The Los Angeles Rams got back to .500 on Sunday with their win over the Chargers, improving their record to 4-4. They still have a lot of work to do but there are signs of progress after winning two games in a row.
Pro Football Focus' grades illustrated what a complete performance it was by the Rams on Sunday, with the O-line dominating and the defense shutting down the Chargers by keeping them out of the end zone. Here were the best and worst performers on each side of the ball in Sunday's win.
Top 5 offense
- LG Steve Avila: 86.1
- RG Kevin Dotson: 79.0
- WR Puka Nacua: 78.4
- C Coleman Shelton: 76.9
- RT Warren McClendon Jr.: 74.7
Think the Rams' offensive line played well? Four of their five highest-graded players were along the O-line, led by Avila and his 86.1 grade. As a team, the Rams allowed only one pressure all day, which was given up by Warren McClendon Jr. Even the sack
Matthew Stafford took wasn't pinned on the O-line, but rather on the quarterback himself.
Avila's 82.9 run-blocking grade led all players, while Alaric Jackson's 84.8 pass-blocking grade topped the team.
Nacua did most of his damage on receptions near the line of scrimmage, catching 11 passes for 80 yards and a touchdown on 12 targets.
Top 5 defense
- CB Trent McDuffie: 86.6
- LB Omar Speights: 85.6
- DT Tyler Davis: 83.3
- DB Quentin Lake: 77.9
- CB Emmanuel Forbes Jr.: 75.9
McDuffie was outstanding before getting hurt, picking off Justin Herbert once and recording a tackle for a loss, which is actually the play he injured his back on. He did allow six catches on eight targets for 47 yards, with 45 of those yards coming after the catch.
Speights had five tackles, one of which went for a loss, and also broke up one pass. He only gave up 14 yards in coverage on three catches.
Davis had two pressures, one of them being a hit on the QB, and didn't miss any tackles.
Lake picked off Herbert, as well, and gave up just 30 yards in coverage.
Forbes helped replace the injured McDuffie and Jaylen Watson, allowing only one catch for 1 yard.
Bottom 5 offense
- LT Alaric Jackson: 63.2
- WR Tutu Atwell: 61.4
- TE Davis Allen: 56.0
- WR Konata Mumpfield: 49.2
- TE Tyler Higbee: 39.9
Jackson was technically one of the Rams' five lowest-graded players on offense, he didn't play poorly. As mentioned above, he had the highest pass-blocking grade on the team and didn't give up a pressure.
Atwell caught two passes for 52 yards, including a 40-yard bomb that helped set up a touchdown for the Rams.
Allen caught two passes but they went for just 8 total yards.
Mumpfield didn't have any catches and was the target on Stafford's interception early in the game.
Higbee committed two false start penalties and only caught one pass for 14 yards, struggling as a run blocker with a grade of 46.8.
Bottom 5 defense
- NT Ty Hamilton: 56.8
- S Kam Curl: 55.7
- DT Aaron Donald: 54.9
- DE Braden Fiske: 53.1
- OLB Byron Young: 49.7
It's hard to really fault any defenders in a game where the Rams allowed zero touchdowns, but Hamilton had no pressures or tackles in the game.
Curl missed one tackle and gave up 38 yards in coverage on three receptions.
Donald had three pressures and two stops but didn't get a hit on Herbert and also missed a fumble recovery chance.
Fiske finished with two pressures and one missed tackle, while Young tied for second on the team with three pressures.
Other notables
- RB Blake Corum: 74.2
- RB Kyren Williams: 71.9
- LB Nate Landman: 65.3
- CB Jaylen Watson: 64.7
Corum and Williams both ran the ball well, with Corum leading the way with 73 yards rushing. Williams had 56 on his 16 carries, as each running back scored a touchdown. Corum was only credited with two missed tackles forced and Williams had three.
Landman returned from injury and made eight tackles but he missed two tackle attempts, too.
Watson allowed one catch for 10 yards before going down with a shoulder injury.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Rams PFF grades: Best and worst performers in win vs. Chargers
