In an afternoon conflict on Thursday Night Football, the Los Angeles Rams squashed the New Orleans Saints people individuals by a last score of 30-22. The game included two of the NFL’s top offenses, prompting a ton of stimulating plays and a lot of spotlights on the board.
Img Credit: – Flickr
The Rams struck beginning part of the way through the initial quarter when quarterback Matthew Stafford related with wide recipient Cooper Kupp on a 7-yard score pass. Kupp utilized his exact course running capacity to get open in the end zone, and Stafford delivered an ideal pass perfect. The additional point made it 7-0 Rams.
Looking to respond, Saint quarterback Andy Dalton drove his group on a lengthy drive late in the main quarter that resulted in a Mark Ingram 2-yard touchdown run to tie the game 7-7. The Saints efficiently marched down the field, mixing the run and the pass.
The scoring went on in the second quarter, as the two groups exchanged blows like heavyweight warriors trading enormous punches. Stafford sent off two more score passes – a 62-yard bomb to Tutu Atwell and a 16-yard strike to Allen Robinson II. In the interim, Dalton found tight end Juwan Johnson for a 9-yard score to keep things close. At halftime, the Rams held a 21-14 advantage in a game that was fulfilling its charging as a totally thrilling offensive showcase.
Img Credit: – Wikimedia Commons
After the break, any considerations of guarded changes dialing back the scoring were immediately refuted. The Saints tied it up at 21 from the get-go in the second from last quarter on an electric 60-yard catch and run for a score by Rashid Shaheed. Yet, the Rams had a prompt response, requiring only four plays before Darrell Henderson Jr. cut through the line for a 9-yard surging score, returning the Rams on top 28-21.
From the get-go in the final quarter, Saint kicker Wil Lutz thumped through a 58-yard field objective, the longest made kick in the NFL this season. That cut the Los Angeles lead to just 28-25 with plenty of time remaining.
But Stafford and the Rams offense put together another solid drive capped off by a Matt Gay field goal with just under four minutes left. That made it 31-25 Los Angeles. Needing a touchdown and two-point conversion to tie, the Saints drove into Rams territory before a Dalton pass was tipped and intercepted by Los Angeles linebacker Ernest Jones with 1:50 remaining.
The Rams were able to run out the clock from there, aided by a defensive holding call on 3rd down that enabled them to end the game in victory formation.
Stafford finished with 283 yards passing and 3 touchdowns to lead the Rams. Dalton had a strong showing as well with 260 yards and 2 scores for New Orleans, but came up just short as Los Angeles improved to 4-7 on the year with the crucial NFC win.
It was an ever changing fight that kept fans as eager and anxious as ever. The Rams made one more play in a thrilling Thursday night contest between two hungry teams desperate to turn their seasons around.
