Look who holds a playoff spot after the Rams’ Week 13 win over the Browns
The opportunity was right there for the Rams.
Riding a modest two-game winning streak, a team written off by many before the season began, had played its way into playoff contention.
And with the injury-riddled Cleveland Browns visiting SoFi Stadium on Sunday — ancient quarterback Joe Flacco was signed off the street and started — the Rams were poised to reach .500 and move closer to a postseason bid.
The Rams took care of business and kept rolling, defeating the Browns, 36-19, in front of 72,887. In fact, they hold the No. 7 playoff spot ahead of the late game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Green Bay Packers, who could vault ahead of the Rams with a victory.
Rookie receiver Puka Nacua overcame injuries and produced a spectacular performance, quarterback Matthew Stafford passed for three touchdowns and safety John Johnson intercepted a pass as the Rams improved to 6-6.
Kyren Williams touchdown run seals Rams’ victory over Browns
🏈 Rams 36, Browns 19 — FINAL
Matthew Stafford passed for 279 yards and rookie wide receiver Puka Nacua made four catches for 105 yards and a touchdown as the Rams fended off a strong season debut by Joe Flacco to defeat the Browns and extend their winning streak to three games.
Kyren Williams scored on a one-yard touchdown run — his seven TD run of the season — just after the two-minute warning to seal the victory. Aaron Donald then sacked Flacco in the end zone on the Browns’ final possession for a safety, providing the Rams’ final margin of victory.
Coming off Cooper Kupp’s touchdown catch earlier in the fourth quarter, the Rams’ defense held Flacco and the Browns in check, breaking up a pass intended for tight end David Njoku on fourth down to virtually dissolve any hope of a Cleveland comeback.
Cleveland got the ball one more time in the final two minutes, but Flacco was called for intentional grounding before being sacked by Kobie Turner and Donald on consecutive plays, the latter resulting in a safety.
Stafford completed 22 of 37 passes with three touchdowns and no turnovers. Williams finished with 88 yards in 21 carries.
Flacco completed 23 of 44 passes for 254 yards, with two touchdowns and an interception.
Rams extend lead on Cooper Kupp touchdown catch
🏈 Rams 27, Browns 19 — 3:48 left in the fourth quarter
Cooper Kupp caught a three-yard touchdown pass from Matthew Stafford to extend the Rams’ lead coming off a costly Browns turnover.
Stafford found Kupp at the front of the end zone to end a 24-yard, five-play drive built upon a John Johnson interception.
It was Kupp’s first touchdown since Week 6.
John Johnson picks off Joe Flacco late in fourth quarter
🏈 Rams 20, Browns 19 — 5:15 left in the fourth quarter
Rams safety John Johnson III intercepted a deep pass from Joe Flacco intended for Browns wide receiver Elijah Moore, spoiling Cleveland’s chance to take the lead.
The interception came on the first play of a Cleveland possession after the Rams went three and out.
Rams cling to lead after another Browns touchdown
🏈 Rams 20, Browns 19 — 8:49 left in the fourth quarter
Joe Flacco completed an eight-yard touchdown pass to tight end Harrison Bryant to cap a 13-play, 75-yard drive fueled by Cleveland’s running game. However, Dustin Hopkins, one of the most reliable kickers in the NFL, missed the extra-point attempt, allowing the Rams to cling to the lead.
Browns running backs Pierre Strong Jr. and Kareem Hunt spearheaded the drive, helping Cleveland churn out six first downs.
Flacco, in his first start of the season, has completed 23 of 59 passes for 254 yards and two touchdown passes.
Will the missed extra point end up costing the Browns?
Rams retake lead on Demarcus Robinson TD catch; Tyler Higbee injured
🏈 Rams 20, Browns 13 — End of the third quarter
Demarcus Robinson caught a seven-yard touchdown pass from Matthew Stafford — his first TD catch with the Rams — to push the Rams ahead in the closing seconds of the third quarter.
Robinson set up his touchdown catch with a 30-yard reception that moved the ball into the red zone. A 31-yard run by Puka Nacua on a reverse also fueled the Rams’ seven-play, 75-yard drive.
Unfortunately, tight end Tyler Higbee is being evaluated for a concussion after taking a big hit during the drive. He is questionable to return.
Browns tie game again on Dustin Hopkins field goal
🏈 Browns 13, Rams 13 — 4:58 left in the third quarter
Dustin Hopkins kicked a 24-yard field goal to cap a 15-play, 74-yard Cleveland drive that appeared destined for the end zone until the Rams defense finally contained the Joe Flacco passing attack at the goal line.
A 22-yard pass from Flacco to wide receiver Elijah Moore moved the Browns to the Rams’ 9-yard line, but a couple of well-defended passes blocked Cleveland from finding the end zone.
Flacco has completed 17 of 31 passes for 216 yards and a touchdown so far.
Puka Nacua returns to the game at the start of second half
🏈 Rams 13, Browns 10 — 12:45 left in the third quarter
Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua returned at the start of the second half after leaving for the locker room in the second quarter with a rib injury.
Nacua was a bit slow to get up after being targeted on a deep, third-down pass from Matthew Stafford that was out of reach. The Rams punted after the incompletion.
Browns wide receiver Amari Cooper was ruled out for the remainder of the game after sustaining a head injury in the first half.
Lucas Havrisik field goal gives Rams 13-10 halftime lead
🏈 Rams 13, Browns 10 — HALFTIME
Lucas Havrisik kicked a 28-yard field goal on the final play of the second quarter to give the Rams the lead.
