Rams clinch playoff berth but performance vs. Giants raises worrying questions
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The Rams departed for the airport Sunday night with numerous questions hanging over their heads.
Was their mistake-filled 26-25 victory over the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium the style-points aberration it appeared to be?
Will quarterback Matthew Stafford bounce back from two interceptions with another outstanding string of error-free performances?
Can the woeful kicking game and punt coverage ever be solved?
But after winning for the sixth time in seven games, the biggest unknown involved the Rams’ playoff fate.
Rams clinch NFC playoff berth after Steelers defeat Seahawks
The Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Seattle Seahawks 30-23 at Lumen Field on Sunday to punch the Rams’ postseason ticket.
The Rams defeated the New York Giants 26-25 but needed the Seahawks to lose to clinch a playoff berth ahead of their regular-season finale against the San Francisco 49ers next week.
At 9-7, the Rams have won three straight and have exceeded expectations coming off their 2022 struggles.
The Rams will find out next week who they will play in the NFC wild-card round.
Rams hold on for 26-25 victory over Giants
🏈 Rams 26, Giants 25 — FINAL
Mason Crosby missed a 54-yard field goal attempt in the final minute as the Rams held on to win, moving to the cusp of an NFC playoff berth.
Quarterback Tyrod Taylor broke off a 31-yard run to put the Giants on the edge of field-goal range, but Crosby, who briefly was on the Rams’ roster just three weeks ago, kicked the ball left of the uprights.
If the Pittsburgh Steelers defeat the Seattle Seahawks (game is in progress) or the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings tie tonight, the Rams will clinch a playoff berth.
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford completed 24 of 34 passes for 317 yards, with a touchdown and two interceptions. Rams rookie receiver Puka Nacua had five catches for 118 yards and running back Kyren Williams had 87 yards and three touchdowns in 20 carries. Cooper Kupp made four catches and had a touchdown.
Taylor completed 27 of 41 passes for 319 yards, with a touchdown and interception.
Gunner Olszewski scored on a 94-yard punt return with 3:27 left in regulation, but the Giants botched a two-point conversion attempt that would have given them a one-point lead. From there, the Rams held on for their third consecutive win.
Giants score on 94-yard punt return, but botch two-point attempt
🏈 Rams 26, Giants 25 — 3:27 left in the fourth quarter
Gunner Olszewski scored on a 94-yard punt return for the Giants, but Tyrod Taylor botched the two-point attempt, throwing a pass behind a wide-open Saquon Barkley directly in front of him.
After Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford was sacked on third down, Olszewski spun through multiple tackles before running unabated down the sideline for the touchdown.
Rams stop Giants on fourth down
🏈 Rams 26, Giants 19 — 8:38 left in the fourth quarter
The Giants managed to drive to the Rams’ 33 yard line, but Ahkello Witherspoon tackled Giants receiver Jalin Hyatt on fourth and one for a one-yard loss to put the ball back into Matthew Stafford’s hands.
The Rams, however, couldn’t capitalize, going three and out.
Kyren Williams touchdown run extends Rams’ lead
🏈 Rams 26, Giants 19 — 12:03 left in the fourth quarter
After struggling to discover its running game all afternoon, Kyren Williams found daylight and scored on a 28-yard run. Williams’ run was a thing of beauty, with the running back making a couple of well-timed cuts before picking up speed and winning a sprint to the end zone.
While the Rams’ running game continues to inspire confidence, the same can’t be said about its kicking game. Lucas Havrisik missed the extra-point attempt for the second time today, throwing the state of the Rams’ kicking game into utter confusion two weeks before the playoffs.
The Rams’ three-play, 75-yard drive also featured a 37-yard catch by Demarcus Robinson.
Rams hold one-point lead in fourth quarter
🏈 Rams 20, Giants 19 — 13:24 left in the fourth quarter
Mason Crosby kicked a 32-yard field goal for the Giants to make it a one-point game after the Rams slowed New York in the red zone.
Following Matthew Stafford’s second interception of the game, the Giants drove only 21 yards on 10 plays, with Rams cornerback Derion Kendrick ending the drive when he deflected a touchdown pass intended for Isaiah Hodgins on third down.
Dane Belton picks off Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford again
🏈 Rams 20, Giants 16 — 2:17 left in the third quarter
Giants safety Dane Belton intercepted a pass from Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford for the second time today, compromising another Rams opportunity to extend their lead.
Stafford tried to find Demarcus Robinson cutting through the middle, but threw behind the receiver, and Belton was there to intercept.
The Rams have been turning to the passing game after struggling to run the ball — Kyren Williams has 50 yards on 14 carries.
Giants cut into Rams’ lead on 80-yard touchdown pass
🏈 Rams 20, Giants 16 — 4:39 left in the third quarter
Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton caught an 80-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Tyrod Taylor — the longest play of the season for the Giants — to cut into the Rams’ lead.
Mason Crosby, who was briefly on the Rams’ roster three weeks ago, missed the extra-point attempt.
Slayton managed to break away from Rams cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon and Taylor made a spectacular deep pass to find a sprinting Slayton.
The Rams were forced to punt on their second possession of the half when Giants linebacker Jihad Ward sacked Matthew Stafford on third down.
Puka Nacua’s 80-yard reception sets up Rams touchdown
🏈 Rams 20, Giants 10 — 10:17 left in the third quarter
Kyren Williams scored on a two-yard touchdown run immediately after an 80-yard catch from Puka Nacua to extend the Rams’ lead early in the third quarter. Lucas Havrisik, however, missed the extra-point attempt.
