The Los Angeles Rams (8–4) had not lost more than three games consecutively in five years under head coach Sean McVay; they returned to form with a relatively easy win, 37–7, Sunday over the visiting Jacksonville Jaguars (2–10).
Rams QB Matthew Stafford threw three touchdowns, completing 26–38 passes for 295 yards.
WR Cooper Kupp reached a milestone of 100 receptions for the season on his eighth catch of the day, tallying 129 yards and a touchdown.
Former Rams Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt are the only other receivers to reach that franchise mark; Bruce leads the record with 119 catches from 1995.
Rams RB Sony Michel led the team in rushing with 24 carries for 121 yards and a touchdown.
“We had special teams rolling, offense rolling, defense was doing its job,” he added. “It was awesome, it was great!”
The Rams out-gained the Jaguars in total yards 418–197 and controlled time of possession 33:45 to 26:15.
“The key is just not to get frustrated,” added Gaines. “We know that we’re a good team and we could do well.”
“It’s just putting those pieces together and I think we just have to keep that mentality that we just keep doing our thing, and do what we’re supposed to do, and it’s gonna happen; It’s gonna work out.”
For the Jaguars, rookie QB Trevor Lawrence completed 16–28 passes for 145 yards.
Jaguars RB Carlos Hyde scored their only touchdown with a one-yard carry early in the second quarter, 13:23, to shrink the Rams early lead to 10–7.
The Rams began the game with Brandon Powell returning the opening kick-off for 65 yards; the drive stalled and they settled for a 40-yard field goal from Matt Gay.
L.A. added two field goals, at 7:41 and 19 seconds remaining in the 2nd quarter, for a 16–7 half-time lead.
The Rams would then score three touchdowns on consecutive drives of 85, 62, and 55 yards in the second half. The third quarter saw Kupp catching a 29-yard touchdown pass at 11:43, and Van Jefferson also caught a short touchdown at 3:27.
Stafford was hit hard and laid on the ground for a while recovering from getting “the wind knocked out” of him. He recuperated and immediately responded with a big second half. He avoided throwing any interceptions on the day, stopping a three-game losing streak that included a “pick-six” in each loss.
After another Jaguars fumble, Odell Beckham Jr. caught a 1-yard TD pass that capped off a 55-yard drive early in the fourth quarter, finalizing the score 37–7. He scored his second touchdown in two games.
Mid-season acquisitions, superstars Beckham and linebacker Von Miller, seem to be assimilating to the Rams system after a few weeks to make solid contributions.
Von Miller had just one tackle for a loss; while pressuring Lawrence, he was occupying much attention from the Jaguars with double-team blocking, freeing up his teammates.
The Rams next face a tough five-game stint to end the regular season, beginning at Arizona on Monday Night Football, Dec. 13.
The Jaguars are away at division leader Tennessee next Sunday.
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