It was a positive ending to a quarter in which receiver Puka Nacua left the game because of a rib injury.
Tight end Tyler Higbee had two catches for 35 yards during the 13-play, 66-yard drive.
Quarterback Matthew Stafford has completed 14 of 26 passes for 184 yards and a touchdown.
Nacua had four catches for 105 yards and a touchdown before he was injured.
Running back Kyren Williams has rushed for 33 yards in nine carries.
Browns quarterback Joe Flacco has completed 11 of 21 passes for 156 yards and a touchdown.
Browns tie game on Dustin Hopkins field goal
🏈 Browns 10, Rams 10 — 2:06 left in the second quarter
Dustin Hopkins kicked a 40-yard field goal for the Browns to tie the score.
Joe Flacco’s 42-yard pass to receiver Elijah Moore started a seven-play, 58-yard scoring drive.
The Rams challenged Moore’s catch that was made along the right sideline, but upon review the game official said Moore’s “butt cheek” landed inbounds — and the Rams lost a timeout.
Flacco has completed 11 of 21 passes for 156 yards and a touchdown.
Puka Nacua injured after making a catch in second quarter
🏈 Rams 10, Browns 7 — 8:10 left in the second quarter
Rams receiver Puka Nacua, who scored on a 70-yard touchdown pass play in the first quarter, left the game after sustaining a rib injury. The team listed him as questionable to return.
Nacua was injured after catching a 20-yard pass along the right sideline.
The rookie was assisted off the field by team trainers and walked to the locker room.
Nacua has four catches for 105 yards and a touchdown.
Matthew Stafford connects with Puka Nacua on TD pass
🏈 Rams 10, Browns 7 — 3:59 left in the first quarter
Rams rookie receiver Puka Nacua had been relatively quiet the last four games.
But he broke out with a 70-yard touchdown to give the Rams the lead.
Nacua lined up on the right side and caught a pass down the middle before outrunning several Browns players to the end zone.
Earlier in the game, Nacua broke Cooper Kupp’s Rams rookie record for yards receiving in a season.
Rams cut into Browns’ lead with first-quarter field goal
🏈 Browns 7, Rams 3 — 6:28 left in the first quarter
Lucas Havrisik kicked a 44-yard field goal to cut the Browns’ lead.
The Rams took advantage of a personal-foul penalty against Browns safety Juan Thornhill to move to the Browns’ 29-yard line, but the drive stalled when quarterback Matthew Stafford’s third-down pass to receiver Puka Nacua fell incomplete.
Running back Kyren Williams rushed for 14 yards in three carries.
Joe Flacco leads Browns to TD on opening drive
🏈 Browns 7, Rams 0 — 10:18 left in the first quarter
Browns quarterback Joe Flacco sure did not look rusty.
Flacco, signed this week to replace injured Dorian Thompson-Robinson, connected with running back Jerome Ford for a 24-yard touchdown pass play.
Flacco, 38, directed a nine-play, 75-yard drive. The key play was a 22-yard strike to receiver Amari Cooper on third and 14 from the Browns’ 35-yard line.
Flacco completed four of five passes for 65 yards.
NFL roundtable: Is Rams’ running game creating chances for Tyler Higbee?
Can Tyler Higbee’s success against the Cardinals be attributed to the success of the running game? In seasons past, he had been a consistent red-zone target.
Klein: Higbee’s success on Sunday, I think, was either Sean McVay and Matthew Stafford realizing the Rams must get Higbee more involved. Or perhaps it was a reflection of attention paid to Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua in those situations. Regardless, Higbee caught his first two touchdown passes of the season.
Farmer: Higbee is certainly capable of rounding into a real red-zone threat in the fourth quarter of this season. But just as important, Matthew Stafford is spreading around the ball. Four touchdown passes Sunday, and none to wide receivers.
Matthew Stafford understands mind behind Browns’ defense all too well
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford knows what and — perhaps more compellingly — who he will be up against Sunday versus the Cleveland Browns.
One of the NFL’s top defenses is designed by coordinator Jim Schwartz, Stafford’s first coach with the Detroit Lions.
“He’s one of the best, if not the best kind of mind out there on defense,” Stafford said Wednesday.
Stafford, a 15th-year pro, played five seasons under Schwartz after the Lions made him the No. 1 pick in the 2009 NFL draft.
Kobie Turner ‘The Conductor’ is helping Rams’ defense stay in tune for Browns game
Kobie Turner struck the pose.
The Rams rookie defensive lineman, nicknamed “The Conductor” in college, had just sacked Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray.
Turner hustled a few yards behind the line of scrimmage. And then, much to the delight of teammates and fans, pantomimed conducting a choir or orchestra.
“It shows like we’re more than just athletes,” Turner said when asked about his sack celebration. “And like that music side of me is so important. It helps me on game day, helps me all the time.
Rams-Browns matchups: How to watch, start time and prediction
Breaking down how the Rams (5-6) and Cleveland Browns (7-4) match up heading into their game Sunday at 1:25 p.m. The game will be televised on Fox.
When Rams have the ball
Quarterback Matthew Stafford said he is not fully recovered from a right thumb injury he suffered a month ago in Dallas, but he looked sharp last Sunday in a 37-14 win over Arizona, passing for four touchdowns with one interception.
Running back Kyren Williams will be hard-pressed to repeat his performance against the Cardinals, which earned him NFC player of the week honors.