The Rams got the result they needed in Washington, but it came with plenty of rough edges.
Los Angeles beat the Commanders 20-13 to move above .500 for the first time this season at 5-4, and the win was built more on second-half adjustments than any kind of clean, wire-to-wire control. The offense sputtered early again, the defense had to settle in, and the passing game leaned heavily on Puka Nacua. Still, the Rams did enough to leave with a victory and a 4-2 split of winners and losers from a messy but useful Week 9 afternoon.
Myles Garrett was the loudest force on the field. In his return, he piled up three sacks, three tackles for loss, and a forced fumble while helping shut down any real Commanders comeback hopes.
He looked nothing like the injured version from Week 1. More than the production, it was the movement that stood out.
For a player with that kind of size, the speed was the jaw-dropper.
Nacua carried the receiving load and then some. He finished with 14 catches for 150 yards and added two carries for 20 more, and his go-ahead touchdown catch showed exactly why he’s become Stafford’s most trusted target.
He also had a few drops, including on a bad interception that came with him double-covered, but he kept winning tough catches anyway. Whether it was a missile to the chest or a screen he turned into extra yards, Nacua kept dragging the Rams’ passing game forward.
Emmanuel Forbes also delivered in a bigger role. With Jaylen Watson out for the year and Trent McDuffie sidelined by a back injury, Forbes got the chance to start against the team that drafted him.
He responded with three passes defended, six tackles, and a tackle for loss, despite an early unnecessary roughness penalty. In coverage, he stayed glued to receivers.
Against the run, he played bigger than his 6-foot, 173-pound frame would suggest.
The Rams’ run defense deserves a spot in the win column too. Washington had some early success on the ground, but that faded after halftime.
Chris Shula’s defense kept Jayden Daniels in the pocket and held the Commanders to 60 rushing yards on 19 carries. Daniels managed just four rushes for 16 yards, and Garrett’s impact showed up against the run as well.
Not everything was working, though, and the receiver room was a problem. Nacua accounted for nearly two-thirds of Stafford’s 228 passing yards, which says plenty about the rest of the group.
Tutu Atwell caught only one of four targets, including a missed third-down chance that hit his hands and fell away. Konata Mumpfield finished as the team’s second-leading pass-catcher with two receptions for 20 yards, while the tight ends barely made a dent.
Terrance Ferguson was supposed to play before a hamstring injury in Friday’s practice ruled him out, and the need for more help at receiver is becoming harder to ignore.
Tyler Higbee also came up short in a game where the Rams needed someone else to step forward. With Ferguson out, the chance was there for Higbee to be a reliable outlet, but he finished with one 13-yard catch on five targets.
Colby Parkinson wasn’t much better, with four catches for 13 yards. Stafford missed some throws Higbee’s way, but the connection never really clicked.
Higbee also had a few drops, and his recent slide continued after his fumble in Week 6 against the Cardinals. Over his last three games, he has just four catches on 10 targets for 41 yards.
In Other News...
Rams Could Face An Early Problem That Changes This Road Game
Sundays trip to Northwest Stadium looks like it should be a clean one on paper, with the Rams set to face the Commanders in a 1 p.m. ET kickoff on Nov. 8. The early forecast calls for sunshine and temperatures in the low 60s, which usually suggests a comfortable afternoon for football, and the game-day logistics are straightforward enough with parking and stadium opening times already laid out for fans making the trip.
The one wrinkle is the wind, which could matter more than the mild weather suggests. West winds are expected around 11 mph, with gusts reaching 21 mph, and that kind of movement can quietly affect everything from deep throws to kicking decisions if it hangs around into game time. For a road team trying to settle in early, it is the sort of small but real variable that can change the feel of the afternoon before the first quarter even gets rolling. [Read more 🡒]
Matthew Stafford Update Should Have Rams Fans Paying Attention
Matthew Stafford is still active for the Rams, but the arm soreness he is managing is the kind of update that always keeps a team on alert this time of year. For Los Angeles, any sign of wear on its veteran quarterback matters because the offense is built around his ability to push the ball and keep the unit on schedule, and even a minor issue can reshape how a staff handles practice reps and game prep.
Around the division, there is no shortage of quarterback and receiver noise adding to the backdrop. The 49ers are dealing with injuries at receiver and the possibility of a major move, while Seattle is sorting through its own offensive line questions and Sam Darnold has already acknowledged problems with his passing decisions in a recent game. Against that kind of landscape, Staffords status is worth watching closely, because the Rams know how quickly one health note can turn into a bigger storyline. [Read more 🡒]
Puka Nacua Injury Fallout Puts Commanders Collision Under Spotlight
Puka Nacuas knee injury is the biggest lingering concern out of the Rams win over the Commanders, even after a performance that once again showed why he is such a central part of Sean McVays offense. Nacua was productive throughout the game, finishing with 14 catches for 150 yards and a touchdown before leaving with the injury, and the Rams are now waiting on an MRI to get a clearer picture of the damage.
The early indication is at least somewhat encouraging, with reports that the team believes he did not tear his ACL. Still, any issue involving Nacua changes the conversation for Los Angeles, especially after he was so heavily involved against Washington, and the next update will go a long way toward shaping the Rams outlook moving forward. [Read more 🡒]