In their most convincing win on the season to date, the Los Angeles Rams blew out the Jacksonville Jaguars in London 35-7. Matthew Stafford tossed five passing touchdowns, including three to Davante Adams
in a big day and first career scores for rookies Konata Mumpfield and Terrance Ferguson.
The Rams have now completed a sweep of the AFC South division with wins over the Texans, Titans, Colts, and now Jags.
Spoiler alert: There isn’t much blame to go around and the “loser” section will mostly be limited to those who weren’t on the field Sunday.
Winners
I understand on a day where the defense posted seven sacks that it’s unusual not to include a “winner” from the defensive front; however, this was a total team effort in terms of getting after the quarterback. Nearly everyone contributed in this facet.
Matthew Stafford, QB
If you take out an offensive lull in the third quarter, this game may go down as Stafford’s best effort on the season and one of his most well-rounded outings during his time with the Rams. It was the first time as a Ram that he threw for five touchdowns and it was the first time a quarterback has hit this mark in the modern day of the NFL’s international series.
Without Puka Nacua on the field because of an ankle injury, Stafford started by spreading the ball to a number of receivers—including early activity for three different TE’s in Tyler Higbee, Colby Parkinson, and Davis Allen. Konata Mumpfield caught his first career TD at the goal line. Xavier Smith seemed to play more often than Tutu Atwell. Everyone ate on Sunday and the offense overall looked very difficult to defend as a result.
Stafford completed 21 of 33 passes (63.6%) for 182 yards and five scores. He was not sacked and kept the ball out of harm’s way, though he did come close to losing control of the ball on a fumble that looked very similar to a play against the Ravens a week ago.
Warren McClendon, RT
This was clearly the biggest test for Warren McClendon to date. I’d even go as far to say this was the single most important game of the third-year tackles career. He passed with flying colors and should be on his way to winning the full-time starting right tackle job. McClendon has filled in for Rob Havenstein and performed at a higher level than we’ve seen from the veteran.
I’m ready to say that this is now McClendon’s job for the remainder of the season. It’s a big benefit to the Rams because McClendon has one year left on his rookie deal while Havenstein is slated to hit free agency. If the team has confidence in the young player moving into 2026, it solves a need that would require premium draft capital or a large free agent acquisition to otherwise fill.
Darious Williams, CB
Williams has now strung together two very positive outings and looks like LA’s best corner at present. He was playing against his former team in the Jaguars and allowed only a single reception for minimal yards on at least five passes thrown his direction. The veteran recorded three PBU’s.
Kamren Kinchens, DB
Jacksonville had little going offensively and when they had momentum it seemed to get instantly derailed by Kamren Kinchens. The second-year safety was all over the field and stingy in coverage. He pressured Trevor Lawrence and disrupted timing on what would have been a key catch and run for Travis Hunter. This was one of the best games of his career, though it’s difficult to top his two interception outing against the Seahawks a year ago.
Davante Adams, WR
Sunday was a big step forward for Davante Adams, and the Rams seemed to be using him in a more strategic way. It would have been ill-advised to run the offense through Adams without Nacua and give him double digit targets. Instead, the Rams spread the ball out and Stafford found the open man. Adams was particularly effective in the red zone with three touchdowns (two coming on goal line fades).
Adams caught five of eight targets for 35 yards and three scores.
Terrance Ferguson, TE
For a while the other three Rams TE’s had catches and Ferguson seemed like the odd man out; however, in the fourth quarter he hauled in a 31-yard touchdown pass from Stafford (the first of his career) and it was the longest offensive play on the day for LA. According to PFF live grades, Ferguson also contributed positively in run blocking.
If anything, the more we see Ferguson the more he looks like a better player than Tyler Higbee right now. The upcoming bye week could be instrumental in getting the rookie more involved.
Losers
Rob Havenstein, RT
There’s no reason to put Havenstein back in the starting lineup once he is recovered from his ankle injury that has caused him to miss the last three weeks. This is McClendon’s job now.
Jarquez Hunter, RB
The Rams promoted Ronnie Rivers from the practice squad and gave him the nod on gameday over rookie Jarquez Hunter, who was a healthy scratch and did not dress. You never expect to blow out another NFL team—especially one that came into this game with a 4-2 record—but it would have been nice to see Hunter get the first carries of his career once the outcome was effectively decided.
It seems Hunter’s stock is falling and there is no reason to expect him to become more involved even with the bye week on the horizon.
