Rams vs. Colts Postgame Notes (9-10-17)

Rams vs. Colts Postgame Notes (9-10-17)
- The Rams beat the Colts, 46-9, in the 2017 season opener.
- The game marked Rams Head Coach Sean McVay’s first game as an NFL head coach. In his debut, McVay’s Rams posted the second-most points (46) by any Rams team in their first game with a new head coach. The most points scored in a Ram Head Coach’s debut belongs to Bob Snyder with 48 points (1947).
- With McVay’s win in his debut, first-year head coaches in Los Angeles Rams franchise history have won 15 season opening games. Scott Linehan was the last Rams head coach to win his first game piloting the franchise, defeating the Denver Broncos, 18-10 (9/10/2006).
- QB Jared Goff completed 21-of-29 passes for 306 yards and one touchdown for a 117.9 passer rating. Goff’s 117.9 passer rating is a personal best.
- RB Todd Gurley notched his first touchdown of the season on a 5-yard rush. Gurley has 17 career touchdowns.
- Gurley rushed 19 times for 40 yards and caught five passes for 56 yards, including a long reception of 23 yards. Gurley totaled 24 touches for 98 yards.
- Rookie WR Cooper Kupp hauled in his first career touchdown on an 18-yard pass from Goff.
- Kupp led the team in receiving yards with 76 on four receptions, and posted a 19-yard average.
- RB Malcolm Brown registered his first career touchdown on a 3-yard rush.
- CB Trumaine Johnson picked off Colts QB Scott Tolzien and returned it 39 yards for a touchdown. Marked his third pick-six of his career and 17th career interception.
- The last time the Rams’ first touchdown of the season was an interception return for a touchdown was September 9, 2012 (CB Cortland Finnegan, 31-yard return vs Detroit).
- Johnson also recorded a forced fumble and fumble recovery, in addition to two tackles and a pass defensed (according to press box statistics).
- S Lamarcus Joyner intercepted Tolzien and returned it 29 yards for a touchdown. The pick was Joyner’s first interception of his career.
- The last time the Rams had two interceptions returned for touchdowns was against the Cardinals (11/25/12). Former CB Janoris Jenkins nabbed two interceptions for scores.
- DE Morgan Fox tackled Colts QB Jacoby Brissett in the end zone for a safety. The last time the Rams had a safety was against the San Francisco 49ers (11/1/15) secured by LB James Laurinatis.
- The last time Rams had a safety and a pick-six in the same game was against Atlanta (10/13/03). Travis Fisher had a 74-yard interception return and Grant Wistrom had a safety.
- The Rams are the first team in NFL history to record two interceptions returned for touchdowns and a safety in a season opener, per Randall Liu (NFL).
- OLB Robert Quinn sacked Tolzien for a loss of seven yards. Quinn has 55 career sacks.
- DT Tyrunn Walker sacked Tolzien for a loss of seven yards. His first sack as a Ram, 4.5 for his career.
- DE Ethan Westbrooks recorded a sack on Tolzien for a loss of six yards. Westbrooks has five career sacks.
- OLB Matt Longacre sacked Tolzien for a nine-yard loss, his first career sack.
- According to press box statistics, NT Michael Brockers led the team in tackles with five (three solo).
- K Greg Zuerlein converted three-of-three field goals, including a 50-yard field goal conversion. Zuerlein now has 19 career field goals for 50-plus yards. Zuerlein’s career record for field goals is 115-of-144.
- P Johnny Hekker punted five times for 218 yards, a 43.6-yard average and 43.6-yard net average. Hekker placed all five punts inside the 20-yard line.