The Los Angeles Rams went on the road for their Week 14 tilt against the Baltimore Ravens and lost a 37-31 heartbreaker in overtime. The Rams snapped their three-game winning stream and fell to 6-7, though they still remain at the top of the hunt for the final Wild Card spot.
The Rams got on the board first after forcing the Ravens to punt on the opening possession. Lucas Havrisik connected on a 27-yard field goal set up by a series of Kyren Williams designed runs.
After the two teams traded punts, the Ravens would strike back and take the lead after Lamar Jackson found second-year tight end Isaiah Likely on the left sideline for a 54-yard bomb that made it 7-3. However, Matthew Stafford was able to respond with a pair of completions to Cooper Kupp and Demarcus Robinson that put Los Angeles in position to score. Stafford hit Kupp on the left for a six-yard touchdown to put the team back up.
Odell Beckham Jr. had an extra pep in his step playing against his former team as he ran some beautiful routes, one of them coming on a 46-yard touchdown pass. However, Puka Nacua made a long grab of 34 yards on the ensuing drive that ended with Davis Allen catching his first touchdown of the 2023 season.
Robinson and Kupp caught another pair of downfield throws to give Havrisik a chance to hit a 51-yard try. The Ravens responded right back as Justin Tucker hit from 31 yards to make it 20-17 Los Angeles at halftime.
Matthew to Cooper for six! Classic.
📺 @NFLonFOX | 🗳️ https://t.co/0NZzTbNGnn pic.twitter.com/rt8TJamssU
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) December 10, 2023
Davis Allen powerin' it in for his first TD!!
📺 @NFLonFOX | 🗳️https://t.co/0NZzTbNGnn pic.twitter.com/nSvvbomN4i
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) December 10, 2023
Stafford floats one to Coop for 32 yards! pic.twitter.com/tiJI1Y97kZ
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) December 10, 2023
BIG PICKUP FROM @AsapPuka!
📺 @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/1oKcl8umH7
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) December 10, 2023
The ruling on the field stands — TOUCHDOWN @Demarcus!
📺 @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/ZwYfLkX39k
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) December 10, 2023
COOOOOOOP!
📺 @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/5eS5rnNcA8
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) December 10, 2023
Baltimore kicked off the second-half scoring by hitting a field goal, but L.A.’s defense got a safety after a bad snap to make it 22-20. That would be the end of the scoring in a defensive-focused third quarter, but things heated back up in the fourth.
Tucker chipped in a 33-yarder, and the two teams once again traded punts. However, this time they also put up back-to-back touchdown drives courtesy of Robinson and Zay Flowers. However, Flowers also caught a two-point conversion to give the Ravens a 31-28 lead.
Kupp came through in the clutch as he caught a deep 34-yard pass to set up Havrisik’s field goal to force overtime. Baltimore got the football first, but the Los Angeles defense held them to a three-and-out. Things fell apart from there as the Rams offense stalled out after a third-down penalty, and forced them to punt.
Ravens kick returner Tyran Wallace took the punt from Ethan Evans and ran it back for a touchdown to send the Rams home with a dispiriting loss.
It’s a backbreaker for Los Angeles, who had some serious momentum going but beat themselves against a Baltimore team that is currently at the top of the AFC. This is the kind of game that can come back to bite a team, so hopefully the Rams bounce back next week.
Up next for the Rams…
Fortunately, the Rams come back home to SoFi Stadium for Week 15 where they’ll have an excellent chance to get back in the win column as they play the Washington Commanders.
