The Rams keep their playoff hopes alive after beating the Browns 36-19
Los Angeles Rams #9 Matthew Stafford (QB) is being pressured by the Seattle Seahawks #53 Boye Mafe (OLB) while looking downfield for an open receiver.Photo by Jared Dubose/TGSportstv1.
INGLEWOOD, CA - The Los Angeles Rams have won three games in a row after knocking off the Cleveland Browns (7-5) at SoFi Stadium 36-19, with Matthew Stafford throwing three touchdowns and having 279 yards passing, keeping their wild-card playoffs hopes alive with a record of 6-6.
Puka Nacua showed toughness for the Rams after being hit in the ribs area and helped off the field came back later into the game to catch four passes for 105 yards and one touchdown and became the first rookie wide receiver with 1,000 yards in a season. Kyren Williams carried the football 21 times for 88 yards and one touchdown.
"We came to life in the most important moments," coach Sean McVay said. "If we continue to play this way, then you continue to have conversations where you're relevant to maybe earn an opportunity to play afterward."
The Cleveland Brown, on their opening drive, went downfield 75 yards on nine plays, and Joe Flacco connected with Jerome Ford (RB) with a 24-yard touchdown pass to take a 7-0 lead.
The Rams’ first offensive possession had to settle for a 44-yard field goal by Lucas Havrisik to trail 7-3 after Puka Nacua slipped and fell on a pass from Matthew Stafford on 3rd down and seven at the 26-yard line of Cleveland.
The Rams would take the lead, 10-7 after Stafford threw a laser pass to Nacua for a 79-yard touchdown that took only 49 seconds to score.
Havrisik had a chance to put the Rams up 13-7 but missed a 43-yard field goal wide right in the second quarter. The Browns tied the game 10-10 with a 40-yard field goal by Dustin Hopkins. Los Angeles led at halftime 13-10 after Havrisik kicked a 28-yard field goal.
Cleveland would tie the game 13-13 with 4:58 left in the third quarter after Hopkins kicked a 24-yard field goal.
Stafford would hand off to Nacua on a sweep down the right side for 31 yards to set up a 1st down at the Browns 30-yard line. The Rams had 1st and goal from the 10-yard line after Demarcus Robinson caught a 30-yard pass from Stafford.
The Rams retook the lead 20-13 with a 7-yard touchdown catch by Robinson.
The Browns had a chance to tie the game in the fourth quarter, trailing 20-19 after Flacco threw an 8-yard touchdown to Harrison Bryant, but Hopkins missed the extra point.
Los Angeles' defense had the first turnover of the game after a pass from Flacco intended for their wide receiver Browns Elijah Moore was intercepted by John Johnson III for 42 yards to their 24-yard line.
The Rams would score three more times, with Copper Kupp catching a 3-yard touchdown to lead 27-19, Kyren Williams' 1-yard touchdown run to lead 34-19, and Flacco sacked in the endzone for a Safety by Aaron Donald (DT) and Kobi Turner (NT) would make the final score 36-19.
Flacco, starting at quarterback in his first game for Cleveland, completed 23 of his 44 passes for 254 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception.