Rams D Dominates as L.A. Dismantles Broncos 51-14: Live Game Log
The L.A. Rams (4-10) host the Denver Broncos (4-10) on Christmas Day at SoFi Stadium, but it's not the matchup the two teams thought it would be at the beginning of the season.
Both teams have been eliminated from postseason contention, and are still searching for answers for 2023 after being plagued by injuries this year.
Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson and Rams linebacker Bobby Wagner spent the better part of 10 seasons playing on the same side in Seattle and will face each other from opposite sidelines for the first time on Sunday.
New Rams signal-caller Baker Mayfield will make his second start at home after joining the team and orchestrating a come-from-behind victory over the Raiders, while Wilson is back in action after missing last week in concussion protocol.
With nothing riding on the outcome other than bragging rights and in the case of a loss, NFL Draft positioning for each team, young players with opportunities due to injuries will attempt to shine, while Mayfield and Wilson will look to get their respective careers back on the rails.
LIVE GAME UPDATES WILL APPEAR HERE AFTER KICKOFF...
The Rams will begin the game with the ball at their own 25.
FIRST QUARTER: Rams 17, Broncos 3
Akers runs for four on first down, then Mayfield hits Atwell for seven and an first down at the LA 36.
Akers funs for eight then runs for 16 on 2nd and 2 to the DEN 40.
Akers runs again for five on first down then Mayfield hits Higbee for four yards to the DEN 31. On 3rd and 1, Akers runs for four to the DEN 27 for a first down.
On 1st and 10 - PENALTY on LA-O.Aboushi, False Start, 5 yards, enforced at DEN 27.
On 1st and 15, Powell runs off left end for no gain, then on 2nd down, Mayfield fumbles the snap and recovers at the DEN 45 for a loss of 13 yards.
On 3rd and 28, Mayfield connects with Higbee for eight yards to the DEN 37.
FIELD GOAL RAMS: On 4th and 20 from the DEN 37, Gay hits from 55 yards for a 3-0 Rams lead with 8:26 left in the first quarter. The scoring drive goes 38 yards in 11 plays and took 6:34 off the clock.
The Broncos take over from their own 25 after the touchback.
Wilson throws incomplete deep to Sutton on first down, then Murray runs off left end for one yard for a third down.
INTERCEPTION RAMS: On 3rd and 9, Wilson throws to Sutton deep on the right side and it's overthrown badly right into the arms of Durant who makes a circus catch for the pick. Durant returned the ball 15 yards to the DEN 34.
Akers runs three yards off right end on first down, then Mayfied hits Hopkins at the the DEN 9 for 22 yards.
TOUCHDOWN RAMS: Mayfield finds Higbee for nine yards in the end zone for a touchdown. Gay's extra point is good for a 10-0 L.A. lead with 6:19 left in the quarter. The scoring drive goes 34 yards in three plays after the interception.
The Broncos will have the ball at their own 25 after the touchback.
Murray plows ahead for four yards on first down, then runs for three more to the DEN 31. PENALTY on DEN-G.Glasgow, Offensive Holding, 10 yards, enforced at DEN 29.
INTERCEPTION RAMS: On 2nd and 16, Wilson throws to Dulcich, intercepted by Bobby Wagner at the DEN 24, and returned 13 yards to the DEN 11.
Mayfield hits Higbee for eight yards to the DEN 3.
TOUCHDOWN RAMS: Akers rushes up the middle for three yards and the touchdown. The Gay extra point is good for a 17-0 Rams lead with 4:45 left in the first quarter. The scoring drive goes 11 yards in two plays after the interception.
The Broncos once again begin a drive from their own 25 after the touchback.
Murray runs on first down for three yards, then Wilson hits Sutton deep down the middle for 20 yards to the DEN 48 for a first down.
On 1st and 10, Wilson is sacked by Murchison for a loss of nine yards, then on second down, Wilson finds Jeudy for 23 yards to the LA 38 and a first down.
Edmonds carries for four yards up the middle on first down. PENALTY on DEN-G.Glasgow, Offensive Holding, 10 yards, enforced at LA 38.
Timeout #1 by DEN at 1:49
On 1st and 20, Edmonds runs left end and pushed out of bounds at the 50 for a loss of two yards. On 2nd and 22, Wilson finds Sutton for a gain of 12 yards, out of bounds at the LA 38.
With a 3rd and 10, Wilson connects with Jeudy for two yards, out of bounds at the LA 36.
FIELD GOAL BRONCOS: McManus is good from 54 yards for a 17-3 Rams lead with 39 seconds left in the first quarter. The scoring drive goes 39 yards in eight plays and took 4:06 off the clock.
The Rams take the ball from their own 25 after the touchback.
Akers runs for a gain of one yard on first down.
