Rams come up big on defense to defeat Houston Texans in season opener

Matthew Stafford was not going to be deterred.

Bad back?

No problem, apparently.

“Whatever happens, happens,” Stafford said last week as the Rams prepared for Sunday’s season opener against the Houston Texans. “I’m playing like I always play.”

Stafford started slow but the 17th-year pro played well enough and etched his name further into the NFL record book as the Rams hung on to defeat the Texans 14-9 before 71,346 at SoFi Stadium.

🏈 Rams 14, Texans 9 — FINAL

On third and eight, wide receiver Puka Nacua effectively ended the game with a 24-yard reception that allowed Rams to run out the clock and win their season opener.

Matthew Stafford finished the game with 245 yards on 21-of-29 passing, with one touchdown. Nacua led all Rams receivers with 10 receptions for 130 yards. Kyren Williams had 66 yards and a touchdown in 18 carries.

🏈 Rams 14, Texans 9 — 1:33 left in the fourth quarter

The Texans’ hopes of taking the lead were dashed when Rams linebacker Nate Landman punched the ball out of running back Dare Ogunbowale’s hands after a short reception, allowing Braden Fiske to pounce on it.

The play ended an eight-play, 57-yard drive that reached the Rams’ 18-yard line.

🏈 Rams 14, Texans 9 — 2:31 left in the fourth quarter

The Rams drove all the way to the red zone when a prime chance to potentially put the game away evaporated.

Rams tight end Colby Parkinson fumbled the ball after being hit by Azeez Al-Shaair and the ball was recovered by Danielle Hunter.

Until then, Matthew Stafford was picking apart the Houston defense, connecting on a 25-yard pass to Puka Nacua as part of a nine-play, 47-yard drive.

🏈 Rams 14, Texans 9 — 12:05 left in the fourth quarter

The Houston pass rush is causing issues for the Rams.

Texans defensive end Will Anderson Jr. and defensive tackle Folorunso Fatukasi each sacked Matthew Stafford over a four-play span to force the Rams out of field-goal range, ending an eight-play, 48-yard drive.

Stafford, who has been sacked three times, has completed 16 of 23 passes for 189 yards and a touchdown. Kyren Williams has 39 yards and a touchdown in 12 carries.

🏈 Rams 14, Texans 9 — End of the third quarter

The Rams head into the fourth quarter at their 32-yard line after back-to-back stops from their defense.

Cobie Durant intercepted a C.J. Stroud pass intended for receiver Jayden Higgins with 4:05 left in the third.

After the Rams went three-and-out on the ensuing drive, a 15-yard face mask penalty on Texans offensive lineman Blake Fisher led to the Texans punting for the third time.

🏈 Rams 14, Texans 9 — 12:28 left in the third quarter

Matthew Stafford connected with tight end Davis Allen for a 13-yard touchdown as the Rams started fast in the third quarter.

Stafford also completed a 17-yard strike to Davante Adams and a 36-yard pass to Xavier Smith during the five-play, 68-yard drive.

Stafford has completed 12 of 18 passes for 134 yards and a touchdown.

🏈 Texans 9, Rams 7 — HALFTIME

Ka’imi Fairbairn kicked a 53-yard field goal as time expired in the first half to put the Texans back in the lead.

Fairbairn also kicked field goals of 51 and 45 yards.

Fairbairn’s third field goal dampened the spirit of a Rams team that had taken the lead on Kyren Williams’ one-yard touchdown on the previous possession.

Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford has completed eight of 14 passes for 73 yards.

Puka Nacua has five receptions for 66 yards. Davante Adams caught one pass for three yards.

Williams has rushed for 31 yards and a touchdown in nine carries.

Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud has completed eight of 13 passes for 86 yards.

Rams edge rusher Byron Young has one sack.

🏈 Rams 7, Texans 6 — 53 seconds left in second quarter

Kyren Williams scored on a one-yard run on fourth down to give the Rams their first lead.

The Rams drove 65 yards in nine plays for their first touchdown of the season.

Receiver Puka Nacua had 19- and 22-yard catches to help set up the touchdown.

On first and goal from the nine-yard line, Rams receiver Jordan Whittington gained five yards on a jet sweep. Williams gained a yard on the next play before Stafford was stopped for no gain on a sneak.

But Stafford pitched the ball to Williams on fourth down and Williams crossed the goal line for the touchdown.

🏈 Texans 6, Rams 0 — 4:11 left in the second quarter

Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua is back in the game after taking a big hit and undergoing evaluation for a concussion.

Nacua, who is wearing a bandage on his head above his right eye, caught a 19-yard pass shortly after returning. He also hauled in a 24-yard pass later on in the same drive.

🏈 Texans 6, Rams 0 — 4:47 left in the second quarter

Ka’imi Fairbarn kicked a 45-yard field goal to extend the Texans’ lead.

The Rams helped set up the scoring drive when a snap went through quarterback Matthew Stafford’s hands and resulted in a sack that forced the Rams to punt from deep in their own territory.

