Goff’s Rams snap Saints win streak
Jared Goff realized the upstart Los Angeles Rams faced a test of their playoff worthiness when the New Orleans Saints entered the Coliseum on an eight-game winning streak.
Faced with the daunting challenge presented by Drew Brees, Sean Payton and the Saints, the Rams didn’t flinch in a 26-20 victory Sunday.
“It was a big win for us,’’ said Goff, the former Cal quarterback who passed for 354 yards and two touchdowns. ‘’There’s a difference between going 7-4 and 8-3, especially against a team like this. Not necessarily a must-win, but a game that’s going to give us a lot moving forward.’’
For the first time since 2006, the Rams (8-3) are guaranteed to finish the regular season without a losing record. With five wins in their last six games, they’ve already doubled their win total from their relocation season in 2016.
Rams coordinator Wade Phillips’ defense was largely excellent despite failing to force a turnover. The Saints (8-3) got 157 of their 346 yards in the fourth quarter, and Los Angeles held Brees to 246 yards passing — just 96 in the first three quarters.
BILLS 16, CHIEFS 10 >> Tyrod Taylor threw for 183 yards and a touchdown in his return to the starting lineup, and Tre’Davious White intercepted Alex Smith with just over a minute remaining to clinch it.
Kansas City (6-5) managed only 236 yards while losing for the fifth time in six games and now leads the Raiders and Chargers in the AFC West by just one game.
EAGLES 31, BEARS 3 >> Carson Wentz tossed three touchdown passes and NFL-leading Philadelphia (10-1) reduced their magic number to clinch the NFC East to one. Philadelphia which has won nine in a row, would secure its first division title since 2013 if the Cowboys (5-6) lose or tie Washington on Thursday night.
The defense dominated rookie quarterback Mitchell Trubisky and the inept Bears (3-8), holding them to zero first downs in the first half and 140 total yards in the game.
STEELERS 31, PACKERS 28 >> Chris Boswell kicked a career-long 53-yard field goal as time expired as Pittsburgh (9-2) won its sixth straight.
PATRIOTS 35, DOLPHINS 17 >> Tom Brady tossed four touchdown passes — including two to Rob Gronkowski — and New England (9-2) posted its seventh consecutive victory. The Dolphins (4-7) have lost five straight for their longest slide since 2011.
His 26 touchdowns passes are the most in a season after turning 40 years old.
FALCONS 34, BUCCANEERS 20>> Julio Jones hauled in 12 passes for 253 yards and two touchdowns in one of the best games of the Atlanta star’s career.
Jones, who had only one touchdown catch through the first 10 games, doubled that total in the first half. He now has three games in his brilliant career with at least 250 yards receiving. No other player in NFL history has more than one game with 250 yards receiving.
BENGALS 30, BROWNS 16 >> Rookie Joe Mixon ran for a career-high 114 yards in the Bengals’ best offensive showing since the last time they they won 31-7 at Cleveland on Oct. 1.
At 0-11, the Browns are starting to run out of chances for that breakthrough win. Last year, they waited until their 15th game to get their only victory and avoid the second 0-16 season in NFL history. TITANS 20, COLTS 16 >> The Titans got their first win in 10 tries at Lucas Oil Stadium when DeMarco Murray scored on a 1-yard touchdown run with 5:59 left.