Rams narrowly beat Colts 27-24: Everything we know from Week 2 win…

Rams narrowly beat Colts, 27-24: Everything we know from Week 2 win

[theramswire.usatoday.com]

Cameron DaSilva


Coming off a season-opening win over the Chicago Bears, the Los Angeles Rams were faced with a much bigger test against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 2. Being on the road against a good team that made the playoffs a year ago, the Rams were challenged more than they were in Week 1.

And despite some mistakes on offense and special teams, the Rams were still able to pull out a win on the road in a difficult environment at Lucas Oil Stadium. They beat the Colts 27-24 on Sunday afternoon, moving to 2-0 on the year.

It wasn’t a blowout victory like last week, but a combination of big plays by Matthew Stafford and two takeaways by the defense helped secure the road win.

Final score: Rams 27, Colts 24


Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports
3 stars of the game


(AP Photo/AJ Mast)
No. 3 star: Offensive line: 1 sack and 3 QB hits allowed

No. 2 star: Matthew Stafford: 278 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT

No. 1 star: Cooper Kupp: 9 catches, 163 yards, 2 TDs

Keys to the game


Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
The Rams did some bending on defense, but they didn’t really break. In the first half, they got two massive goal line stands defensively, holding the Colts to zero points on two drives that got inside the 10-yard line. The first was a turnover on downs by Indianapolis from the 1-yard line, capped off by Leonard Floyd’s sack on fourth. The second was an interception by Troy Reeder on a shovel pass.

Floyd was much more active and productive in this game than he was in the opener, recording that key sack on fourth down and nearly getting home for a couple others, only to have Carson Wentz slip through his hands.

The worst play of the game for the Rams came on special teams when the snap on a punt attempt hit personal protector Nick Scott in the arm and bounced into the end zone. The Colts fell on it for a touchdown, taking a 21-14 lead in the fourth quarter.

Matthew Stafford wasn’t as sharp as he was in the first game against the Bears, but he still made some excellent throws and created big plays in the passing game. He did throw his first pick, however, a ball that sailed on him and landed in the arms of the centerfield safety.

The Colts were forced to play their final drive with Jacob Eason at quarterback after Carson Wentz suffered an ankle injury late in the fourth quarter, causing him to leave the game. The drive only lasted two plays because Jalen Ramsey picked him off on the second play.

Kenny Young was ejected in the second half for making contact with an official during a heated exchange on the field. He was replaced by Ernest Jones, who got his first snaps on defense as a rookie. It was an uncharacteristic mistake by a leader of the defense, and a costly one, too.

It was over when...

…Jalen Ramsey picked off Jacob Eason with 2:13 left to play in the fourth quarter. The Rams were clinging to a three-point lead late in the game and needed a stop against the Colts on the final possession. They got just that when Ramsey jumped a deep out route and picked off the pass to seal the win for Los Angeles.