After starting 3-1 in 2016 and 2017, the Rams have finished the first quarter of the season undefeated for the first time since 2001.
Here are five takeaways from Los Angeles' 38-31 victory over Minnesota on Thursday Night Football.
1) GOFF HAS OUTSTANDING NIGHT
When it comes to passer rating, it doesn't get any better that 158.3. Goff became the 28th quarterback in the NFL since 1950 to put together a "perfect" game, with a minus of 20 attempts. Goff completed 26 of his 33 passes for 465 yards with five touchdowns and zero interceptions.
"Can't say enough about the performance of Jared Goff tonight," head coach Sean McVay said. "It was just great command by him."
Goff's 465 yards ranks No. 3 on the franchise's all-time list for a single game. He threw four touchdowns in the first half of a game since Hall of Famer Kurt Warner did it back in 1999. He threw five touchdowns in a single game for the first time since 1999. He completed at least 75 percent of his passes for at least 350 yards for the third consecutive game — the first in NFL history to accomplish such a feat.
Through the season's first quarter, Goff has completed 72.4 percent of his passes for 1,406 yards with 11 touchdowns and two interceptions — averaging an outrageous 10.5 yards per attempt.
Sure, it's only been four games. But Goff is playing like one of the top quarterbacks in the league in 2018.
2) DONALD FINDS A WAY TO AVOID A FLAG
One of the most prevalent storylines through Week 4 has been the uptick in roughing the passer fouls called throughout the league.
Well, defensive tackle Aaron Donald seemed to find a pretty good way to avoid putting his full bodyweight on the quarterback late in the fourth quarter on Thursday.
On 1st-and-10 from the Minnesota 26, Donald beat the left guard in a one-on-one, got into the backfield, wrapped up quarterback Kirk Cousins and spun him to the ground.
Donald never left his feet on the eight-yard sack — in a way, tossing Cousins aside like a superhero.
Can't land with all your body weight on the quarterback if you never go down to the ground with him at all, I suppose.
3) BIG-TIME SACKS WHEN RAMS NEEDED THEM MOST
Donald's sack on the Vikings' final possession was one of four that the Rams' defense records as a unit during the fourth quarter. Donald got the period started with a sack on 2nd-and-8 for a 10-yard loss — his first sack of the season.
Defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh also got the defense off the field with a third-down sack while rushing from the left end to force Minnesota into a field-goal try. And after Donald began the Vikings' final drive with a sack, rookie defensive end John Franklin-Myers knocked the ball out of Cousins' hand for a strip-sack, with Suh recovering the pigskin for a game-clinching takeaway.
"We have opportunities to make plays, and we understand that if we continue to rush together, we're going to be very successful," Suh said. "And that's what's expected of us and we've got to continue to push and get that done."
Check out in-game photos from the Rams' Week 4 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday Night Football.
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp. Left, celebrates after scoring with running back Todd Gurley during the first half in an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings Thursday, Sept. 27, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Brandin Cooks (12) during an NFL football game against the XXXX, Thursday, Sept. 27, 2018 in Los Angeles. (Ben Liebenberg/NFL)
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Brandin Cooks (12), wide receiver Robert Woods (17) during an NFL football game against the XXXX, Thursday, Sept. 27, 2018 in Los Angeles. (Ben Liebenberg/NFL)
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Brandin Cooks (12) during an NFL football game against the XXXX, Thursday, Sept. 27, 2018 in Los Angeles. (Ben Liebenberg/NFL)
Rapper YG, Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Robert Woods (17) during an NFL football game against the XXXX, Thursday, Sept. 27, 2018 in Los Angeles. (Ben Liebenberg/NFL)
4) PETERS STEPS UP
Cornerback Marcus Peters left the Week 3 matchup with the Chargers with a calf strain and did not return. While McVay said during the short practice week that Peters was considered day-to-day and would be a game-day decision, it seemed unlikely the fourth-year cornerback would suit up — especially considering the quick turnaround.
But Peters worked out on the field with head trainer Reggie Scott and head strength and conditioning coach Ted Rath a couple hours before the game and felt good enough to play.
Not only was he active, but he also played 100 percent of the club's defensive snaps.
McVay said he thought that kind of performance really resonated with Peters' fellow Rams.
"I think it demonstrates the toughness, how much he wants to be out there and compete with his teammates," McVay said. "He was fighting through, I thought he had a bunch of good competitive plays tonight. Really, it's a great demonstration of a true team guy that wanted to be out there with his teammates."
5) THERE'S STILL PLENTY TO CLEAN UP
As well as the Rams played — and you have to play well in order to rack up 556 yards and 25 first downs on just 55 plays — there is certainly a lot for the Rams to clean up.
That starts on defense, where the Rams also surrendered 446 yards to a potent Minnesota offense. Cousins finished 36-of-50 for 422 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. L.A. did surrender only 54 yards rushing, but the Vikings only ran it 17 times. Minnesota was also 8-of-16 on third down, showing how tough it was for the Rams to get off the field for much of the contest.
Offensively, the Rams were remarkably just 1-of-6 on third down during the contest. McVay said postgame that he has to be better on third down, so that's something to monitor going forward.
And then in the kicking game, Sam Ficken missed a 28-yard field goal in the fourth quarter wide right. The three points would have given L.A. a 41-28 lead with just over eight minutes left in the contest.
Los Angeles will have Saturday and Sunday off before getting back to work for the Week 5 matchup with Seattle on Monday.
