into the season, but with the speed and strength Young is playing with, that is no longer the case.
McVay’s energy
Something that is not a huge deal but I feel the need to talk about because some people were critical of it was McVay’s energy on the sidelines.
It was a side of McVay that we haven’t really seen before, but I absolutely loved it. McVay was enthusiastic all day, pumping up his team, and even sprinting to meet them in the end zone after the long touchdown to Jackson:
.@budlight | #BudLightCelly pic.twitter.com/P5NkDmUURy
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) September 26, 2021
Why people want to hate on a coach for showing love to his team, I have no clue. Some joked that this was McVay and the Rams’ Super Bowl and it doesn’t bode well for them moving forward, but I absolutely disagree.
What I saw is a coach who understands how special his team can be with Stafford at quarterback and is just starting to scratch the surface of what they can be offensively.
Remember…the Rams don’t play any of their starters during the preseason, so Stafford has only had a grand total of three games to work with McVay and the offense.
McVay can now fully open up his playbook and I completely understand why he’s so excited about it because I am too.
SoFi Stadium
I just wanted to point out and show love to Rams fans because they showed up to SoFi Stadium on Sunday and created an absolutely electric environment for a football game. I would know because I was there and have truly never seen anything like it in my life.
Even Brady pointed out in his postgame press conference how loud it was.
“It’s good. It’s (a) very loud stadium. Very loud. One of the louder ones we’ve been in. But there’s a lot of other loud stadiums. We got to do a better job of handling it.”
SoFi Stadium has created a legitimate home-field advantage for the Rams, something they didn’t have at the Coliseum. Not to mention that the stadium itself is incredible and everyone who has a chance to go to a game this season should absolutely do so.
Up next…
Things don’t get any easier for the Rams moving forward as they now open up their divisional schedule by hosting the undefeated Arizona Cardinals in Week 4. McVay has never lost to the Cardinals since taking over as Rams head coach, so hopefully that streak continues although they will have to slow down Kyler Murray and Arizona’s high-powered offense to make it happen.
