Rams find home to be sweet
After the final whistle of the Rams’ fourth consecutive victory, wide receiver Robert Woods looked into the stands and felt the love from thousands of Los Angeles fans who stuck around for another blowout win.
“Keep coming out to the coliseum, and we’re going to keep winning for y’all!” Woods shouted.
After a false start to their franchise’s homecoming last season, the Rams are on a roll. The Houston Texans are the latest opponent to get flattened.
Woods caught two of Jared Goff ’s three touchdown passes during a dominant third quarter, and the Rams returned home after a month away with a 33-7 victory over Houston on Sunday.
After struggling to a 9-7 lead during a quiet first half, the NFL’s highestscoring team took control with a series of big throws by Goff, who passed for a career-high 355 yards with no interceptions for the Rams (7-2).
The defense also shut out Houston in the second half on the way to the Rams’ best start since 2001, when they went 8-1 in St. Louis on the way to the Super Bowl. The Rams are on their longest winning streak since 2003, their last winning season.
“The first half was a little shaky,” Goff acknowledged. “There are some throws I would like back. We just couldn’t really get into a rhythm. In the second half, we figured it out.”
Did they ever. Woods caught a 94yard TD pass to break it open before he and Sammy Watkins made TD catches 19 seconds apart late in the third quarter, with a fumble caused by rookie Rams linebacker Samson Ekubam sandwiched between them. Woods finished with eight catches for 171 yards, including the 12-yard TD that sealed it.
“Hey, I’ve never been 7-2 before, so I feel good,” fourth-year Rams defensive lineman Aaron Donald said.
Last year’s 4-12 homecoming season tested the interest of L.A. fans who had been hurt by this franchise before, but head coach Sean McVay’s Rams are definitely worth watching. A franchise with 13 consecutive nonwinning seasons is just two victories from breaking that streak.