END OF THE FIRST QUARTER
SECOND QUARTER: Rams 31, Broncos 6
Mayfield hits Atwell for six yards, then finds Akers for 18 yards to the 50 for a first down.
Mayfield hits Akers again for 12 yards on first down.
Williams runs off left tackle for five yards on first down, then runs for seven more on second down for another first down at the DEN 26.
Mayfield throws to Williams on a screen to the left side for a gain of three, then Mayfield connects to Higbee for 14 more for another first down at the DEN 9.
On 1st and Goal from the nine yard line, Akers runs for two, then Mayfield throws incomplete into the end zone, his first incompletion of the game.
TOUCHDOWN RAMS: Mayfield connects with Higbee for seven yards in the end zone for a touchdown. PENALTY on DEN-R.Gregory, Unsportsmanlike Conduct, 0 yards, enforced between downs. The Gay extra point is good for a 24-3 Rams lead with 9:42 left in the half. The scoring drive goes 75 yards in 11 plays and took 5:57 off the clock.
Gay's kick goes 45 yards from the 50 to the DEN 5, returned 29 yards to the DEN 34 by McCutcheon.
Murray runs off left tackle to the DEN 44 for 10 yards, then runs for four more. On 2nd and 6, Murray runs for seven more and a first down.
Wilson throws incomplete on first down, then again on second down for a 3rd and 10. Wilson is sacked for a loss of nine yards by Murchison.
The Waitman punt goes 44 yards to the LA 10, fair caught by Powell.
Akers runs off right end to the LA 15 for five yards, then throws incomplete to Higbee. On 3rd and 5, Mayfield connects with Hopkins for 16 yards to the LA 31.
Powell runs off left end for three yards to the LA 34,
Timeout #1 by LA at 5:08
Mayfield throws to Powell for eight yards then again for five yards to the LA 47. Mayfield then hits Jefferson for four yards, then Akers plows ahead for five yards and a first down on 3rd and 1.
Timeout #2 by LA at 2:47
Mayfield hits Higbee at the DEN 23 for 21 yards, then on second down PENALTY on DEN-B.Browning, Encroachment, 5 yards, enforced at DEN 23.
TWO-MINUTE WARNING
On 1st and 5, Akers runs for four then Mayfield hits Higbee for 12 yards to the DEN 2.
Timeout #2 by DEN at 1:10
TOUCHDOWN RAMS: Akers runs up the middle for two yards and a touchdown. The Gay extra point is good for a 31-3 Rams lead with 1:06 left in the half. The scoring drive goes 90 yards in 12 plays and took 6:06 off the clock.
Denver takes over from its own 25.
Wilson hits Dulcich for 11 then Wilson is sacked by Bobby Wagner for a loss of four yards.
Timeout #3 by DEN at 00:40
Wilson scrambles right for 15 yards, the throws incomplete to Dulcich. On 2nd and 10 Wilson misses Jeudy deep on the left side for a 3rd and 10 with 16 seconds.
Wilson connects with Jeudy who runs out of bounds at the LA 31 with one second left.
FIELD GOAL BRONCOS: McManus is good from 49 yards for a 31-6 Rams lead. The scoring drive goes 44 yards in seven plays and took 1:06 off the clock.
HALFTIME
THIRD QUARTER: Rams 34, Broncos 6
Denver starts the half with the ball at its own 25.
On first down, Wilson passed short to Dulcich to the DEN 34 for nine yards. Los Angeles Rams challenged the runner was down by contact ruling, and the play was Upheld. The ruling on the field stands.
On 2nd and 1, Murray runs off right tackle for four yards and a first down.
Wilson throws to Jeudy for a gain of 18 yards and another first down.
Murray runs up the middle to the LA 48. PENALTY on DEN-B.Turner, Offensive Holding, 10 yards, enforced at LA 44.
Wilson connects with Jeudy again, this time for 16 more yards to the LA 38.
INTERCEPTION RAMS: Wilson passes deep right side in the end zone for Dulcich, picked off by Ramsey for the touchback.
Akers runs up the middle for four then for 10 more and a first down.
On 1st and 10 from the 24, Akers gallups for 21 more yards to the DEN 45.
Akers gets stuffed for no gain on first down, then Mayfield connects with Jefferson for 11 yards and another first down.
Akers runs up the middle again for five yards, then Mayfield scrambles to the left side for three more for a 3rd and 2 from the DEN 27.
Mayfield connects with Brown for a gain of two and a 4th and 1.
FOURTH DOWN CONVERSION RAMS: On 4th and 1, Brown runs up the middle for two yards and a first down.
On 1st and 10, Mayfield throws incomplete to Higbee in the right flat, then finds Higbee for his ninth catch of the game for 10 yards and a first down.
Akers runs for one yard on first down, then gets another yard on second down for a 3rd and 8 from the DEN 10.
