Goff gets first NFL win as Rams rout Colts
Cal alum Jared Goff, looking to bounce back from a rough rookie season, throws for 306 yards to lead Los Angeles to victory.
LOS ANGELES — After just one game in head coach Sean McVay’s system, the change in Jared Goff was striking.
No longer an uncertain rookie hiding behind a lousy offensive line, the Cal alum flung the ball confidently around the field for the Rams. He shook off his mistakes and made smart adjustments on the way to the biggest passing day of his young career — and his first NFL victory as a starter, a 46-9 rout of the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday.
“Starting off the season with a win, regardless of if it’s my first or Sean’s first, I think it’s exciting for everybody,” said Goff, who went 0-7 as a starter last season after being drafted No. 1 overall. On Sunday, he was 21-for-29 for a careerhigh 306 yards and a touchdown.
“I thought he took good care of the football, made good decisions, and he did seem to have good command of it,” said McVay, who was doused with a Gatorade shower after the win. “I’m very proud of him. Thought he did a great job, and it was awesome for him to get his first win.”
The entire afternoon was a welcome reversal for the Rams, who lost six straight home games and their final seven games overall to end last season amid dwindling Coliseum crowds.
The Rams returned with their highest-scoring performance since November 2014 in their first game since McVay — at 31, the youngest head in modern league history — took over a franchise that went 4-12 in its 13th straight nonwinning season and 12th straight nonplayoff season.
Los Angeles caught a break with the absence of Indianapolis quarterback Andrew Luck, who wasn’t ready to return from a right shoulder injury.
Trumaine Johnson intercepted fill-in quarterback Scott Tolzien’s first pass and returned it 39 yards for a touchdown. Lamarcus Joyner returned another pick 29 yards for another score in the third quarter.
Jacoby Brissett replaced Tolzien for the fourth quarter and led Indy’s only touchdown drive. Adam Vinatieri, 44, who missed a field-goal try earlier in the game, missed the extra-point attempt for his first miss since 2014.
Indianapolis also played without center Ryan Kelly and top cornerback Vontae Davis.