Los Angeles Rams vs. Cincinnati Bengals Live In-Game Updates: Rams Lose 19-16
The Los Angeles Rams will visit the Cincinnati Bengals for a rematch of Super Bowl LVI and the second game of a Monday Night Football doubleheader.
The story in this one is simple: quarterback Joe Burrow has been hampered with a calf injury all season, so much so that his status was in doubt for the Week 3 contest. He has struggled so far this year, completing 41-of-72 passes for 304 yards, with two scores and an interception.
He’ll be active on Monday, but everybody in the building knows he isn’t operating at 100%. Can defensive lineman Aaron Donald force him off his spot? Creating pressure, similar to the Cleveland Browns in Week 1, is the easiest way to stress Burrow. He likely won’t be driving the ball downfield, either, helping Los Angeles put a cap on an otherwise explosive offense.
As for the Rams’ offense, it’s just about keeping up the momentum. Quarterback Matthew Stafford has looked really good through two games, finding chemistry with young receivers Puka Nacua and Tutu Atwell.
Cincinnati defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo is a savant and has made elite quarterbacks look like shells of themselves before. His ability to match Los Angeles head coach Sean McVay’s innovative offense will be intriguing at the very least.
Unfortunately for the Rams, Stafford’s lone sack of the year may not stand alone for long. The line has given up far more pressures than Stafford’s sack total would suggest. Against a strong front seven, they’ll have to improve upon their early season performance.
Anything less may send this game tumbling towards the under.
WHAT: Los Angeles Rams (1-1) vs Cincinnati Bengals (0-2)
WHERE: Paycor Stadium, Cincinnati, OH (65,515)
WHEN: Monday, Sept. 25, 2023, 5:15 p.m. (PT)
TELEVISION: ESPN
RADIO: ESPNLA 710 AM, Tu Liga Radio 1330 AM
ODDS: Rams +3.5 (-118), +140 Moneyline, Total: 45.5 (o -110/u -110)
Live updates will appear after kickoff.
FIRST QUARTER
Bengals First Drive: Cincinnati received the opening kickoff.
Receiver Tyler Boyd picked up Burrow's first completion on a quick out-breaking route. On third down, he'd go back to Boyd sitting in the soft spot of Los Angeles' zone coverage.
Against tight man coverage on third-and-3, receiver Charlie Jones slipped on a slant, resulting in an incompletion. Kicker Evan McPherson missed a 56-yard attempt on the ensuing fourth down.
Los Angeles will take the football with 11:26 remaining in the first quarter.
Rams First Drive: Stafford's first pass of the day was a completion to tight end Tyler Higbee. Running back Kyren Williams' first rush went for six yards.
Stafford would then find his new best friend, receiver Puka Nacua over the middle for a contested catch.
An end-around from receiver Tutu Atwell caught the Bengals off guard, as he exploded toward the end zone on a 22-yard rush. He was ruled out of bounds inside the 10-yard line. A sack and two incompletions would bring about fourth-and-goal, where kicker Brett Maher hit a 30-yard field goal.
The Rams lead 3-0 with 8:26 remaining in the first quarter.
Bengals Second Drive: Back-to-back false starts would stunt Cincinnati's second possession.
On third-and-11, Burrow was forced to check down to Boyd, who was wrapped up for a gain of four yards. Williams, the back, received the punt at the Rams' 26-yard line.
Rams Second Drive: Williams started the Rams' drive with a short rush. On the next play, Nacua made an impressive one-handed tip to himself for yet another reception.
However, a short pass on third-and-1 would fall incomplete. A punt would give the Bengals possession at their own 21-yard line.
Bengals Third Drive: Cincinnati started this drive operating out of empty for a four-yard completion. A Joe Mixon rush would set up a third-and-four. Burrow's pass fluttered after getting tipped at the line of scrimmage but was still complete to superstar receiver Ja'Marr Chase.
He found Chase again on a quick-hitting pass for another first down.
