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 I of a week-by-week look at how the Rams were able to accomplish that record, through the team and players accomplishing key milestones.

Week 1: Rams 33 - Raiders 13

• The Rams picked up their first Monday Night Football win since 2004 against the Raiders in Week 1.
• In a strong second-half performance by the Rams defense, cornerback Marcus Peters picked off his first pass as a Ram in his hometown of Oakland. The Rams shut out quarterback Derek Carr and the Raiders in the second half of the primetime game. Carr finished his night throwing three interceptions with no touchdowns.
• Week 1 in Oakland was defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh's 100th professional game.

Week 2: Rams 34 - Cardinals 0

• The defense continued Week 2 in the L.A. Memorial Coliseum against former Rams quarterback Sam Bradford and the Arizona Cardinals. The Rams shut out the Cardinals for the second time in three meetings in front of the home crowd — capping six-straight scoreless quarters since halftime in Oakland.
• Defensive tackle Aaron Donald came up empty in the sack category for the second week in a row, but did tie a franchise record for most tackles for loss, matching former Rams defensive end Chris Long's total (73).
• The Rams were without kicker Greg Zuerlein due to a last-minute injury, so punter Johnny Hekker assumed kicking duties. Hekker made the first field goal of his career in Week 2 — a 20 yarder midway through the second quarter.

Week 3: Rams 35 - Chargers 23

• The Rams defeated the cross-town Chargers in their inaugural meeting as L.A.'s NFL franchises.
• Quarterback Jared Goff fell just one-yard short of his career high in passing yards entering Week 3 by spreading the wealth between his array of offensive weapons. Goff hit four different receivers for at least 50 yards.

Week 4: Rams 38 - Vikings 31

• In an early bid for game of the year, the Rams topped the Vikings in the club's second primetime game of the season. Thursday Night Football belonged to Goff in Week 4, as the third-year quarterback out dueled Minnesota's Kirk Cousins en route to a career high 465 yards passing and five touchdowns. Goff finished his career night with a perfect 158.3 passer rating and capped a three-game run of at least 350 yards passing with a 75 percent completion rate — becoming the first QB in NFL history to ever do so. Goff also became the first Rams quarterback to throw for 400 yards since Marc Bulger in 2005. It was the first time a Rams passer had thrown five touchdowns since Kurt Warner did it in 1999.
• The Rams did not go three-and-out between the opening drive of Week 1 and the third offensive drive against the Vikings. Wide receiver Cooper Kupp finished his Week 4 with a career high in receiving yards. The second-year receiver caught nine passes for 162 yards.
• Donald had two tackles for loss in the game — giving him the most in Rams franchise history (75).

Week 5: Rams 33 - Seahawks 31

• The Rams beat the Seahawks in the first divisional road test of the season, behind three touchdowns by running back Todd Gurley, a go-ahead 39-yard field goal by kicker Cairo Santos, and a critical quarterback sneak from Goff.
• Left guard Rodger Saffold played in his 100th game in Seattle and Donald earned his eighth-career sack on Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson. Donald has sacked Wilson more than any other quarterback.

Week 6: Rams 23 - Broncos 20

• The Rams squeaked past the Broncos Week 6 in an unseasonably cold Denver afternoon and it was all Gurley for the L.A. offense. The All-Pro back took 28 carries for 208 yards and two touchdowns a mile above sea level. Gurley set a new career high rushing in Denver. Gurley's previous career-day rushing came Week 15 a season ago, when he rushed for 152 yards against the Seahawks wrapping up his AP Offensive Player of the Year season.

Week 7: Rams 39 - 49ers 10

• Los Angeles finished its mid-season, three-game road stint in San Francisco with a win, starting 7-0 for the first time since 1985. Gurley continued his hot streak against the Niners, logging two touchdowns rushing and one receiving. No. 30 became the first player to score 14 touchdowns in seven games since former Chiefs running back Priest Holmes did it in 2002.
• The Rams were busy getting to quarterback C.J. Beathard in San Francisco's fourth game without quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. Donald sacked Beathard 4.0 times in Week 7 — a career high for the interior rusher.

Week 8: Rams 29 Packers 27

• The Rams returned home for a showdown against the Packers and quarterback Aaron Rodgers in Week 8 and Gurley continued to make his case in the quarterback-dominated NFL MVP race. The former Georgia Bulldog rushed for 114 yards and had one touchdown reception in the win. Gurley's touchdown gave him the franchise record for most TDs through the first eight games of the season. The score also meant 11-straight regular season games with a touchdown for Gurley — which tied former Rams rusher Elroy Hirsch's record set back in 1951.
• The Rams were 8-0 for the first time since 1969.