While offense shines, Rams' defense still has some work to do

While offense shines, Rams' defense still has some work to do
Alden Gonzalez

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- It was a short week -- a very short week -- and the Los Angeles Rams' defense was nearing the point of exhaustion. Two special-teams fumbles and their own ineffectiveness kept them on the field for almost the entire last half of Thursday night's fourth quarter. But there was no time to rest while holding on to a two-point lead against the division-rival San Francisco 49ers and looking to salvage a victory from a wild night.

"We had to dig deep," Rams cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman said after an eventual 41-39 win. "We had to really dig deep. At that point in time, it ain’t no pointing fingers, none of that. Let’s just get it done. That’s what it came down to at the end, and that’s all we were thinking."

The Rams finally got it done thanks to Aaron Donald, who muscled 49ers guard Brandon Fusco to the turf and wrapped up Brian Hoyer for his first sack of the season. The Rams won for the second time in their first three games. Jared Goff is throwing the ball all over the field, Todd Gurley is effective on the ground again, and the entire offense -- an offense that finished last in the NFL in yards each of the last two years -- is clicking under first-year head coach Sean McVay.

But what about that defense?

Read Complete Article
[www.espn.com]