Close is no consolation this time as Rams’ offense flails in 19-16 loss to Bengals
CINCINNATI — Last May, about 50 minutes from Paycor Stadium, Miami Ohio unveiled a statue of Rams coach Sean McVay.
McVay, who led the Rams to victory in Super Bowl LVI, was enshrined in the school’s fabled Cradle of Coaches, an exclusive club of alums that features among others Super Bowl winners Weeb Ewbank and John Harbaugh.
On Monday night, McVay coached in Ohio for the first time since he and his trademark hair spike were immortalized in bronze.
And for much of the game, the Rams defense made injured Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow look like a statue.
Rams struggle to generate offense, lose 19-16 to the Bengals
🏈 Bengals 19, Rams 16 — FINAL
Matthew Stafford and the Rams struggled mightily against the Cincinnati Bengals defense, suffering their second straight loss.
The Bengals kept the Rams out of the end zone until the closing minutes of the game. Stafford tallied 269 yards on 18-of-33 passing, but threw two interceptions and struggled to piece together drives.
Joe Burrow, who was questionable with a calf injury entering the game, passed for 259 yards on 26-of-49 passing.
Rams finally find the end zone, but it’s too late
🏈 Bengals 19, Rams 16 — 1:03 left in the fourth quarter
Matthew Stafford found receiver Tutu Atwell on a one-yard touchdown pass — the Rams’ first of the game — to make it a three-point game.
Coming out of the two-minute warning, Stafford found rookie wide receiver Puka Nacua wide open on a 37-yard pass to set up the Atwell touchdown catch.
The Bengals, however, recovered the onside kick and the Rams have no timeouts.
Bengals kick another field goal to extend their lead
🏈 Bengals 19, Rams 9 — 7:13 left in the fourth quarter
Evan McPherson kicked a 54-yard field goal to extend the Bengals’ lead going into the final minutes of regulation.
Logan Wilson picks off Matthew Stafford again as Bengals extend lead
🏈 Bengals 16, Rams 9 — 3:09 left in the third quarter
Matthew Stafford threw a pair of interceptions against the 49ers last week, and he has two interceptions tonight.
Two plays into the Rams’ second drive of the third quarter, Stafford was picked off by Cincinnati linebacker Logan Wilson for the second time tonight.
The interception, coupled with a 43-yard pass to Ja’Marr Chase, set up a 48-yard field goal by Evan McPherson to extend the Bengals’ lead.
Joe Mixon touchdown run pushes Bengals into the lead
🏈 Bengals 13, Rams 9 — 5:29 left in the third quarter
Joe Mixon busted through the Rams defense to score on a 14-yard run for the game’s first touchdown. The run capped a 10-play, 75-yard drive that mostly picked through the Rams defense with short passes and carries.
A 13-yard catch by Ja’Marr Chase off a hook route on third down coupled by a 13-yard pass to Tee Higgins set up Cincinnati’s first rushing touchdown of the season.
Let’s see how the Rams respond.
Rams retake lead on another Brett Maher field goal
🏈 Rams 9, Bengals 6 — 10:37 left in the third
Right when it seems like the Rams are finally finding some success on offense, the Bengals hit back.
The Rams retook the lead on their first possession of the second half, with Brett Maher kicking a 42-yard field goal. The points came at the end of a seven-play, 51-yard drive that was stopped in its tracks on a third-down sack by defensive end Trey Henderickson
Rams and Bengals tied 6-6 at halftime
🏈 Rams 6, Bengals 6 — HALFTIME
Bengals kicker Evan McPherson made a 53-yard field goal as time expired in the first half to send the teams into the locker rooms tied.
Aaron Donald sacked Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow — his second sack tonight — in the closing seconds of the half to force the field-goal attempt.
The Rams’ defense has shined, but the Matthew Stafford-led offense has struggled to find rhythm.
Getting the ball back with just over two minutes remaining in the half, the Rams went nowhere after Bengals safety Dax Hill sacked Stafford on his blindside off a blitz.
A key injury also isn’t helping the Rams’ cause. Left tackle Alaric Jackson is questionable to return after sustaining a thigh injury. Zachary Thomas has taken over for him.
Stafford has completed eight of 15 passes for 106 yards. Kyren Williams has 26 yards in six carries. Rookie wide receiver Puka Nacua has four catches for 35 yards.
Burrow, who entered the game questionable with a calf injury, has completed 17 of 31 passes for 144 yards. Joe Mixon has rushed for 23 yards in seven carries.
Matthew Stafford throws interception, but Rams defense bails him out
🏈 Rams 6, Bengals 3 — 2:32 left in the second quarter
Cincinnati linebacker Logan Wilson picked off Matthew Stafford on the start of the Rams’ fifth possession, thwarting another opportunity for L.A. to find some rhythm on offense.
The Rams’ defense has looked solid, with Aaron Donald sacking Joe Burrow on the possession before Stafford’s interception. The Rams then held Cincinnati to another three-and-out to get the ball back with little more than two minutes before halftime.
Stafford has completed seven of 13 passes for 102 yards. Burrow has 109 yards on 15-of-27 passing.
Rams kick another field goal to move back into lead
🏈 Rams 6, Bengals 3 — 9:49 left in the second quarter
Finding the end zone continues to prove elusive for the Rams.
Brett Maher kicked a 23-yard field goal to push the Rams back into the lead after Matthew Stafford failed to connect with Tutu Atwell on a pass in the back of the end zone on third down.
