NASHVILLE — Two good tune-ups.
Two alternatives that confirmed the Rams can certainly be Tremendous Bowl contenders.
Now the actual season — and check — begins.
The Rams’ 33-19 victory over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday at Nissan Stadium improved their report to 2-0.
Puka Nacua scored on a protracted landing run, Matthew Stafford handed for 2 touchdowns — together with his first to Davante Adams — and edge rusher Byron Younger had two sacks and compelled a fumble to steer the Rams.
Subsequent up: The defending Tremendous Bowl-champion Philadelphia Eagles.
That would be the actual measuring stick for a Rams crew and coach Sean McVay, who’s aiming for a 3rd Tremendous Bowl look in eight years.
So subsequent Sunday, the Rams will confidently return to Lincoln Monetary Discipline, the place they misplaced to the Eagles within the NFC divisional spherical.
The Texans and the Titans are a far cry from the Eagles.
Eagles operating again Saquon Barkley, the reigning NFL offensive participant of the 12 months, torched the Rams within the 2024 common season and the playoffs.
He rushed for 255 yards in a Week 12 victory over the Rams, scoring on runs of 70 and 72 yards. In January, he ran for 205 yards and scored on runs of 62 and 78 yards.
Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud is a rising star and Titans rookie quarterback Cam Ward seems on monitor to presumably turn out to be one. However neither is Jalen Hurts, who has performed in two Tremendous Bowls and gained a title.
Eagles receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith are a proficient tandem, and the offensive line is probably the NFL’s greatest.
And a protection, led by coordinator Vic Fangio, options deal with Jalen Carter, who ended the Rams’ Tremendous Bowl hopes final season when he sacked Stafford one play earlier than Stafford’s closing go fell incomplete.
On Sunday, in a matchup between quarterbacks picked No. 1 within the NFL draft, the veteran got here out on high.
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford appears to go within the first half towards the Titans on Sunday.
(Wesley Hitt / Getty Photographs)
Stafford, the highest choose in 2009, accomplished 23 of 33 passes for 298 yards, with an interception.
Ward, the highest choose within the 2025 draft, accomplished 19 of 33 passes for 175 yards and a landing.
Alongside along with his 45-yard landing run, Nacua caught eight passes for 91 yards. Adams caught six passes for 106 yards, together with a 16-yard landing.
Tight finish Davis Allen scored his second landing of the season, and operating again Blake Corum rushed for his first profession landing.
The Rams trailed 13-10 at halftime after they gave up 10 factors within the closing 38 seconds of the second quarter.
The Rams had constructed a 10-3 lead on Nacua’s lengthy landing run and a brief subject purpose by Joshua Karty. However Ward made a sensational play to finish a nine-yard landing go, after which Titans linebacker Cody Barton intercepted a Stafford go to arrange a subject purpose that gave the Titans the lead.
The Rams obtained the ball to begin the second half and so they moved downfield to the three-yard line. However for the second time within the sport, they might not convert the chance right into a landing and needed to accept one other subject purpose.
The Titans regained the lead with a protracted subject purpose, establishing the Rams’ most spectacular drive.
Stafford accomplished passes of 24 and 22 yards to Nacua and Corum ran for 15 yards to present the Rams first and purpose on the eight-yard line. After failing to transform two earlier goal-line alternatives into touchdowns, the Rams lastly got here by way of.
Stafford handed to Allen alongside the proper sideline, and the third-year professional reached for the purpose line. Officers initially dominated he was wanting a landing, however upon evaluate it was decided the ball crossed the purpose line, giving the Rams a 20-16 lead.
After Younger pressured a fumble that linebacker Nate Landman recovered, Stafford related with Adams for a 27-16 lead.
Corum’s quick landing run accomplished the scoring for the Rams, who opted to expire the clock reasonably than rating on the finish of the sport.
