Rams prove themselves
Goff, defense impress in ending Saints’ win streak
LOS ANGELES – Another day, another chance to prove it’s not a mirage.
The Los Angeles Rams, despite what you remember from a recent string of disastrous seasons, have indeed morphed into something resembling a real NFC playoff contender.
That much was evident on Sunday at Los Angeles Coliseum when they manhandled the New Orleans Saints 26-20 with the type of complete game that the better teams expect from themselves.
The impact came in waves from all over.
Todd Gurley racked up 128 yards from scrimmage.
Jared Goff threw for 354 yards. With big-play wide receiver Robert Woods sidelined, rookie Cooper Kupp stepped up for a career-best 118 yards on eight catches.
Aaron Donald and the defense put the clamps on Drew Brees.
Greg Zuerlein kicked four field goals. And the Rams (8-3) still own first place in the NFC West.
In the biggest game yet during the revival under rookie head coach Sean McVay, the Rams needed an outing like
this — a week after getting thumped in Minnesota in what was then the “biggest game yet.”
The effect on the standings was one thing. Snapping the eight-game winning streak that the Saints carried was another thing. Yet the Rams also need to keep proving themselves — to themselves and to anyone else wanting to know.
“This team is battle-tested,” Rams defensive tackle Michael Brockers proclaimed. “That’s what we showed today. Because you have to play Drew Brees for 60 minutes, and that’s what we did.”
The Rams haven’t lost back-to-back games all season — still — which is another mark of the good team they aspire to be. They take their lumps and learn from them, showing enough resilience to avoid prolonged funks. So add this to the lesson plan.
“It’s something to build on,” Donald said. “I don’t think we played great, but we found a way to come up with a win. It’s a lot better when you can build on something after a win, instead of a loss.”
Take it from Wade Phillips, the wily veteran defensive coordinator who joined forces with the youngest head coach in modern times to provide a generational coaching balance in addition to chemistry.
“You’ve got to learn to win,” Phillips said. “That’s the best part of it.”
A week earlier, the Rams fell apart in the fourth quarter against the Vikings. Not this time.
Brees, who sparked a miracle comeback win against Washington in Week 11, had no such luck on Sunday. Every time the Saints seemed poised to swing the momentum, the Rams responded. Learning to win.
Sure, it doesn’t stop here. The real fun is ramping up now for a franchise that has been so unfamiliar with concept of being relevant as November turns to De- cember.
In two weeks, the team with the NFL’s best record, the Eagles, will come calling.
A week after that, the Rams will play at Seattle in a rematch that could determine the division title.
This is what happens to the good teams. You have to beat the best, then do it again — and in many cases, find different ways to get it done.
Yet the future tests can wait. Shoot, the Rams might even have to face New Orleans (8-3) again, in January, with something else to prove.
For the moment, the Rams deserve to take a moment to savor an effort that put them right back on track in this week-to-week business of reality checks.
“Every week is a new week,” Donald added.
If there were a soundtrack for what happened on Sunday, it could from Los Angeles’ own Ice Cube: It Was A Good Day.
Next comes the chance to do it again.