At the end of the first quarter, Burrow and the Bengals trail by a field goal.
SECOND QUARTER
Burrow opened the second quarter with a new set of downs, immediately checking down to tight end Mitchell Wilcox.
They'd use their first time out to prevent a delay of game penalty with 14:16 remaining in the first half. Boyd caught another short pass but was called for a false start soon after to make it third-and-11. Another Burrow pass went awry, leading to a second McPherson attempt.
He'd make the 49-yarder to tie the game.
The Bengals tied the game, 3-3, with 12:55 remaining in the first half.
Rams Third Drive: A bootleg on first down targeted Nacua, who made a diving catch at the sticks.
Two plays later, Atwell would strike again, beating safety Daxton Hill for a big gain. The 37-yard gain put Los Angeles firmly in the red zone.
After an incompletion and a Williams rush, Stafford targeted Atwell in the back of the end zone, who dropped the ball -- in part due to his small frame.
Maher would retake the lead with a chip shot field goal.
The Rams lead 6-3 with 9:49 remaining in the second quarter.
Bengals Fourth Drive: Los Angeles is making it tough on Cincinnati by making plays on first down. Keeping them behind the sticks and in drop-back situations works in their favor.
On third-and-10, Chase made a heck of a catch on the sideline to move the chains. A Tee Higgins target would be broken up by corner Derion Kendrick on the next play.
Donald found his way into the box score, sacking Burrow to create a third-and-18. Higgins' third-down catch wouldn't cut it. They were forced to punt.
Rams Fourth Drive: Daxton Hill redeemed himself on second down, shooting himself out of a cannon to wrap up Williams in the backfield. Higbee would be tackled short of the line to gain on fourth down. Despite being close to midfield, McVay opted to punt.
Bengals Fifth Drive: Surprise! Another quick pass. The Bengals are going to rely on their playmakers to create explosives out of handoffs and easy completions.
Burrow's first true deep shot of the game sailed out of bounds, leading to another punt. If you have a restless child in your home, get them some warm milk and a reason to watch this offense. They'll be asleep in no time.
Rams Fifth Drive: Stafford was immediately intercepted trying to attempt a trickshot, dropping his arm angle to avoid a defender.
Bengals Sixth Drive: After a ... somewhat fortuitous review, Cincinnati has the ball in a strong position to score.
Burrow threw a nice go route to Higgins, who obliterated his man with an obvious pass interference. It was called back. They went right back to it, but Burrow missed him. On third-and-18, Burrow attempted to hit Chase at the first-down marker but missed badly. You guessed it, another punt. Los Angeles will take over with 2:18 remaining in the half.
Rams Sixth Drive: Nacua made the Rams' first catch out of the two-minute warning. He'd be targeted on the next pass, but Stafford's throw was slightly behind him, leading to an incompletion.
Stafford was obliterated by Hill on a well-timed blitz that had no chance of being picked up. He never saw the young safety coming. A Williams draw play would set up a punt with 1:24 remaining in the half.
Bengals Seventh Drive: A solid punt return got the Bengals to their own 40-yard line. Burrow is laboring but hit Chase at the sticks for a first down on the drive's initial attempt.
Tight end Tanner Hudson made a nice catch up the seam to put Cincinnati in field goal range. This is not to say Burrow will commit a turnover tonight, but these passes are not exactly getting there in a hurry. One may get jumped by an aggressive Rams defensive back.
Burrow took a sack and with no timeouts remaining, was forced to spike the ball, setting up another field goal attempt. McPherson's 53-yard attempt was good. Mercifully, the first half is over.
HALFTIME: The Rams and Bengals are tied 6-6 at the conclusion of the first half.
THIRD QUARTER
Rams Seventh Drive: Los Angeles received the second-half kickoff and opened with a strike up the seam to Higbee.
A creative screen to Williams went for 20 yards. Soon after, a Bengals' sack was called back for a facemask that would set the Rams up in the red zone. Corner Chidobe Awuzie looked shaken up.
