The Los Angeles Rams proved themselves in primetime as they beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 34-7, on Sunday Night Football. Heading into the game, the Rams had the opportunity to take over as the number
one seed in the NFC with the Philadelphia Eagles losing to the Dallas Cowboys. The Rams didn’t just beat the Buccaneers, but made a statement that they aren’t just front-runners in the NFC, but the NFL. Matthew Stafford and the offense came out and played nearly flawless while the defense continued to show why they are one of the best. Let’s get into this week’s ten takeaways.
1. Rams came out knowing what was on the line
When the Rams come out ready to play, they are one of the more difficult teams in the NFL to stop. It’s possible that the Rams knew that the number one seed is on the line, but they played like they were the best team in the NFC. They came out and had a near-flawless opening drive and then Cobie Durant had the interception returned for a touchdown five plays into the Buccaneers’ first possession. It may have only been halfway through the first quarter, but the game felt over.
It was exactly the type of start that the Rams needed to not just put the game script in their favor, but make a statement in primetime. Matthew Stafford and the Rams hadn’t won on Sunday Night Football since beating the Chicago Bears 34-14 in Week 1 of the 2021 season. This game had that same feeling. When Stafford hit Van Jefferson on the opening drive for a touchdown, you knew that team was very good. The same can be said about this team. When Stafford hit Davante Adams for a touchdown only for Durant to score on defense immediately after, this team has a different feel to it.
2. Stafford is undeniably the MVP right now
On Sunday afternoon, Drake Maye threw for 294 yards and a touchdown against the Cincinnati Bengals to lead the Patriots to 10-2. Patriots fans chanted MVP as Maye walked off the field in Cincinnati. To put those chants to bed, Stafford started the game on Sunday night a perfect 12-for-12 with 121 yards and a touchdown. He finished 25-for-35 for 273 yards and three touchdowns.
Stafford now has 30 touchdowns to two interceptions. He joined Patrick Mahomes as the only other player in NFL history with at least 30 touchdown passes and two interceptions in their team’s first 11 games. The only other quarterback in Rams history with multiple 30 touchdown seasons is Kurt Warner. Stafford is 37 years old and playing the best football of his career. That just so happens to also be at an MVP level.
3. Defense overwhelmed Bucs
This Rams defense is currently playing at an unbelievable level. While the Buccaneers were without Baker Mayfield for half of this game, the defense was dominating with Mayfield under center. The Buccaneers’ offense hasn’t been what it was early in the season, but the Rams held them to their lowest point total of the year. They completely shutout the Buccaneers in the second half. It was the first time since Week 3 of last season that the Buccaneers had been shutout for an entire half. It’s also the fifth half of football this season that the Rams defense has pitched a shutout.
The Rams held the Buccaneers to 1-for-5 on fourth down and 1-for-3 in the red zone. They came away with two turnovers and had four sacks. Teddy Bridgewater was pressured on 38.9 percent of his dropbacks while Mayfield was pressured at a 33.3 percent rate. As a team, the Rams had 10 passes defended. Chris Shula has this defense playing as a complete unit and because of that everyone is playing fast. That shows on the field in a game like Sunday Night in which it feels as if they are swarming the opposing offense.
4. Davante Adams is unguardable in red zone
With the way that Davante Adams has been playing, it’s been reminiscent of the connection between Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson. When it comes to anything in the end zone, Stafford has been able to just throw it up and allow Adams to go get it. In 2011, Johnson had 12 receiving touchdowns in 11 games with Stafford as his quarterback. This season, Adams now has 12 receiving touchdowns with Stafford as his quarterback.
Early in the season, this was a duo that was still figuring each other out. Stafford and Adams connected on just 3-of-11 end zone targets. Since Week 7, they are 9-for-11. Adams has become unguardable in the red zone. Teams have started to cover the inside slant to help the cornerback on the outside and it’s still working. Over the past five games, the Rams have 18 touchdowns in 21 red zone trips for an 85.7 percent conversion rate. In the red zone, Stafford has 24 touchdowns with zero interceptions. For a team that has historically struggled in the red zone, Adams has been key to their success in that area.
5. Rams played a near perfect first half
That may have been one of the best first halves of football that any team could have played. The Rams scored on every possession and allowed just one touchdown on defense. Defensively, they still forced two turnovers and had a defensive score. On special teams, the Rams even kicked their first field goal in over a month. It was as complete of a first half of football as you can get.
It goes back to the first point of this Rams team playing incredibly focused and knowing what was on the line. This is no longer a team playing up and down to their opponents. They understand how good they are and they consistently play like it. Last season, the Rams had an issue with slow starts. That hasn’t been the case over the past month and a half. The Rams have outscored opponents 63-3 in the first quarter over the past five games. Head coach Sean McVay has done a good job having his team mentally prepared and ready on a weekly basis.
