The Rams are having another explosive, exciting year under head coach Sean McVay, and they’re going back to the playoffs for the second year in a row too.
4 plays that helped the Rams become the first team to clinch a playoff spot
The Rams are 11-1 and headed for the postseason again. And it’s been one helluva show to watch.
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Sunday’s 30-16 win over the Detroit Lions clinched a playoff spot and the NFC West title the Rams. Their 11-1 record is the best in the entire NFL through 13 weeks of the season.
The list of impressive moments the Rams have put on film this season is a long one. However, a few moments in particular have stood out as the kind of things that define this team.
Here are three moments from their incredible 2018 campaign, so far, that define their season.
Jared Goff’s sneak to ice their first game against Seattle
In Week 5, the Rams closed out a tightly contested divisional matchup against the Seattle Seahawks by letting Jared Goff sneak the ball on fourth-and-1 on their own 44-yard line with 1:39 left in the game.
Goff converted and the Rams won 33-31. McVay showed a lot of confidence in his offense to go out and seal the game for them and they responded well.
Todd Gurley doesn’t score the touchdown against the Packers
Todd Gurley had a great game in the Rams’ Week 8 win over the Green Bay Packers with 195 total yards and a touchdown, but his best play might’ve been one that prevented him from scoring his second touchdown of the day.
Gurley slid on the ground after getting a first down, ensuring that the clock would run and Aaron Rodgers wouldn’t have a chance to potentially get a game-tying drive at the end.
It was a smart play on Gurley’s part to ensure a victory, even at the cost of padding his stats.
Aaron Donald sinks Stafford and the Lions
The Rams offense gets A LOT of attention, deservedly so. But it’s safe to say that this team wouldn’t be clinching a playoff spot this week without the play of all-universe defensive tackle Aaron Donald.
Not only is he approaching the record with 16.5 sacks through the first 12 games of the season, he’s making plays when it matters the most. He did it again this week against Detroit.
With the Lions down by just three points in the fourth quarter, Donald powered his way through Detroit’s offensive line to get to quarterback Matthew Stafford on first-and-10 at the Lions’ 42. He sacked Stafford for a loss of 13 yards AND forced a fumble that the Rams managed to recover.
That was the fourth forced fumble of the season for Donald. More importantly is what the Rams did after that. Donald’s effort gave the Rams the ball on the Lions’ 24-yard line. Two plays later, Gurley ran it in for a 13-yard touchdown, giving the Rams a 23-13 lead, insurmountable for the Lions.
Gerald Everett’s go-ahead touchdown against Kansas City
Perhaps the play of the year for the Rams came towards the end of their epic Monday night game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Rams were trailing 51-47 and needed a touchdown with 1:56 left in the game and no timeouts. Goff tossed a dime to Everett right down the sideline for the go-ahead score in the best game of the season.
McVay broke down that play beautifully in his postgame press conference.
The Rams have had an incredible 2018 campaign. Now, they can officially call themselves a playoff team and a legitimate threat to win the Super Bowl.
See More:
