LOS ANGELES (AP) — Although most NFL teams are exponentially better when their starting quarterback is upright and healthy, it’s been particularly true for the Los Angeles Rams over the past three seasons.
Matthew Stafford has been safe and comfortable in the pocket lately, and it’s no coincidence the Rams are on their longest winning streak since their Super Bowl triumph.
Stafford has been sacked only once during the Rams’ three straight victories since their bye week. He has barely been touched at all in the past two weeks, with Arizona and Cleveland registering just five combined quarterback hits and no sacks.
Meanwhile, the Rams (6-6) have jumped into an NFC playoff race that appeared to be out of their reach only a month ago, thanks to this stretch of exceptional protection and smart play-calling designed to keep their franchise quarterback doing what he does best.
“It’s always a goal,” coach Sean McVay said Monday. “The guys have done a great job of executing. I think Matthew has done a great job of distributing the ball. … You always want to be able to keep your quarterback clean, pick and choose your spots, but ultimately it’s a credit to Matthew and the offensive line’s execution.”
Stafford and McVay were quick to send praise to Los Angeles’ much-improved offensive line Sunday after Stafford’s second straight no-sack outing in a 36-19 victory over the Browns, who couldn’t get Myles Garrett and his teammates anywhere near Stafford on most snaps.
That freed Stafford to hit the NFL’s top-ranked pass defense for 279 yards and three TDs, highlighted by a spectacular 70-yard scoring pass to rookie Puka Nacua.
“My guys were balling today, so I was so fired up,” Stafford said. “That’s a hell of a rush (from Cleveland). They were bringing pressures, they were rushing four, they were doing all sorts of stuff to us, and our guys to step up there and protect the way they did today was amazing.”
The offensive line was one of the Rams’ decided weak points last season, and Stafford suffered the consequences. He was sacked 29 times in just nine games in 2022 before he was declared out for the season with a bruised spinal cord almost certainly caused by those hits.
Stafford has been sacked only 20 times in 11 games this season, and six of those were in one early season game at Cincinnati. He has been sacked only four times in five games since mid-October.
“I thought we had a great plan, but shoot, we threw the rock,” Stafford said of the Browns game. “We weren’t sitting there just (blocking) those guys up front. We were just saying, ‘Let’s go play our game and have a lot of confidence in those guys.’”
Even the Browns, who had 34 sacks in their first 11 games this season, gave credit to the Rams — and to LA’s play calls, which have also minimized Stafford’s danger.
“(Stafford) got the ball out quickly at times, and then when they held it, protection seemed to be holding up and (they) found some deep balls,” Cleveland coach Kevin Stefanski said.
WHAT’S WORKING
Coordinator Raheem Morris’ defense continues to overperform, given its lack of top-shelf talent. LA held its fourth consecutive opponent to 21 points or fewer. Safety John Johnson capped his emergence since the bye week with the crucial interception to beat Cleveland, his former team.
WHAT NEEDS HELP
The Rams have given up a touchdown on their opponents’ opening drive in six of their 12 games this season. Los Angeles clamped down and forced five straight punts after the Browns scored, but quicker starts defensively would benefit everybody.
STOCK UP
Kyren Williams and his offensive line had another productive outing, with Williams going for 88 yards rushing and a touchdown. The second-year pro has 389 yards rushing and four total touchdowns during the three-game win streak, but the line’s performance has been equally impressive.
STOCK DOWN
Whenever an opponent can force the Rams’ linebackers into coverage, LA is in trouble. Christian Rozeboom and Troy Reeder both gave up big catches when asked to cover faster players.
INJURIES
Nacua left the game shortly before halftime with what turned out to be a sprained shoulder, McVay announced Monday. Even McVay was shocked by the rookie’s return in the second half after treatment: “I thought he was dead, and then he comes back to life.” McVay doesn’t currently expect Nacua’s AC joint sprain to prevent him from playing in Baltimore on Sunday. … TE Tyler Higbee has a neck stinger.
KEY NUMBER
445 — Yards receiving needed by Nacua in the Rams’ final five games to break the 63-year-old professional record for yards by a rookie receiver. Bill Groman set the mark at 1,473 yards in 1960 for the AFL’s Houston Oilers. Nacua already has 1,029 yards receiving, capturing the Rams franchise record for a rookie Sunday.
NEXT STEPS
The win streak is in jeopardy on a long road trip to face the Ravens, who share the AFC’s best record. Los Angeles’ defensive front seven will be tested by the NFL’s top rushing offense.
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