Rams surge to top of NFC, blowing out Bucs for 6th

Less than an hour before the Rams and Tampa Bay Buccaneers kicked off on Sunday, followers in SoFi Stadium erupted in cheers.

Watching the giant video board, the gang celebrated as the Philadelphia Eagles blew a large lead and misplaced to the Dallas Cowboys.

That meltdown by the defending Super Bowl champions positioned the surging Rams to transfer to the top of the NFC.

Quarterback Matthew Stafford continued his MVP-caliber play by passing for three touchdowns, and the protection also produced big moments as the Rams seized the chance with a 34-7 victory that prolonged their profitable streak to six video games and improved their file to a conference-best 9-2.

That makes the Rams the current No. 1 seed for the NFC playoffs.

Not that coach Sean McVay was celebrating.

“Do you remember who was in first place with six weeks left last year?” McVay said. “Me either.”

Yes, there may be still a long means to go. And the Eagles maintain the tiebreaker over the Rams by advantage of their Week 3 victory at Philadelphia.

But if the Rams preserve sole possession of first place and secure home-field benefit, they’d keep away from another potential January journey to Lincoln Financial Field to play the Eagles, who eradicated the Rams there in the NFC divisional spherical last season.

“It feels good,” edge rusher Jared Verse said of being No.1 in the NFC, “but that’s what we expected.”

The Rams play at Carolina next week and then at Arizona before returning to SoFi Stadium for another NFC measuring-stick recreation against the Detroit Lions. The Rams end the season with a Thursday night time recreation in Seattle, a journey to Atlanta and a home recreation against the Cardinals.

So the most important query for McVay and the Rams: Are they peaking too soon?

Despite being without veteran tight end Tyler Higbee, proper sort out Rob Havenstein and security Quentin Lake — all positioned on injured reserve last week — the Rams appeared almost unstoppable on offense in the first half and dominant on protection throughout.

The Rams scored at least 34 factors for the fourth time in 5 video games. Stafford tossed two landing passes to Davante Adams and one to tight end Colby Parkinson, growing his league-leading whole to 30, with only two interceptions. Stafford has not had a cross intercepted in eight video games.

On Sunday the Seventeenth-year professional accomplished his first 12 passes and completed 25 of 35 for 273 yards, the gang chanting “M-V-P” after each of his last two landing passes.

Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford threw three more landing passes Sunday against the Buccaneers, giving him a league-leading 30.

(Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times)

“I just know I’m having fun,” Stafford said.

So is Adams.

After bemoaning his efficiency in last week’s 21-19 victory over the Seahawks, the Twelfth-year professional was happier after catching 5 passes for 62 yards and growing to 12 his league-leading whole of landing catches.

After his second landing Sunday, Adams ran up a tunnel, very like former Raiders operating back Bo Jackson famously did once.

“I made it to the 405 [freeway],” Adams joked.

On a night time the Rams honored future Hall of Fame defensive lineman Aaron Donald with a bobblehead giveaway and other tributes, Verse and defensive end Kobie Turner each had two sacks.

Before the sport, Verse said the protection needed to “put on a show” for Donald.

“I feel like we definitely did,” he said.

Rams linebackers Jared Verse, left, and Josaiah Stewart, middle, and defensive end Kobie Turner rejoice in the first half.

(Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times)

A secondary that intercepted 4 passes against the Seahawks picked off two more, cornerback Cobie Durant returning one for a 50-yard landing and Emmanuel Forbes Jr. catching a desperation heave on the ultimate play of the first half.

Durant thanked the defensive position.

“They’re making our life easier on the back end,” Durant said. “Each and every play, they’re on the quarterback.”

Rams particular groups, which value the workforce dearly in losses against the Eagles and the San Francisco 49ers, seem to be working with effectivity since kicker Harrison Mevis changed Joshua Karty and veteran Jake McQuaide supplanted Alex Ward as the snapper.

After Mevis kicked only additional factors in his first two video games, McVay finally gave him field-goal alternatives, and Mevis transformed 40- and 52-yard kicks.

“Stay relaxed, enjoy it, and so just put it through the uprights,” Mevis said of his mindset.

The Rams ruined Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield’s return to the stadium where he resurrected his profession in 2022 by main the Rams to a last-second victory over the Las Vegas Raiders with only two days of observe.

Mayfield sustained a left-shoulder injury and didn’t play in the second half. He accomplished 9 of 19 passes for 41 yards and a landing with two interceptions.

It all added up to a convincing victory for the Rams.

And right here’s a scary thought for the remainder of the NFL: The Rams are on observe to get stronger down the stretch.

Receiver Tutu Atwell is eligible to return from injured reserve next week. Cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon, who suffered a damaged collarbone in the second recreation of the season, is nearer to a return. And McVay said Higbee and Havenstein could possibly be back in 4 video games, and Lake might return for the playoffs.

Those reinforcements could be a fascinating scenario for any Super Bowl contender in the NFC.

Especially the one presently on top.