Kupp is too much for Seattle
Wide receiver carries Rams into tie for lead in NFC West
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — After a week of COVID-19 chaos, the Los Angeles Rams went into their rescheduled showdown against Seattle with no full practices and major questions about who would be in uniform until a few hours before kickoff.
The Rams still came out of a tremendously uncertain week with another win because Cooper Kupp and Matthew Stafford have a rock-solid connection.
Kupp caught two touchdown passes from Stafford in the second half, and the Rams held off the Seahawks 20-10 Tuesday night in a game between two Covid-depleted teams.
Kupp broke Isaac Bruce’s single-season Rams receptions record in the third quarter with a 6-yard TD catch that was also the 120th of his spectacular year. The NFL’S receiving leader then scored a tiebreaking 29-yard touchdown with 10:48 to play on a picture-perfect throw over the middle from Stafford to cap an 88-yard drive.
Stafford passed for 244 yards and Sony Michel rushed for 92 for the Rams (10-4) in a game postponed from Sunday, while Kupp had nine catches for 136 yards in Los Angeles’ third straight victory following a winless November. The Rams hadn’t had a normal day since they beat NFC West-leading Arizona last Monday, but their postgame celebration felt joyously familiar.
Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp catches a pass over Seattle Seahawks cornerback Sidney Jones during Los Angeles’ 20-10 victory Tuesday night.
“Coming off a very big game against the Cardinals and then having all the stuff go on … it’s just being able to navigate the changes in your routine and still put together a game plan and execute when you don’t even know who’s going to play,” said Kupp. “I just thought we did a good job handling that.’”
Los Angeles pulled even with Arizona atop the NFC West with three games to play, although the Cards hold the tiebreaker on division record.
The Rams were without starting right tackle Rob Havenstein, leading tackler Jordan Fuller, tight end Tyler Higbee and a host of backups after 10 days of roster turmoil, while the Seahawks were without leading receiver Tyler Lockett, starting cornerback D.J. Reed and leading rusher Alex Collins.
Deejay Dallas rushed for a touchdown for the Seahawks (59), whose streak of nine consecutive winning seasons under coach Pete Carroll ended.