After two weeks, the Los Angeles Rams were the only team in the NFL to not reach end zone. After three weeks, the offense has awakened and the Rams sit atop the NFC West.
Case Keenum hit Brian Quick for a 44-yard touchdown pass on the Rams’ first possession, and found Tavon Austin for a second one as the Rams withstood a huge day from Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston to leave Tampa with a 37-32 win.
What many thought could be a defensive showdown turned into offensive explosion as the Rams struck early and often. The Bucs stayed with them the whole way despite a lightning threat in the area that forced a delay at the two minute warning of more than an hour.
Coincidentally it was the Rams defense that came through when the teams got back on the field as Robert Quinn chased down Winston at the Rams’ 4-yard line as time expired to secure the victory. Quinn had a sack and a forced fumble as he terrorized the Bucs all game.
Todd Gurley had his best game of the young season, rushing for 85 yards and two touchdowns and Keenum was efficient, throwing for 190 yards and two touchdowns, but also had an interception that was returned for a touchdown in the first quarter.
The Rams showed some resiliency in this game as they trailed 20-10 after a Kenny Britt fumble led to a Bucs touchdown, but the Rams would not be denied.
Tavon Austin led the Rams with 82 yards on five catches and his first touchdown of the year as the Rams survived in a game where the stats would lead you to believe that they shouldn’t have.
Tampa Bay outgained the Rams by 152 yards, held the ball for seven more minutes, and had 30 first downs to the Rams’ 18. The Bucs, however, had a missed extra point and field goal, as well as a failed two-point conversion that wound up making a huge difference.
After arguably the worst start possible in their opening week loss to the San Francisco 49ers, the Rams have now won two straight and are tied with the Seattle Seahawks at 2-1, atop the NFC West. They remain on the road next week as they head to Arizona to take on an angry Cardinals team who is a disappointing 1-2.
