The Los Angeles Rams avenged their Week 5 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in a big way in Week 10. After losing to the 49ers in overtime, the Rams controlled this meeting from start to finish, winning 42-26. The 16-point win against the 49ers ties their largest margin of victory in this rivalry during the Sean McVay era. It’s the type of statement win and confidence boost that the Rams needed as they head into the next two months of their schedule. Here are this week’s 10 takeaways.
1. Rams came out with purpose
When the Rams played the 49ers back in Week 5, it was as if they weren’t ready to play on Thursday Night Football. That was not the case on Sunday. The Rams came out playing with energy and ready to take care of business. They played with the Week 5 loss fresh in their memory. On offense, the Rams scored on their first three drives. Defensively, the Rams got a three-and-out and then Nate Landman recorded yet another forced fumble.
Before the 49ers could blink, the Rams were leading 21-0. This was a game in which the Rams knew they were better than the team on the other side, were confident in their game plan, and executed it to perfection. The Rams knew how important this game was and they were locked in.
2. Matthew Stafford strengthens MVP case
The MVP conversation should be a two quarterback race between Matthew Stafford and Drake Maye. After beating a 49ers team that entered the week 6-3 on the road, Stafford’s case only got better. The Rams quarterback threw for four touchdowns and zero interceptions. He became the only quarterback in NFL history to throw four or more touchdown passes and zero interceptions in three straight games. Stafford threw three or more touch passes for the 62nd time in his career. That tied Dan Marino for the sixth-most all-time.
On the season, Stafford has 25 touchdowns and two interceptions. The only quarterback to do that through their team’s first nine games was Patrick Mahomes in 2020. Stafford is playing some of the best football of his career and it seemingly only gets better every week. Stafford has gone six straight games without an interception which is the longest streak of his career. It’s also not as if Stafford is playing conservatively. The Rams quarterback is making the special throws while not turning the ball over.
3. Williams and Corum tandem is working
In the early parts of the season, the Rams couldn’t quite figure out how to utilize both Kyren Williams and Blake Corum. The duo combined for 27 carries for 129 yards in this game. That comes one week after they combined for 38 carries for 172 yards. It’s also the third consecutive game both players have 10 or more carries. While Williams is still the primary ball carrier, it’s been closer to 50-50 in two of the last three weeks. The Rams simply have the rotation down to best utilize both players’ skill sets.
Two of Corum’s biggest runs came on wide zone or outside zone concepts that allow Corum to run along the offensive line and use his vision to find the cutback lane. Kyren Williams remains incredibly efficient running inside while also being used in the passing game. This is the two-headed monster that many were expecting this duo to eventually become.
4. Davante Adams more than red zone threat
While Davante Adams has a touchdown in each of the last three games, including one against the 49ers, he’s becoming more than that. Stafford and Adams are starting to connect in other places than just the red zone. These two connected for multiple big plays throughout this game and Adams is becoming a true WR2 alongside Puka Nacua.
It was always only a matter of time before Adams and Stafford got on the same page. It took almost half the season, but we are at that point and it’s happening at the most important part of the schedule. Adams already has more touchdowns than in the last two seasons combined. His nine touchdown receptions lead the NFL and are the most he’s had since he caught 14 in 2022.
5. The Emmanuel Forbes show continues
Over the past month, Emmanuel Forbes has looked better and better on the outside. He’s improved every week and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him remain on the outside at cornerback when Ahkello Witherspoon returns. Forbes had a pass breakup on third down to start the game. In the fourth quarter, he had his second interception in as many weeks. To put it simply, Forbes is gaining confidence and it’s showing on the field.
Forbes allowed one catch for 14 yards in this game and it’s the fourth time in the last five weeks that he’s allowed less than 25 yards in coverage. What was impressive about this performance was that the Rams pass rush didn’t necessarily get to Mac Jones. They certainly affected the throw on Forbes’ interception, but the Rams didn’t sack Jones and weren’t as dominant as other games this season.