Stafford did connect on a 37-yard pass to Atwell, who found daylight on a deep cross in front of a pair of Cincinnati linebackers, to put the Rams in the Bengals’ red zone.
Stafford has completed six of 11 pass attempts for 95 yards.
Bengals tie game on Evan McPherson field goal
🏈 Rams 3, Bengals 3 — 12:55 left in the second quarter
Evan McPherson kicked a 49-yard field goal to tie the game after the Rams helped stifle a long Cincinnati drive at midfield.
The Rams went three-and-out on their second possession before Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow moved the Bengals into Rams territory on a methodical, 12-play, 48-yard drive. A false start penalty on Tyler Boyd helped stall Cincinnati’s progress.
Rams rookie receiver Puka Nacua, who already has three catches for 31 yards, made another highlight-reel-worthy grab in the first quarter.
Rams settle for field goal after TD run reversed on review
🏈 Rams 3, Bengals 0 — 8:22 left in the first
The Rams settled for a 30-yard field goal by Brett Maher after Matthew Stafford was sacked and then stymied on two other pass attempts just outside the Cincinnati end zone.
A spectacular 22-yard run by Tutu Atwell put the Rams on the Bengals’ two-yard line. Atwell’s reverse carry was initially ruled a touchdown before it was determined on review that he stepped out of bounds just before diving into the end zone.
The field goal capped an eight-play, 43-yard drive for the Rams on their first possession.
Bengals miss a 56-yard field-goal attempt on opening drive
🏈 Rams 0, Bengals 0 — 11:26 left in the first quarter
Evan McPherson missed a 56-yard field-goal attempt on the Bengals’ opening possession to keep the game scoreless.
Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow isn’t showing a lot of mobility on his sore right calf, but he was somewhat effective in quickly getting the ball into Rams territory. He completed three of six passes for 27 yards, with Tyler Boyd catching two passes for 21 yards.
Who failed, the Rams or Cam Akers? Someone definitely deserves blame
Since 2017, when the Rams made him the youngest coach in modern NFL history, Sean McVay has built a well-earned reputation for being a players’ coach.
For longtime McVay observers, his ability to connect and to manage nearly every personality ranked among his strong suits.
Did trading running back Cam Akers dent that reputation?
McVay was asked Thursday if he considered the Akers situation a failure on his part.
“I wouldn’t say that — I think that’s kind of an easy narrative,” McVay said. “What we’re interested in is making decisions that we like are in the best interest of the team. And there’s a lot of layers to it. But I am grateful for Cam, and I wish him nothing but the best moving forward.”
Bobby Wagner helped Rams’ Kyren Williams become a better back. The proof is on film
Kyren Williams already was a dedicated, detail-oriented rookie running back for the Rams.
But a 2022 midseason body-maintenance session inspired and pushed him even more.
It was early evening, and all the Rams except Williams and veteran linebacker Bobby Wagner were gone from the team’s Thousand Oaks training facility.
“Why are you still here?” Williams asked Wagner, a six-time All-Pro. “Why aren’t you at home?”
Wagner told Williams he stayed in the building until 8 or later every night to study film, to break down opponents individually, to hone a craft he had been mastering for more than a decade in the NFL.
Cincinnati QB Joe Burrow starts against the Rams
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, who was listed as questionable heading into Monday because of a right calf injury, started against the Rams.
Burrow has been dealing with the injury since training camp. Bengals backup quarterback Jake Browning has played only four NFL snaps and has one passing attempt. The team also has quarterback Reid Sinnett, who was promoted from the practice squad.
Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua, who was listed questionable with an oblique injury, is also playing.
Here are the inactives:
RAMS
RB Zach Evans
OL Kevin Dotson
OL Warren McClendon Jr.
DE Earnest Brown IV
BENGALS
WR Trenton Irwin
HB Chris Evans
CB DJ Ivey
C Trey Hill
OT Jackson Carman
TE Irv Smith Jr.
DT Jay Tufele
Remember the Super Bowl: Bengals know it’s tough to duck Aaron Donald
CINCINNATI — It was among the most memorable plays of Super Bowl LVI, the one that sealed the Rams’ victory.
With 43 seconds left, the Cincinnati Bengals faced a fourth-and-one at the Rams 49-yard line.
Rams star defensive lineman Aaron Donald burst into the backfield and began wrestling Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow to the ground. Burrow desperately tossed the ball in the direction of a running back, but it fell incomplete, preserving the Rams’ 23-20 victory and starting a celebration by Donald and the Rams at SoFi Stadium.
“That’s the one that sticks out,” Donald said Friday.
On Monday night at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, the Rams will play the Bengals for the first time since their Super Bowl matchup.
Rams vs. Cincinnati Bengals matchups, how to watch and prediction
Breaking down how the Rams (1-1) and the Cincinnati Bengals (0-2) match up heading into their game at 5:15 p.m. PDT on Monday at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati. The game will be shown on Channel 13 in the Los Angeles area, nationally on ESPN, ESPN2 and streamed on NFL+.
When Rams have the ball
Matthew Stafford faces the Bengals for the first time since Super Bowl LVI, and the Rams could use a big performance from the 15th-year pro. Stafford passed for a touchdown but had two passes intercepted in a 30-23 defeat by the San Francisco 49ers. He has been sacked only once.
Rookie Puka Nacua looks to continue his record-setting pace. Nacua has a league-leading 25 receptions, the most by a rookie receiver in his first two games in NFL history. Nacua was listed as questionable because of an oblique injury, but he is expected to start alongside Tutu Atwell and Van Jefferson.