The Rams defeated the New York Jets 19-9 on Sunday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ
What we learned from a win that extended the Rams’ win streak to four games and improved their record to 9-6:
Matthew Stafford wins duel with Aaron Rodgers
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford threw a go-ahead touchdown pass to Tyler Higbee in the fourth quarter to improve his record against Aaron Rodgers to 5-13.
Stafford completed 14 of 19 passes for 110 yards and a touchdown, with one interception.
In the second quarter, safety Tony Adams picked off a pass. The turnover ended Stafford’s career-best streak of five games without an interception.
“I thought Matthew was efficient in the passing game,” coach Sean McVay said.
Stafford, a 16th-year pro, has thrown for 20 touchdowns, including eight interceptions.
Rodgers completed 28 of 42 passes for 256 yards and a touchdown. He lost a fumble that led to Stafford’s touchdown pass to Higbee.
Offensive line continues solid play
For the third straight game, the Rams offensive line didn’t give up a sack.
Left tackle Alaric Jackson, left guard Steve Avila, center Beaux Limmer, right guard Kevin Dotson and right tackle Rob Havenstein kept Stafford upright and paved the way for Kyren Williams to rush for 122 yards in 23 carries.
Williams rushed for more than 100 yards for the second straight game.
“Every time he steps on the grass, he’s a guy who loves to compete,” Stafford said. “We have quite a few guys on offense that like to do it that way. It’s fun to be around him, but when he’s rolling and cooking like today, man, it’s a lot of fun.
Rams defense tough on fourth downs
Rams linebacker Omar Speights and cornerbacks Ahkello Witherspoon and Darious Williams made huge plays that thwarted the Jets’ fourth-down attempts.
In the second quarter, Speights stopped running back Breece Hall for no gain, setting up Williams’ touchdown run.
In the third quarter, Witherspoon broke up a pass intended for Davante Adams in the end zone, giving the Rams the ball for a drive that ended with a field goal.
In the fourth quarter, Darious Williams broke up a pass that set up another field goal.
Cooper Kupp strikes again
Receiver Cooper Kupp bounced back from a no-catch performance against the San Francisco 49ers with three catches for 24 yards against the Jets.
Puka Nacua caught eight passes for 56 yards. Tutu Atwell had one catch for 12 yards and Higbee’s lone catch resulted in the go-ahead goal.
Receiver Demarcus Robinson didn’t have a catch for the second straight game.
Joshua Karty returns from missed PAT
Rams kicker Joshua Karty’s day didn’t start well.
After the Rams scored a touchdown to tie the score, 6-6, Karty missed the extra point attempt.
But Karty came back and kicked field goals from 38 and 45 yards in the fourth quarter.
“It was great to see Josh Karty react the way he did,” McVay said.
Karty has made 23 of 28 field goal attempts and 29 of 33 extra points.
Get the day’s best, most interesting and strangest stories from the LA sports scene and beyond with our newsletter The Sports Report.
This story originally appeared in the Los Angeles Times.
