A day later, the historic defensive performance still hadn't fully dawned on the reserve safety.
Bit by bit, however, the pieces of what Kamren Kinchens and the Rams accomplished in a Week 9 overtime win over the Seattle Seahawks are coming together.
Among them, the opportunity to set the record straight: That was not a fumble at the end of his 103-yard interception return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. Kinchens may have recovered it in the end zone just to be certain, but he easily broke the plane before releasing possession of the football.
"Once I looked at the video, I made sure," the All-American safety told us on this week's Rams Revealed.
Days prior, on Thursday Night Football, Jets rookie wide receiver Malachi Corley forfeited his first NFL touchdown in similar fashion, providing a high-profile learning opportunity for the Rams before their departure for Seattle.
"McVay showed that on Friday, about not dropping the ball before you get in the end zone and how it's the simple mistake some people make, but just don't let it happen. So when I seen that ball drop, I was like, 'Oh yeah. I'm not going to be the one on ESPN doing it.'"
The film also reminded Kinchens which teammate created the pressure that forced Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith to make the ill-advised throw on first-and-goal. Although he may not have seen it in real time, Kinchens was already well-aware that edge rusher Byron Young deserved credit.
"Shout out, BY. Please, because he's going to be mad if I don't. He was talking about it in the locker room (Sunday). He just kept staring at me… 'You still didn't say thank you yet,'" Kinchens recalled with a smile.
"I just seen when he made the block for me (on the return), so I said thank you for the block. He talking about something else you're missing, too. 'I was there to, you know, cause the throw.'
"And I was like, 'Thank you, BY.'"
The 22-year-old is the youngest member of the Rams active roster, and with that distinction came a slew of notable NFL records.
Kinchens authored the longest defensive touchdown in Rams history; the longest interception return by a rookie in NFL history (tying Pete Barnum in 1926); the longest interception return by player younger than 23 in NFL history.
Minutes later, his second interception may have been even more impressive!
Kinchens was born and raised in Miami, and his first Monday Night Football appearance will come against the Dolphins in Week 10. We hope you'll join us at SoFi Stadium for that prime time contest, and we invite you to learn more about the record-setting rookie in a new episode of Rams Revealed presented by Sleep Number, available on YouTube or in audio format wherever you prefer your podcasts.
