The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Rams’ Stafford throws for 4 TDS, outduels Brady
INGLEWOOD, CALIF. — Matthew Stafford passed for 343 yards and four touchdowns as he outdueled Tom Brady and led the Los Angeles Rams to a 34-24 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.
The loss snapped the defending Super Bowl champion Buccaneers’ 10-game regular season and playoff winning streak going back to last season.
Stafford was off target on five of his first six attempts before getting in a groove as the Rams (3-0) scored on their next six drives. His best pass of the game came early in the third quarter, when he connected with a wideopen Desean Jackson for a 75-yard score to extend Los Angeles’ lead to 21-7.
Jackson got by Tampa Bay cornerback Carlton Davis III on a go-route, caught it at the Buccaneers 30 and then zigzagged his way for the final 10 yards and into the tunnel, where he was eventually greeted by Rams coach Sean Mcvay. It was Jackson’s ninth touchdown of at least 75 yards, tying him with Hall of Famer Lance Alworth for the most in the NFL history, according to Elias.
Stafford, who completed 27 of 38 passes, has three touchdown passes of at least 56 yards this season. Cooper Kupp had nine catches for 96 yards and two touchdowns while Jackson finished with three receptions for 120 yards.
Brady — who completed 41 of 55 passes for 432 yards and two touchdowns (one passing, one rushing) — joins Drew Brees as the only quarterbacks to throw for more than 80,000 yards.
Mike Evans finished with eight receptions for 106 yards for the Bucs (2-1).
Stafford went 8 of 8 for 74 yards on a 14-play, 95-yard drive that was capped off with Tyler Higbee’s 6-yard TD reception on a quick pass to give the Rams a 7-0 lead early in the second quarter.
Tampa Bay tied it on the ensuing drive when Chris Godwin took a jet sweep 2 yards around the right end, but the game wouldn’t stay even for long.
The Rams took a 14-7 lead into halftime when Kupp caught a 2-yard TD with 54 seconds remaining.
After Jackson’s score, Brady got the Buccaneers within 21-14 on a 1-yard keeper, but the Rams put it out of reach with 10 straight points. Stafford threw his fourth TD of the game, 10 yards to Kupp, and Matt Gay added a 48-yard field goal with 3:14 remaining in the third to give the Rams a 17-point advantage.
After the teams traded field goals, Tampa Bay added a touchdown with 1:10 remaining when Giovani Bernard scored on a Brady reception from 7 yards.
Tampa Bay’s running game was virtually nonexistent again with 35 yards. Brady ended up being the Bucs’ leading rusher with 14 yards.
Former Georgia Bulldogs star Sony Michel, who was acquired from New England during the preseason, made his first Los Angeles start and had 20 carries for 67 yards. Michel got the start with Darrell Henderson Jr. inactive because of a rib injury.
Bucs tight end Rob Gronkowski took a shot to the ribs and was out for one series before returning.
The Bucs play another hotly anticipated matchup next week, traveling to New England to play Brady’s old team Sunday in Foxborough, Mass.
The Rams host Arizona next Sunday in an NFC West matchup of unbeaten teams.