On 3rd and 8 Mayfield hits Powell for no gain on a screen play.
FIELD GOAL RAMS: Gay is good from 30 yards for a 34-6 Rams lead with 3:49 left in the quarter. The scoring drive goes 68 yards in 15 plays and took 9:08 off the clock.
The Rams have scored on all six possessions
Mayfield has only three incompletions all-day
No giveaways, no sacks allowed
One penalty was committed by the Rams for five yards
Denver starts at its 25 after the touchback.
Wilson passes incomplete to Jeudy then is sacked for six yards by Murchison and Hoecht. On 3rd and 16, Wilson is sacked (No. 6 on the day) for three yards by Hoecht.
The Waitman punt goes 56 yards to the LA 28, returned by Powell out of bounds at the LA 40 for 12 yards, first down Rams with 2:18 left in the quarter.
Akers runs off left guard for eight yards to the LA 48, Mayfield passes short left side to Hopkins for 19 yards and a first down to the DEN 33.
Williams runs for no gain on first down.
END OF THE THIRD QUARTER
FOURTH QUARTER: Rams 51, Broncos 14
Mayfield passes incomplete to Jefferson, then on 3rd and 10, Brown runs up the middle for 17 yards for a first down.
Akers runs for three, then Mayfield hits Jefferson for four more.
On 3rd and 3, Mayfield passes incomplete. PENALTY on DEN-R.Gregory, Roughing the Passer, 5 yards, enforced at DEN 9. - First down Rams
TOUCHDOWN RAMS: Akers runs for four yards off left end for a touchdown. The Gay extra point is good for a 41-6 Rams lead with 12:31 left in the game. The scoring drive goes 60 yards in eight plays and took 4:47 off the clock.
The Broncos start from their own 25.
Wilson is sacked on for a loss 10 yards (sack No. 7) on first down, then hits Murray for seven to the DEN 21.
On 3rd and 14, Wilson passes to Sutton for 15 yards and a first down.
Wilson hits Dulcich for eight yards then Murray runs for one for a 3rd and 1 from the DEN 45.
Wilson sneaks up the middle for one yard and a first down. LA-L.Murchison was injured during the play.
On 1st and 10, Wilson passes incomplete to Murray, then on second down, Wilson finds Sutton for six more. On 3rd and 4, Wilson throws incomplete to the right side.
FOURTH DOWN CONVERSION BRONCOS: On 4th and 4 at the LA 47, Mayfield hits Jeudy at the LA 11 for 36 yards and a first down.
Wilson throws incomplete to Jeudy.
TOUCHDOWN BRONCOS: Wilson hits Ducich for 11 yards and the touchdown. TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. R.Wilson pass to C.Sutton is incomplete. ATTEMPT FAILS. PENALTY on LA-J.Ramsey, Defensive Pass Interference, 1 yard, enforced at LA 2. TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. R.Wilson pass to G.Dulcich is incomplete. ATTEMPT FAILS. PENALTY on LA-T.Hill, Defensive Holding, 0 yards, enforced at LA 1. TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. L.Murray rushes up the middle. ATTEMPT SUCCEED for a 41-14 Rams lead with 8:30 left in the game. The scoring drive goes 75 yards in 12 plays and took 4:01 off the clock.
The Rams start at the DEN 41 after a failed onside kick attempt. Williams runs off right tackle for a loss of two yards, then gains five on second down. On 3rd and 7 from the DEN 35, Williams runs for three more.
FIELD GOAL RAMS: On 4th and 4 from the DEN 35, Gay's 53-yard field goal is good for a 44-14 Rams lead with 5:52 left in the game. The scoring drive goes six yards in four plays and took 2:14 off the clock.
Denver starts the next drive from its own 25 as Brett Rypien comes in at QB for the Broncos.
Rypien passes short middle to Edmonds for three yards then hits Swain for 11 and a first down.
Edmonds runs up the middle for seven yards then Rypien hits Edmonds for 19 yards to the LA 35.
INTERCEPTION - TOUCHDOWN RAMS: On 4th and 10, Rypien throws short right for Swain, intercepted by Durant (his second of the day) at the LA 15, and returned 85 yards for the touchdown. The Gay extra point is good for a 51-14 Rams lead with 4:08 left in the game.
Denver starts at its 25 again.
Mack runs right guard for seven yards, then again for another seven yards and a first down.
Mack runs for four yards, then Edmonds breaks one off right tackle for 25 yards to the LA 32 for a first down.
TWO-MINUTE WARNING
Edmonds runs for no gain, then again for three yards. On 3rd and 7, Edmonds runs up the middle for a loss of two yards.
TURNOVER ON DOWNS to RAMS: On 4th and 9 from the LA 31, Mack runs off right end for four yards. First down Rams.
Perkins kneels to end the game.
END OF GAME
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