Stafford found his touch in the second half
Even with an injured finger and on a short bye week, Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford found a way to earn a critical victory over an NFC opponent, beating the Seattle Seahawks 26-17 on Thursday night.
Four days after Stafford’s touch went out, that trend continued in the first half when he sailed several passes over receivers and when he intended to throw to the outside of the end zone, but instead threw an interception to the deep Quandre Diggs. Stafford completed 13 of 19 for 131 yards with an interception in the first half and the training staff checked his index finger that “popped off,” according to Stafford.
“Yeah, I just looked down and it was a little to the left, we put it back in. Our guys did a great job, gave me some tape. I was able to keep it warm and keep playing.”
In the second half, Stafford’s accuracy improved as he led consecutive touchdown series to give the Rams their first lead and put them ahead for good. Overall, Stafford completed 25 of 37 passes for 365 yards, his most with the Rams in five games, with one touchdown and one interception.
Rams defensive lineman Aaron Donald emphasized that this week’s matchups between division rivals always amount to heavyweight fights.
Thursday night at Lumen Field proved no different as the Rams outlasted the Seahawks in front of a boisterous crowd that was inspired by a late-game surge behind backup quarterback Geno Smith after starter Russell Wilson was sidelined to start the fourth quarter due to a finger injury.
The Rams (4-1; 1-1) got the win on short week of preparation, which helps them put a disappointing loss four days ago to another NFC West foe, the Arizona Cardinals, behind them.
The game in two words: Unexpected struggle. And that goes for both sides. The Rams entered the game with the defense ranked 18th, allowing an average of 24.6 points per game, while the Seahawks defense ranked just behind at 19th, allowing 25 points per game. However, neither team, with star quarterbacks Stafford and Wilson, could move the ball efficiently during the first half. The Rams’ defense held Wilson to 152 air yards with one touchdown and one interception. Wilson left the game early in the fourth quarter due to a finger injury.
The standout performance: after four relatively quiet games for receiver Robert Woods (15 receptions for 172 yards and 2 touchdowns), Stafford looked to the veteran often Thursday night. After a week of doubts about Woods’ lack of involvement in the aerial game, Woods caught 12 passes for 150 yards. Woods’ numbers climbed to season highs in targets, receptions and yards.
Stunning stat: Stafford completed a 68-yard pass to DeSean Jackson during an eight-play, 96-yard series that was capped by a 5-yard Darrell Henderson run that put the Rams up 9-7 in the third quarter. With the deep connection, Stafford now has four pass completions of 40-plus air yards this season, the most in the NFL. No other quarterback has more than two. Last season with the Detroit Lions, Stafford had five.
