Rams’ passing game fueling midseason surge

For several weeks the timing seemed off. The hallmarks of a Rams passing offense that relied on the catch-and-run skills of receivers Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp were curiously absent.

That no longer appears to be a problem.

The Rams will go into Sunday’s game against the San Francisco 49ers at SoFi Stadium with growing confidence and momentum after quarterback Jared Goff and his top receivers regained their rhythm during Monday night’s 27-24 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Woods caught 12 passes for 130 yards and a touchdown. Kupp had 11 receptions for 145 yards.

It marked the first time in franchise history that two receivers had 10 catches each in the same game, according to the Rams.

“When you’re really in rhythm it doesn’t matter who’s in front of you,” Woods said after the game, “you’re just going out there and it turns to route versus air when you’re in a rhythm like that.”

Before the season, the Rams gave Kupp a threeyear, $47.25-million extension that included $20.6 million in guarantees, according to overthecap.com. After the first game, the Rams gave Woods a four-year, $65million extension that included $31.7 million in guarantees.

The investments paid dividends against the Buccaneers.

On a night when the Buccaneers shut down the Rams rushing attack, Woods and Kupp each had four receptions of 16 yards or longer. Woods’ longest play covered 35 yards, Kupp’s 27.

Receiver Josh Reynolds and tight end Gerald Everett each had 18-yard receptions, and rookie Van Jefferson scored his first NFL touchdown.