Williams was targeted again for an incompletion and the subsequent tip was almost intercepted. He hasn't been the factor in the passing game McVay had complimented this week.
A wide-open touchdown was not to be, as Cincinnati got a timeout off just in time. Immediately after, Stafford was sacked by defensive end Trey Hendrickson.
Maher made the field goal to give the Rams another lead.
The Rams lead 9-6 with 10:37 remaining in the third quarter.
Bengals Eighth Drive: Finally, the Bengals rip off a big run. Mixon started the drive with a chain-moving rush. Perhaps he'll be leaned on more frequently in the second half.
Burrow threw an off-target swing pass with Donald screaming in. He took a big hit and was slow to get up, but stayed in the game. His next pass would almost miss Chase, but the star made a nice catch to corral it for a first down.
Mixon finally made his impact felt, rushing for a 14-yard score. At last, we have a touchdown.
The Bengals lead 13-9 with 5:34 remaining in the third quarter.
Rams Eighth Drive: The Rams strike back! It was nerve-wracking, with Stafford hitching and hitching as pressure closed in, but he completed a deep pass to Van Jefferson.
On the next pass, Stafford was intercepted. The ball appeared to be tipped at the line of scrimmage.
Bengals Ninth Drive: Burrow just made his best throw of the night, hitting Chase on a deep bootleg pass. This is beginning to feel like last week when the San Francisco 49ers' talent just suffocated an inferior roster. Let's see if the Rams can force a turnover.
The drive would eventually stall out, but not before the Bengals were in McPherson's range.
The Bengals lead 16-9 with 3:09 remaining in the third quarter.
Rams Tenth Drive: Stafford found Atwell for a big first down, but backup right guard Tremayne Anchrum Jr. took a costly penalty.
On third-and-16, Los Angeles called a draw play for a handful of yards. Another empty possession.
FOURTH QUARTER
Bengals Tenth Drive: After a handful of rushes and four Burrow pass attempts, Cincinnati was set to go for it on fourth-and-1 from the Rams' 40-yard line. Mixon ran into a wall but found a crease and slithered through for the first down.
There it is! Los Angeles got the takeaway it so badly needed. Burrow was intercepted by cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon. The Rams will take over at their own 20-yard line with 10:21 remaining.
Rams Eleventh Drive: Stafford and the Rams have a chance to tie the game.
Stafford's first throw sailed out of bounds on a go route. Hendrickson got him again on the next play, though, for a big loss. He was sacked again on third down, forcing Los Angeles to punt.
Bengals Eleventh Drive: Cincinnati will take over at the Rams' 41-yard line.
Mixon's first rush of the drive went for negative yardage courtesy of Byron Young. The drive would be halted on an incompletion, but McPherson hit a 54-yard field goal to make it a two-possession lead.
The Bengals lead 19-9 with 7:13 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Rams Twelfth Drive: Stafford targeted Atwell twice to start the drive, to no avail.
Anarumo is cooking up pressure left and right. The Rams are yet to convert on third down. He was sacked again on third down, though offsetting penalties undid the play.
The ensuing pass was a quick-hitter to Atwell. Once again, Los Angeles will punt.
Bengals Twelfth Drive: A few rushes went nowhere and the Bengals elected to punt. The Rams will get the ball with 3:34 remaining.
Rams Thirteenth Drive: Another drive, another failed third down. On fourth-and-3, Stafford scrambled for the first down. At the two-minute warning, the Rams trail by 10.
They came out of the break throwing and Nacua had his largest reception of the night. A few short plays later, Atwell would find his way into the end zone, making it a one-possession game.
The Rams trail 19-16 with 1:03 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Bengals Thirteenth Drive: Cincinnati recovered the onside kick. They'll escape with a victory.
FINAL: The Rams lose to the Bengals, 19-16. They have fallen to 1-2.
