Technically, the game isn’t over until the final whistle blows. But, in the case of tonight’s Sunday Night Football matchup between the Los Angeles Rams and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the game was over in the 2nd quarter. The Rams blew out the Bucs 34 – 7 thanks to a 31 point first half. McVay’s Rams did not look back en route to their sixth straight win to improve to a 9-2 record. Here were five most-defining plays of the Rams home win on Aaron Donald Night!
1. Matthew Stafford finds Puka Nacua on 3rd & 18, (Rams 0 – Buccaneers 0), 5:54 left in 1st Quarter
On their first series of the night, the LA offense manufactured an 80 yard drive on 10 plays. The biggest play of the drive wasn’t the touchdown fade to Davante Adams. It was two plays before, when Stafford found Nacua on 3rd & 18 from the TB 34. Rams fans have grown accustomed to seeing McVay run or throw screen passes in those situations. However, this time McVay trusted his gunslinger to move the chains and he delivered.
2. Cobie Durant’s 50-yard Pick 6, (Rams – 14 – Buccaneers 0), 1:42 left in the 1st Quarter
Five plays after the Rams first touchdown, it was the defense’s turn to make a play. Baker Mayfield targeted Cade Otton on a 2nd & 13 pass near midfield. The pass was on target but Otton bobbled the ball with both hands for a few seconds and then seemingly brought in the pass but Cobie Durant ripped the pass away from Otton before he could make a football move. Durant then ran the intercepted pass back for 50 yards; giving LA a two-score lead.
3. Stafford’s no look touchdown throw to Colby Parkinson, (Rams 21 – Buccaneers – 0), 10:46 left in 2nd Quarter
The Rams defense forced a three & out on its next defensive series giving the Rams offense the ball back in quick order. To usher in the 2nd quarter, Stafford and company drove downfield 72 yards capping off the drive with a 3rd & Goal no-look touchdown pass to his starting tight end.
4. Davante Adams catches 2nd touchdown of half, (Rams 28 – Buccaneers 7), 3:10 left in 2nd Quarter
The offensive firepower did not stop there. Later in the 2nd quarter, Stafford found his favorite touchdown recipient on a deep pass down the right sideline. The pass hit Adams in perfect stride who ran through the endzone and about 30 yards into the tunnel.
5. Emmanuel Forbes intercepts Baker Mayfield’s hail mary before halftime, (Rams 31 – Buccaneers 7), 0:05 left in 2nd Quarter
The Bucs knew their chances were waning even as the first half was coming to a fold. On 4th & 24, Baker Mayfield wound up from his own 37 yard line to attempt a hail mary. The pass was well short of the endzone resulting in an Emmanuel Forbes interception. But the other significant part of the play was Baker Mayfield’s left shoulder at the conclusion of the play. His shoulder was injured just on that exact play but the damage was done and Baker did not return to the game for the rest of the night.
Were these plays the five most defining moments of the LA Rams Week 12 win?
What were your favorite highlights?
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