INGLEWOOD, Calif. – For the second-straight game, the Rams' commitment to the run game and overall efficiency on early downs set up success on third downs – and translated to a victory.
In its 44-42 nail-biting win over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, Los Angeles was 11 of 15 on third downs, a season-best efficiency.
"That's our money down," wide receiver Puka Nacua said postgame. "I think, as wide receivers, that's the down I feel like, man, when you sacrifice first and second down and we don't get the first down, that's the opportunity you're waiting for. You go in there and you set your pads right, being able to make sure that when we run the ball on those early downs that we're moving. And then third down becomes your opportunity and you get a big smile on your face like, 'Hey, we're throwing the ball, everybody knows we're throwing the ball, and you go out there and make that play."
According to ESPN Research, that third-down conversion percentage of 73% was their highest in a game since December 2001.
The first drive set the tone for it.
While the first play was a run by Kyren Williams that resulted in a three-yard loss, quarterback Matthew Stafford fired a 12-yard completion to Nacua to set up a 3rd-and-1. Later in the series, Williams broke off runs of seven and 12 yards on consecutive plays to keep the chains moving.
By halftime, L.A. was 5 of 6 on third-down conversions as it jumped out to a 24-14 lead. Only one of those third downs had a distance longer than five yards.
Buffalo's furious second-half rally further underscored the importance of sustaining drives and converting third downs. The Rams needed all 11 conversions en route to the 38 points scored by the offense in the victory.
"I don't know exactly what the numbers will come out as, but we were efficient," head coach Sean McVay said postgame. "We weren't in many negative third down situations, I think that's why we were able to be efficient on third down."
At 3.3 yards per carry, the efficiency in the run game left more to be desired, but it was enough to sustain drives and avoid the early-down pitfalls Los Angeles had experienced for most of the season.
Still, a continued commitment to the run would help this week. L.A.'s Week 15 opponent, San Francisco, has had its challenges defending third downs, and also the run.
The 49ers' defense enters Thursday Night Football allowing the sixth-highest conversion rate by opponents at 43.9%, though those difficulties can be attributed in part to that unit being hit hard by injuries, and also the quality of opponent. The Bills in Week 13 converted 6 of 12 and recorded 372 net yards of offense, with 220 of those yards coming on the ground. The Packers in Week 12 converted 6 of 13 and, similarly, got most of their 325 total net yards from their run game (169 rushing to 156 passing). In Week 14, the Bears converted just 4 of 10 third downs and had 68 net rushing yards out of 162 total net yards.
"I think it was just the mentality coming into this week, knowing the team we were going to play and the offense we were competing against," Williams said. "So we just knew, on our side of the ball offensively, we just got to continue to keep working and continue to get those hard-earned downs and make sure that we're efficient and being able to stay on the field."
