The playoffs picture looks brighter for the Rams after beating the Commanders 28-20

Los Angeles Rams #23 Kyren Williams (RB) ran for 152 yards and one touchdown against the Washington Commanders. Photo by Jevone Moore.

INGLEWOOD, CA - The Los Angeles Rams (7-7) came closer to securing a playoff wildcard spot after beating the Washington Commanders (4-10) at SoFi Stadium 28-20 before taking on the New Orleans Saints on Thursday Night Football.

Matthew Stafford threw for 258 yards and two touchdowns, Cooper Kupp had eleven catches for 111 yards and one touchdown, Puka Nauca had five catches for 50 yards, and Demarcus Robinson caught two passes for 44 yards and one touchdown.

It was one of those games where the defense made some big plays after two fumbles by Kyren Williams, who rushed for 152 yards on 25 carries, and Rams head coach Sean McVay in the video below admitted he could have done a better job on play calling, but the team could learn a lot from this game.

Los Angeles marched downfield 77 yards on 11 plays on their first possession to the Commanders' 4-yard line and had to settle for a 22-yard field goal by Lucas Havrisik to take a 3-0 lead.

Washington, on 4th and 1, quarterback Sam Howell threw a 24-yard pass to Terry McLaurin for a first down at the Rams' 21-yard line.

The Ram's defense stepped up when Howell had 4th and one at their 12-yard line, threw a pass intended for Logan Thomas (TE), and was knocked down by the Rams' Nick Hampton (OLB).

The Rams threatened to score, but Kyren Williams fumbled the football and recovered by Washington at their nine-line by Kendall Fuller (CB). Damarcus Robinson has sparked the Ram's offense, picking up 23 yards and a first down at the Commanders' 17-yard line.

Washington Commanders #14 Sam Howell (QB) is about to throw a pass downfield to an open receiver. Photo by Jevone Moore.

Williams would redeem himself for fumbling the football earlier, scoring on a 1-yard touchdown to give the Rams a 10-0 lead with 2:19 left in the first half.

The Rams were looking to add to their point total when Williams fumbled for the second time and gave the football back to Washington on their 39-yard line.

Los Angeles got a break when Camaron Cheeseman, the punter for Washington, fumbled the football at the 15-yard line. The Rams would go into halftime leading 13-0 when Havrisik kicked a 27-yard field goal.

The Rams would strike first at the start of the third quarter when Matthew Stafford threw a 62-yard touchdown pass to Cooper Kupp to give the Rams a 20-0 lead.

Washington, with 6:25 left in the quarter, would trail 20-7 after Curtis Samuel caught a 19-yard touchdown pass from Howell, and the extra-point by Joey Slye was good after going 48-yard on seven plays.

Stafford, in the fourth quarter, drove the Rams' offense downfield to the Commanders' 24-yard line and threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to Robinson, and the two-point conversion by Williams was good, making the score 28-7.

The Ram's defense intercepted a pass intended for McLaurin by their safety, John Johnson III, at their 40-yard line.

The Commanders would score again when Jacoby Brissett replaced Howell at quarterback and threw a 29-yard touchdown pass to McLaurin, now trailing 28-14 with 6:36 left in the game.

The Rams found themselves in a dogfight with the Commanders after they scored on a 3-yard touchdown catch by Samuel, making the score 28-20, and the extra point by Joey Slye was no good.

The Rams special teams did their job as Washington attempted an onside kick after the touchdown, and Kupp batted the football out of bounds and held on for the victory.

Howell completed 11 of his 26 passes for 102 yards, one touchdown, and one interception before being replaced, Brissett 8 of 10 passes 124 yards and two touchdowns, and McLaurin ran for 141 yards and one touchdown.