6. This might be most balanced McVay offense
An argument can be made that this is the most balanced version of the Rams offense under Sean McVay. For an offense that has typically relied on one running back, both Corum and Williams have 10 or more carries in each of the last three games. This is an offense that has typically relied on one wide receiver in three wide receiver sets. The Rams have become a 13 personnel team that features tight ends.
The Rams lined up in 13 personnel at a 44.8 percent rate against the 49ers. It continues a three-game streak using it on more than 38 percent of their plays. They’ve used 13 personnel on 97 plays over their last four games. For reference, Sean McVay used it just 84 times in his first 137 games. Tight ends have become an identity of the offense. For a third consecutive game, all four tight ends had a reception. Stafford completed a pass to eight different players. This is a balanced unit that has become increasingly difficult to defend.
7. Kicking game fine, but not tested
After everything that the Rams have gone through at kicker, it’s going to be a main storyline. The bar has been set so low that 6-for-6 on extra points is considered a success. Over the last three games, the Rams have gone 14-for-15 in the red zone. That’s not sustainable and at some point, the Rams will have to kick a field goal. While it was the right call, McVay opted to go for it on 4th-and-2 instead of kicking a 45-yard field goal. The Rams also punted from their own 41-yard line at the end of the half instead of kicking a 58-yard field goal.
The kicking game was fine and did what it needed to do. At the same time, the Rams avoided putting them in a situation in which they were really needed. The punt coverage unit did give up a big return that led to a 49ers touchdown. It’s fair to say that the issues on special teams aren’t completely behind them.
8. Rams controlled entire game
The Rams led 21-0 in this game, but after touchdowns at the end of the first half and beginning of the second half, that lead was down to seven. Still, the Rams never lost control of this game. The offense responded with a touchdown drive of their own. When the 49ers scored again, the offense once again went down the field and responded.
From start to finish, the Rams controlled this game. The Rams turned this into the type of game that they wanted. Christian McCaffrey was held to 2.5 yards per carry and the game was put into Mac Jones’ hands. Jones had success, but the Rams weren’t going to let McCaffrey beat them. On offense, the Rams remained balanced and efficient. They played mistake-free football while creating turnovers on defense. That was exactly what the Rams should have done against this 49ers team.
9. This is a win Rams needed
Whenever the Rams play the 49ers there is always going to be some anxiety. This very easily could have been a sweep, but it didn’t work out that way. Since that Week 5 loss, the Rams have won four straight. They now have their first division win of the season which is important, especially heading into these next eight games. If Sunday was a sign of anything, it’s that the Rams know what they’re up against over the next two months and they’re ready for it. This is a team that’s focused and they are currently playing some of their best football. The hope will be that they aren’t peaking too early.
The Rams are now 1-1 in the NFC West and avoid the sweep to the 49ers. Division wins on the road aren’t easy to come by as seen with the Miami Dolphins beating the Buffalo Bills. This is a Rams team that’s dialed in and we’re going to find out just how good they are over the next month of the season.
10. Rams and Seahawks are class of NFC West
It was an all-NFC West weekend in the afternoon slate with the Seahawks taking on the Cardinals at the same time as the Rams playing the 49ers. At one point, the Seahawks led 35-0 while the Rams were up 21-0. The Rams and Seahawks were leading the other two teams in the division by a combined score of 56-0. That should show just how much of a gap that there is between these two teams and the other two. This is a division that’s once again going to come down to the Rams and Seahawks.
That looms large as the Rams and Seahawks play each other next week. These are two teams that are both 7-2 and on four-game win streaks. The Rams have a point differential of +98 while the Seahawks are at +103. They have lost four games between them by a combined 17 points. This matchup in Week 11 is going to be one of the more anticipated matchups of the season and for good reason. Whoever wins this game is going to have an advantage in not just the division, but the No. 1 seed down the stretch.
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