6. Emmanuel Forbes was on lockdown
There may not be a cornerback in the NFL who has been as productive as Emmanuel Forbes has been as of late. Forbes is playing like the first-round cornerback that he was drafted to be in Washington. The Rams’ pass rush allows him to play to his strengths and crash down on the ball while reading the quarterback’s eyes. Teams have tested him and hoped he would buckle and he simply hasn’t.
Forbes now has three interceptions over the past four games. On Sunday night, he had five pass breakups, including one on a 4th-and-2 and another on 3rd-and-9 that set up a turnover on downs. The Rams cornerback faced seven targets and did not allow a single reception against the Buccaneers. According to Next Gen Stats, no defender since Week 12, 2022 has been targeted more times without allowing a catch. The Rams took a low-risk gamble on Forbes last season and they may have hit the jackpot.
7. Dominant Jared Verse showed up
For those that only judge Jared Verse on his sacks, they got exactly that on Sunday night. On primetime, Verse had a dominant performance and was creating consistent havoc. Next Gen stats had Verse with a season-high six pressures. His 8.7 seconds of pressuring the Buccaneers’ quarterbacks were the most in a single game in his career. Additionally, he had two sacks and could have had a few more. His sack on 4th-and-9 in the third quarter resulted in a turnover on downs.
Verse is consistently a dominant force on the Rams’ defensive line. However, he was able to turn some of his pressures into sacks in primetime. He now has six sacks on the season which is a career-high after having 4.5 as a rookie. With six games left to play, it’s possible that Verse doubles his total from last season or hits double digits.
8. Have Rams found their kicker?
Coming into the game, the Rams needed to find out what they had in Harrison Mevis. While he had been perfect on extra points, he hadn’t been asked to make an actual field goal in a live-game setting. In this game, Mevis was 2-for-2 with makes from 40 and 52 yards. Mevis’ first attempt was the Rams’ first field goal in over a month when they last made one against the Baltimore Ravens on October 12. Sunday’s game against the Buccaneers was November 23. While Mevis didn’t face scoreboard pressure in either instance, seeing him make an actual field goal that wasn’t an extra point was a positive. His kick from 52 yards out was especially impressive as a rusher was coming around the edge. However, it is also worth noting that the Rams opted against a 57-yard field goal and failed a 4th-and-3.
It wasn’t just that Mevis was good from a field-goal standpoint. The Rams also had Mevis on kickoff duty as he split duties with Ethan Evans. Two of Mevis’ kickoffs resulted in touchbacks, but his opening kickoff put the Buccaneers at their own 28-yard line. The Rams will now need to decide what to do with Joshua Karty. Karty has been inactive in each of the last three games. It’s hard to see the Rams keeping two active kickers on the roster going forward as Mevis can no longer be called up from the practice squad.
9. Rams control the NFC
Divisional road games are never easy and that has been proven with the Philadelphia Eagles this season. The Eagles have lost three games and two of those have been on the road against divisional opponents. In Sunday’s game, the Eagles led the Cowboys 21-0 only to lose 24-21. It was an unexpected loss and it made the game against the Buccaneers a must-win. The Rams now control the NFC. Even if they lose to the Seahawks, if both teams finish 14-3, going 1-1 against each other with the same division record and same conference record, the Rams would come out on top because of the win against the Buccaneers.
Coming out of the bye week, the Rams entered a gauntlet part of their schedule with games against the 49ers, Seahawks, and Buccaneers in back-to-back-to-back weeks. Many would have considered 2-1 a success. The Rams went 3-0. With Sunday’s win in Week 12, the Rams sit in first place and have the number one seed. They have the second-best record through 11 games in the McVay era.
Currently, ESPN’s FPI gives them a 49.2 percent chance to win the NFC while The Athletic gives them a 57 percent chance. The reason that is important is that a bye week at that stage would be huge for this Rams team. Since the NFL expanded to seven playoff teams with only the No. 1 seed getting a bye, five of the ten Super Bowl representatives were the top seed in their conference. Stafford hasn’t lost a home playoff game as he is 4-0 if you include the Super Bowl.
10. With no dominant team, Rams show dominance
A lot has been said about the NFL lacking a dominant team in 2025. The typical juggernauts like the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills don’t lead their division. The Eagles have losses to the Giants and Cowboys. There are questions about how legitimate the Denver Broncos and New England Patriots are despite their 9-2 and 10-2 records.
Since losing to the 49ers back in Week 5, the Rams have won five of their last six games by 10+ points. They’ve won four of those by 15+. They consistently find different ways to win. Last week against the Seahawks, they needed a dominant defensive performance and got it. However, the offense has also shown that they can score 30 points at ease. In fact, they’ve scored 30 or more points in four of their last five games.
The Rams are a blocked field goal and fumble at the goal line away from being 11-0. Unlike the Broncos and Patriots, the Rams have been in this position before and have the experience. The Rams may not be a popular or flashy team like the Bills or Chiefs. However, there is no doubt that this has been a dominant team.
