Stafford leads Rams to late scores in 27-24 win over Colts

Eds: UPDATES: with minor edits, adds details of road trip.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Matthew Stafford led Los Angeles on two late scoring drives and Matt Gay made a tiebreaking 38-yard field goal with 2:23 to play Sunday, giving the Rams a 27-24 victory over Indianapolis.

The Rams have won three straight in this series and have taken all five road openers under coach Sean Mcvay.

Stafford wasn’t as proficient as in the season-opening victory over Chicago but he did play well — even after appearing to hit his right thumb on the helmet of Colts defensive tackle Deforest Buckner in the first half. He did not miss a play. He finished 19 of 30 for 278 yards, two TD passes and one interception.

Cooper Kupp caught nine passes for 163 yards and two scores for the Rams (2-0).

The Colts are 0-2 for the first time in coach Frank Reich’s four-year tenure and now face a daunting three-game road trip at Tennessee, Miami and Baltimore.

Indy charged back from a 17-6 deficit to take the lead at 21-17 when Rams long snapper Matt Orzech hit protector Nick Scott in front of punter Johnny Hekker. The ball bounced into the end zone and was recovered by Ashton Dulin.

Stafford only needed four plays to find Kupp for a 10yard TD pass to make it 24-21.

Indy tied it again on a 35yard field goal with 7:22 left, but quarterback Carson Wentz injured his right ankle on the play before the field goal and did not return. The injury doomed Indy’s comeback hopes as Jacob Eason was intercepted on his second NFL pass.

WELCOME BACK

The Indianapolis Colts welcomed back their newest Hall of Famers, Peyton Manning and Edgerrin James, with a rousing halftime ovation. Both were presented with their Hall of Fame rings and team owner Jim Irsay ordered watches for each player, too.

Both had returned previously to Lucas Oil Stadium for their inductions into the Colts Ring of Honor.