Rams prove in win over Seahawks they are Super

Wake up from your post-World Series slumber, Los Angeles.

There’s another title contender in city.

For anybody else who was too busy following the Dodgers last month to discover what was going on at SoFi Stadium, the Rams are for real.

They are first-place real. They may very well be Super Bowl real.

You may really feel it in the stands, which accurately shook on Sunday when Seattle Seahawks kicker Jason Myers missed a 61-yard field-goal attempt to seal the Rams’ 21-19 victory.

You may really feel it in the interview room afterward, the partitions penetrated by the bass of the funk music enjoying in the adjoining dressing quarters.

The Rams are only 10 video games into a 17-game season so they still have a lot of time to mess this up, but this is what the start of a championship run appears like. This is what the start of a championship run appears like.

“It’s awesome,” coach Sean McVay said.

What was particularly superior about their latest triumph was how un-awesome their quarterback performed.

Matthew Stafford handed for only 130 yards, finishing 15 of 28 passes. A Rams offense that scored 34 or more factors in each of their last three video games was restricted to just three scores.

“I don’t think anybody’s discouraged by what we did on offense today, but it was definitely not to our standard,” said receiver Davante Adams, whose only catch was a one-yard landing reception in the first quarter.

For Stafford, the sport wasn’t about what he did as a lot as it was about what he didn’t do. He didn’t throw any passes that had been intercepted. He didn’t make any crucial errors.

If only for a sport, the previous gunslinger was more of a sport supervisor.

“That’s probably age and growth,” Stafford said.

Stafford knew he may rely on operating back Kyren Williams, who rushed for 91 yards and a landing. Stafford knew he may rely on a protection that has allowed just 17 factors per sport.

“You gotta feel the way the game’s going sometimes and be that version of yourself, whatever you need for your team to win,” Stafford said. “I felt there were times I was able to do that today.”

The late-career shift in mentality by the 37-year-old Stafford may very well be a key for the Rams, who don’t need him to win every sport for them.

They have an alternate offensive option in the explosive Williams, who had two runs of 30 or more yards against the Seahawks. They have a fearsome defensive entrance that enhances the secondary’s playmaking talents.

The Rams’ cross rushers didn’t sack Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold but no matter.

Rams operating back Kyren Williams carries the ball during a 21-19 win over the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday at SoFi Stadium.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

“That’s why I say stats are for losers,” McVay said. “They affected and influenced the game in a huge way. Obviously, Sam is a great quarterback, but he was getting off his spot. I thought a lot of the pressure that we did get is what led to some of the decisions where our guys ended up making some great plays.”

The Rams intercepted 4 passes. The Seahawks’ only landing got here on a one-yard run by Kenneth Walker III with 2 minutes 23 seconds left.

Adams said of the staff’s defensive backs: “The way they prepped all week, you could feel it. I mean, it was picks left and right in practice, the attention to detail, the communication, all of it.”

Adams pointed to how security Quentin Lake was knocked out of the sport because of an elbow injury.

“To still uphold that standard in the secondary,” Adams said. “That’s why I love this team, to be honest with you. That’s what it’s about. It’s the next-man mentality. We had that on offense all year too.”

This is what successful groups do. This is what the Dodgers do. This is what Super Bowl champions do.