McVay Credits Rams' Defense with Fueling Offense in Win vs. Seahawks
The Los Angeles Rams took to the road to pull off an upset on Sunday. They opened up their season with a 30-13 win over the Seattle Seahawks and did so without the services of superstar receiver Cooper Kupp.
Week 1’s win was a tale of two halves. Los Angeles headed to halftime down 13-7. In the second half, they outscored Seattle 17-6, holding them to just 12 yards. At one point, the second-half yardage differential was as vast as 259 to 3.
Clearly, Rams head coach Sean McVay made the proper adjustments during the intermission, but his comments after the game revealed how Los Angeles was able to control the second half.
“The three defensive captains, with Ernest Jones, with Aaron Donald, and with Jordan Fuller, they did a great job,” McVay said. “But it was about the whole group’s effort today … It was why the offense was able to really get going because they felt they were just getting the ball back.”
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That complementary football put the Rams into motion. The defense allowed just one first down across Seattle’s four second-half drives. There was simply no counter punch from a Seahawks offense that was projected to pick apart an inexperienced Los Angeles secondary.
The Rams weren’t perfect offensively, but they didn’t have to be. Every unsuccessful drive was met with a swift defensive stop that put quarterback Matthew Stafford back under center. Naturally, Los Angeles controlled the pace of the latter 30 minutes.
“I felt it was imperative that offensively we were able to control possession,” McVay said. “I want to say we almost had 40 minutes of possession … that’s usually critical and key to success.”
Putting up 30 points on the road is never easy in the NFL, but Stafford can thank his defense for assisting in his 334-yard passing performance. They continued to add to the deficit, and Seattle crumbled as the disadvantage put them in increasingly desperate situations.
They were more physical on both sides of the ball, and it showed. For McVay and the Rams, Sunday was teach tape for how to embarrass a division rival in their own building.
Los Angeles will look to take that momentum into Week 2, when they face the fellow NFC West-leading San Francisco 49ers.
