The Rams entered the 2018 season with high expectations, and met them during the regular season to go 13-3 — winning back-to-back NFC West titles for the first time since 1978 and 1979. Here's Part II of a week-by-week look at the top play from each game.
Week 9: Saints 45 - Rams 35
The Rams lost for the first time Week 9 in New Orleans, but didn't go down without a fight. Quarterback Jared Goff found running back Malcolm Brown up the left sideline in a third-quarter push to cut into New Orleans' lead. Goff hit Brown in space, putting the back in position to tiptoe in the green while avoiding Saints defenders before reaching for the pylon. Brown stayed in bounds and scored his only touchdown of the season.
Week 10: Rams 36 - Seahawks 31
The Rams acquired outside linebacker Dante Fowler Jr. just before Week 9 in New Orleans, and the edge rusher didn't take long to make an impact. In his new team's second go around against the Seahawks, Fowler introduced himself to the L.A. Memorial Coliseum's crowd by zooming around the Seattle front and strip-sacking quarterback Russell Wilson, generating a clutch fourth-quarter takeaway that the offense turned into points.
Week 11: Rams 54 - Chiefs 51
The Rams and Chiefs produced an absolute gem of a football game Week 11 in Los Angeles. The Rams and Chiefs combined to score 14 touchdowns on primetime, but no score was bigger than Goff's go-ahead dime to striding second-year tight end Gerald Everett. Goff's 40-yard shot to Everett was the game's seventh and final lead change, as things had begun to look bleak for the Rams with just enough time left on the game clock, and quarterback Patrick Mahomes watching from the sideline after throwing six touchdown passes. Goff finished the highest-scoring game in Monday Night Football's history with 413 yards passing and four touchdowns. Everett caught two of Goff's TDs.
Week 13: Rams 30 - Lions 16
The Rams returned from the Week 12 bye to beat the Lions in Detroit, and defensive tackle Aaron Donald had a lot to do with it. The league's leader in sacks brought down quarterback Matthew Stafford twice in the win — including a big fourth-quarter strip-sack that gave the Rams the ball back, up by just three points. Gurley scored on the ensuing drive, then scored again as the Rams clinched the NFC West for the second-straight season.
Week 14: Bears 15 - Rams 6
Los Angeles dropped its second game of the season in Week 14 in Chicago, despite opening the game with an impressive takeaway. Cornerback Marcus Peters ended the Bears' opening drive early, picking off quarterback Mitchell Trubisky and returning it 48 yards into Bears territory. Peters' pick was the first of three Rams interceptions against the young QB and the third of the corner's 2018.
Week 15: Eagles 30 - Rams 23
L.A.'s second week in a row on Sunday Night Football featured another big interception and return by a Rams defensive back, but in Week 15 it was cornerback Aqib Talib. Talib muscled position from tight end Zach Ertz as the Eagles were up 30-13 and knocking, picked off quarterback Nick Foles, and returned it 30 yards toward Eagles territory. Talib's first interception of the season sparked a bit of a fourth-quarter comeback, but the Rams fell short and lost back-to-back games for the first time under head coach Sean McVay.
Week 16: Rams 31 - Cardinals 9
Running back C.J. Anderson stepped in for Gurley in the desert in Week 16 and the Los Angeles offense got back on track. Anderson took 20 carries for 167 yards and one touchdown against the Cardinals in his debut. His longest carry was a 46-yard burst that vaulted the Rams from deep in their own territory. Anderson went on to post another game of at least 130 yards rushing in the regular-season finale as Gurley watched from the sidelines with a knee injury.
Week 17: Rams 48 - 49ers 32
The Rams closed out the regular season with a win over the 49ers — competing a sweep of the NFC West and clinching a first-round playoff bye. The win came as result of another strong performance by the Los Angeles defense, particularly linebacker Cory Littleton. Littleton finished the game with two interceptions against quarterback Nick Mullens — the second of which he took 19-yards to the house for his first-career touchdown and L.A.'s fourth takeaway of the first half.
