The Los Angeles Rams scored the second-most points this week as they have all season. The top-scoring game came just last week, a 37-14 win against the Arizona Cardinals. That was against the 30th-ranked defense by DVOA. This week’s 36-point performance came against the best team in the league by DVOA. And the Browns aren’t just a good defense in the league, they had been historically good.
Tale of the Tape
The Rams scored the most points against the Browns other than the Indianapolis Colts. They also put up 399 yards of offense, which is also the second most against the Browns this season. Matthew Stafford threw for 279 yards, second best quarterback performance. And the Rams tied for the most first downs against the Browns.
What might be the most impressive number is ZERO. That is the number of times Stafford was sacked. The Browns average over THREE sacks a game and have sacked their opposing QB at least once in every game this season. Stafford has been sacked in every game except in Week 1 and now against the Browns.
The Browns struggled all day to get pressure on Stafford and that is the main reason that the Rams offense was able to operate so well.
Puka Nacua: The Man Again
To start the season, Puka Nacua looked unstoppable. He was on a historic pace, breaking rookie records left and right. He came down to earth. He hasn’t looked like a Canton lock every week, especially in the few weeks leading into this game. But in this game, against the league’s best defense, Nacua once again looked unstoppable. Not even a very painful-looking rib injury could sideline the rookie.
Nacua caught four passes for 105 yards. All in the first half. In the first half, the Rams offense hadn’t found it’s stride yet. But Nacua was one weapon that was finding traction, to the tune of a 70-yard catch and run touchdown. To date that is the longest single play of the Rams season.
Nacua also added another 34 yards on the ground. 31 yards came on one play. Nacua also took a carry for 45 yards, but that one was called back due to a holding penalty on Demarcus Robinson.
Los Angeles Rams Offense Trending Up. Mirage?
The Los Angeles Rams have scored 30 points or more three times this season. Week 1, 12 and 13. Doing so against the Cardinals is one thing, but doing so against the Browns means something.
Is this short trend a sign that the Rams offense is finding the alchemy of scoring points? It’s certainly a good thing and refreshing to watch, but too early to say. If the Rams can continue this trend next week, against the Baltimore Ravens, they may actually be on to something offensively. The Ravens are the second-best defense in the league according to DVOA.