Nacua made a short catch and then spun out of an Adoree’ Jackson tackle, nearly winning the sprint for the end zone before being tackled by safety Dane Belton.
Aaron Donald sacked Giants quarterback Tyrod Taylor on initial pressure from rookie Kobie Turner to end the opening possession of the second half — the Rams’ fifth sack today.
Rams defensive tackle Bobby Brown III is out for the remainder of the game because of a knee injury.
Mason Crosby field goal cuts into Rams’ lead just before halftime
🏈 Rams 14, Giants 10 — HALFTIME
Mason Crosby kicked a 31-yard field goal as time expired in the first half to cut the Rams’ lead.
The Rams wasted an opportunity after safety Jordan Fuller intercepted a pass with 1 minute 7 seconds left in the second quarter.
On the first play after the turnover, Matthew Stafford connected with receiver Demarcus Robinson for a 16-yard gain. But Robinson lost a fumble, giving the Giants a chance.
The Rams blocked Crosby’s 45-yard field-goal attempt, but Ben Skowronek was penalized for leaping, giving Crosby another opportunity from a shorter distance.
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford has completed 19 of 24 passes for 186 yards and a touchdown, with an interception.
Kyren Williams has rushed for 42 yards and a touchdown in 11 carries.
Tyler Higbee has five catches for 58 yards, Robinson five catches for 55 yards.
Puka Nacua has four catches for 38 yards.
Cooper Kupp touchdown catch pushes Rams into lead
🏈 Rams 14, Giants 7 — 1:44 left in the second quarter
Matthew Stafford connected with receiver Cooper Kupp for a five-yard touchdown.
The Rams got lucky.
On their previous possession, the Giants intercepted a pass by Stafford. It was Stafford’s first turnover since Week 12.
But the Giants could not capitalize, quarterback Tyrod Taylor fumbling on a fourth-and-one play that turned the ball over on downs to the Rams at the Giants’ 47-yard line.
Stafford completed passes to Tyler Higbee and Kyren Williams before connecting with Puka Nacua for a 17-yard gain that gave the Rams first and goal at the five.
Giants strike back on Wan’Dale Robinson touchdown run
🏈 Rams 7, Giants 7 — 13:03 left in the second quarter
Receiver Wan’Dale Robinson scored on a 24-yard reverse to tie the score.
Quarterback Tyrod Tayler engineered a nine-play, 75-yard scoring drive.
The Giants faced a first-and-20 situation but Taylor completed passes to tight end Darren Waller and running back Saquon Barkley before he found Jalin Hyatt for an 18-yard gain on third and six.
Robinson scored on the next play.
Kyren Williams touchdown gives Rams early lead
🏈 Rams 7, Giants 0 — 3:07 left in the first quarter
Kyren Williams rushed for a four-yard touchdown to give the Rams the early lead.
The Rams drove 72 yards in eight plays, mainly on passes by quarterback Matthew Stafford to Williams, Tyler Higbee and Demarcus Robinson.
Stafford has completed 10 of 12 passes for 93 yards.
Higbee has three catches for 46 yards.
Williams has rushed for 33 yards in seven carries.
Alaric Jackson out for Rams against the New York Giants
Rams left tackle Alaric Jackson will not play on Sunday against the New York Giants because of “personal reasons,” a team official said.
Joe Noteboom is expected to start in his place, and rookie Warren McClendon Jr. will be active.
Jackson beat Noteboom for the starting left tackle job and has been a mainstay in the lineup. He was held out of practice on Friday because of what was described by coach Sean McVay as hip tightness, but McVay said Jackson was expected to play.
Sean McVay reveals secrets behind drafting Puka Nacua and Rams catching fire
In October, four games into his burgeoning NFL career, Rams receiver Puka Nacua and a group of other rookies made a team-sponsored appearance at Hollywood High.
Nacua was off to a record-setting start, and he was only two days removed from a physical pounding and game-winning touchdown catch in an overtime victory at Indianapolis.
But Nacua took time to greet every Hollywood player, coach and school employee who approached him for a conversation, autograph or photo.
“I have you on my fantasy team!” one player exclaimed.
Red-hot Demarcus Robinson scores points with Rams as they catch playoff fever
He has more playoff experience than Aaron Donald. More than Cooper Kupp. More than quarterback Matthew Stafford or any other Rams player.
Since first making an NFL roster in 2016, receiver Demarcus Robinson has never missed the postseason.
He made it six times with the Kansas City Chiefs — including two Super Bowls — and last season with the Baltimore Ravens.
Now Robinson, who is playing on a one-year, veteran-minimum contract, is looking to keep alive the streak with a Rams team that has vaulted into playoff contention.
Rams coach Sean McVay says replacing placekicker not in current plans
The Rams, perhaps more than any other NFL team, benefited from their off week this season.
Since returning from their mid-November open date, the Rams have won five of six games — including victories over the Washington Commanders and the New Orleans Saints in a span of five days — and bolted into the playoff picture.
After defeating the Saints on Thursday night, the Rams now get a weekend holiday break before beginning preparation for their Dec. 31 game against the New York Giants in New Jersey.
There are concerns to ponder, however. In the forefront, the kicking game remains shaky.
Rams vs. Giants matchups: How to watch, start time and prediction
Breaking down how the Rams (8-7) and New York Giants (5-10) match up heading into their game Sunday at 10 a.m. PST. The game will be televised on Fox.
When Rams have the ball
Quarterback Matthew Stafford is not in the MVP conversation but he’s playing like someone worthy. The 15th-year pro is playing with outstanding efficiency since returning from a right-thumb injury. In the last five games, Stafford has passed for 14 touchdowns, with one interception.