Los Angeles Rams (9-4) – New England Patriots (6-7) : 24-3
There was no game on Thursday. Or not for long. The Patriots hoped to get back into the game at the end of the first quarter when Myles Bryant intercepted Jared Goff (16/25, 137 yards, 1 TD, 1 int) and returned the ball into the end zone thinking of closing the gap to three lengths. But the referees ruled that Bryant was on the ground right after the interception and so the action was over by then. The ball is therefore good for New England, but without the points. The problem ? It is because the attack was not able to go into the end zone itself during this match.
On the following series, Cam Newton (9/16, 119 yards, 1 int, 4 sacks) is intercepted in turn, and this time Kenny Young file to score 79 yards away to give the Rams the 17-0 advantage. The part is already folded while we are only at the beginning of the second quarter.
TO THE HOUSE. Pick-6 for Kenny Young #RamsHouse
????: #NEvsLAR on NFLN/FOX/PRIME VIDEO
????: https://t.co/W5bCPYgMfo pic.twitter.com/HtraEJ9ivy— NFL (@NFL) December 11, 2020
The action is the symbol of the offensive sinking of New England. Constantly harassed by Aaron Donald (1.5 sacks), Michael Brockers (2 sacks) and a Rams defense in great shape, Newton was once again struggling. Even when he didn’t have a blue jersey on his back, his passes sometimes flew inaccurately. Sacked 4 times and defeated, the former MVP ended up giving up his place in the last quarter, when the score was already 24-3. Jarrett Stidham (5/7, 27 yards) was also sent twice to the ground.
Perhaps even more impressive, Los Angeles limited the Patriots’ excellent ground play to 107 yards in 29 carries, or 3.7 yards per attempt. A very high level defensive performance.
Cam Akers, the revelation
As the Patriots sank, Cam Akers chose this game to reveal himself. With 171 yards in 29 races, the rookie was the driving force behind his team’s attack. From the first quarter, he set the tone by accumulating more than 80 lengths. He had the biggest performance on the floor for a rookie this season and established himself as the leader of his team’s running committee.
Under these conditions, Jared Goff (16/25, 137 yards, 1 TD, 1 int) only had to manage. The quarterback scored on a sneak in the fourth attempt on the game’s first offense. Then he found Cooper Kupp (5 rec, 33 yards, 1 TD) for the 24-3 touchdown in the third quarter. Kupp and Robert Woods (5 rec, 32 yards) did not blacken the stats sheet, but they did help by placing blocks for the ground game.
The loss appears to put the Patriots out of the race for the playoffs. They now have two victories behind the Colts, the last qualifier at the moment. With three games remaining, the task promises to be almost impossible.
Conversely, the Rams are at the top of the NFC South with a defense that offers them a promising future.
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