Running back Nick Chubb carried the load for the Texans during the 10-play scoring drive.

Rams edge rusher Byron Young had a sack.

🏈 Texans 3, Rams 0 — 13:21 left in the second quarter

On the Rams’ second possession, wide receiver Puka Nacua left the game after taking a big hit from Texans linebacker Henry To’oto’o that resulted in an unnecessary roughness penalty.

Nacua appeared to be bleeding from a cut near his eye or on his eyelid.

A short time later, the Rams announced that Nacua was being evaluated for a concussion. He later returned to the bench with a large bandage on his head above his right eye.

He wasn’t the only player injured on the six-play, 25-yard drive that sputtered at mid-field. Rams tight end Colby Parkinson (shoulder) and offensive lineman Steve Avila (ankle) each sustained injuries and are listed as questionable to return.

🏈 Texans 3, Rams 0 — 1:15 left in the first quarter

Ka’imi Fairbairn kicked a 51-yard field goal to give the Texans the early lead.

Quarterback C.J. Stroud engineered a 13-play, 62-yard drive, completing two key third-down passes to tight end Dalton Schultz.

Stroud completed five of eight passes for 49 yards.

🏈 Texans 0, Rams 0 — 2:06 left in the first quarter

The Rams managed to drive to mid-field on their first possession of the game, but things quickly sputtered after Matthew Stafford connected on a 10-yard pass to Puka Nacua.

An incomplete pass intended for Nacua on third and nine forced the Rams to punt.

In the first possession of the game, Houston went three-and-out.

Nothing, it seems, commands the attention of Rams fans more than the team’s uniforms.

And on Thursday, the Rams revealed a new “Midnight Mode” uniform part of the NFL’s Rivalries program.

The “near black” ensemble and helmet was designed by Nike and the Rams based on the ethos that “We work hard all night to earn the spotlight,” said Kathryn Kai-ling Frederick, the Rams’ chief marketing officer.

Here are the active-roster players who will not be suiting up for the Rams and Houston Texans on Sunday at SoFi Stadium:

Rams

QB Stetson Bennett

RB Jarquez Hunter

DL Ty Hamilton

OL Justin Dedich

OL David Quessenberry

DE Desjuan Johnson

Texans

WR Christian Kirk

WR Braxton Berrios

QB Graham Mertz

RB British Brooks

G Ed Ingram

DT Tommy Togiai

The Rams are going to the Super Bowl.

There, I’ve written it, I can’t believe I’ve written it, but I’ve written it, right here, first paragraph, in fanboy-living color.

The Rams are going to the Super Bowl.

Las Vegas has them at 9½ wins. Bet the over. Bet it big. They will win 11 games and a weakened NFC West and a soft NFC and then...

The Rams are going to the Super Bowl.

Edge rusher Jared Verse was the 2024 NFL defensive rookie of the year. Lineman Braden Fiske was a finalist, following in the footsteps of 2023 finalist Kobie Turner.

So the Rams defensive front is not searching for an identity.

They already have one.

“For one, we’re young,” Fiske said at the start of training camp. “And two, we’re relentless.”

Davante Adams did not make any bold declarations.

After the three-time All-Pro receiver signed with the Rams, he modestly described what he could provide a team that advanced to the NFC divisional round last season.

Joshua Karty, Ethan Evans and Alex Ward still have a long way to go.

But the Rams’ kicker, punter/holder and long-snapper, respectively, have shown signs that they could have the collective staying power of former Rams stalwarts Greg Zuerlein, Johnny Hekker and Jake McQuaide.

From 2012 to 2019, Zuerlein kicked, Hekker punted (and occasionally passed) and McQuaide snapped for the Rams under former special teams coordinator John Fassel.

As a warm June breeze blew in off the Pacific Ocean, Rams team president Kevin Demoff stepped up to a microphone at a posh oceanfront resort in Maui to address players, coaches and guests at a celebratory luau.

The Rams had traveled to Hawaii to end offseason workouts — and to kick off a drive they aim to end with another Super Bowl title.

“This is truly your time to come celebrate, enjoy, reflect and get ready for what’s going to be an amazing adventure,” Demoff told the crowd.

The Rams, with a talented and deep roster led by quarterback Matthew Stafford, are primed for a possible run to a third Super Bowl under ninth-year coach Sean McVay.

If the Rams pass rush wants to christen itself as the NFL’s most ferocious, the Houston Texans could offer a prime chance to showcase its “dangerous” capabilities.

The offensive line has been a significant concern for the Texans, to the point where coach DeMeco Ryans is tired of talking about it. Despite quarterback C.J. Stroud being sacked 52 times last season (third most in the NFL), Houston wasn’t necessarily able to improve the unit, especially after trading blindside protector Laremy Tunsil to Washington.

The mostly fresh-faced starting five will be tasked with staying in front of a Rams pass rush contingent that enters the season ranked sixth in the NFL by Pro Football Focus.