The Los Angeles Rams were unable to build on their comeback win over the San Francisco 49ers as they fell, 24-18, to the Chicago Bears in Week 4.
The Rams were again short-handed as they did not have two of their starters on the offensive line, as well as Pro Bowl wide receivers Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua.
However, Kyren Williams had another big performance with 94 rushing yards on 19 carries and a touchdown. He also added 10 yards through the air on four catches.
Williams praised the Rams offensive line for their blocking and believes he should have had some bigger runs, via Wyatt Miller of TheRams.com:
“I think the whole line did a phenomenal job handling the front five and even the linebackers,” Williams said postgame. “They were giving me holes that I should have did more with, you know, the holes that they were giving me, man, I should have had probably about four or five explosives.”
Williams’ longest run went for 14 yards, but he averaged 4.9 yards per carry, which was up from the three yards he averaged going into the matchup.
Williams said he has to do a better job with his cuts and making players miss their tackles:
“I got to be better when I get past the initial line and getting to those linebackers and being able to just, you know, make cuts and make people miss,” Williams said.
Although the Rams are missing Steve Avila, Jonah Jackson and Joe Noteboom, the offensive line had some continuity for the first time this season.
Alaric Jackson (left tackle), Logan Bruss (left guard), Beaux Limmer (center), Kevin Dotson (right guard) and Rob Havenstein (right tackle) started at their respective positions for the second consecutive week.
Having those five together on a consistent basis should only help the Rams offensive line become more consistent, and in turn, lead to bigger runs for Williams.
Williams’ rushing touchdown in the third quarter was his seventh consecutive game with a score, which tied Marshall Faulk for the most since 2000.
Rams’ Matthew Stafford ties Drew Brees
Although his late interception proved costly in the Rams’ loss to the Bears, Matthew Stafford tied Drew Brees for the fifth-most fourth-quarter comebacks (36) in NFL history last week.
“It’s cool anytime you’re getting mentioned with guys like Drew Brees who did such amazing things in this league for such a long time. I feel humbled again to be in that same breath. I have a lot of respect for him and who he was as a player,” Stafford said of the accomplishment.
“Fourth quarter comebacks are great. [It] means your team can count on you in those moments. They’re also not so great [because it] means you’re down, so play better than the first three. It’s funny. Football’s a funny game. Sometimes one great quarter can erase three bad ones, so take them whenever you can get them.
