Owings Mills, Md. — It wasn’t pretty, but the Los Angeles Rams found a way.
After a sloppy first half filled with penalties, missed opportunities, and an injury scare to star receiver Puka Nacua, the Rams regrouped behind Matthew Stafford and a stingy defense to pull away from the undermanned Baltimore Ravens for a 17–3 victory on Sunday.
For a team that’s lost two heartbreakers this season — one in overtime at San Francisco and another on a blocked field goal against Philadelphia — the Rams (4–2) were simply happy to win ugly.
“We moved the ball really well last week and came up short,” Stafford said. “This one wasn’t perfect by any stretch, but a win’s a win. It feels good to finish it off.”
A Slow Start Turns the Tide
The first half was a grind. The Ravens (1–5), playing without injured quarterback Lamar Jackson for a second straight week, managed only a field goal on their opening drive.
The Rams, meanwhile, missed a 26-yard field goal, committed a turnover, and watched Nacua limp off with a foot injury before halftime. Still, Los Angeles’ defense came up big — stopping Baltimore on four straight plays from inside the 4-yard line to preserve a 3–3 tie.
That defensive stand proved to be the turning point.
Stafford, Williams Spark Second-Half Surge
Out of the locker room, the Rams finally found rhythm. Kyren Williams powered in from 3 yards out to give Los Angeles its first lead early in the third quarter. Moments later, Zay Flowers fumbled deep in Ravens territory, and Stafford capitalized with an 8-yard touchdown strike to Tyler Higbee, stretching the lead to 17–3.
From there, Baltimore’s offense unraveled.
With Jackson sidelined by a hamstring injury, Cooper Rush struggled mightily — completing just 11 of 19 passes for 72 yards, with one interception and one fumble — before being replaced by Tyler Huntley in the fourth quarter. Huntley led a late drive to the red zone, but the Ravens turned it over on downs with 3:44 remaining.
“We can still accomplish what we want to accomplish,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh insisted. “But we’ve got to execute better and stop hurting ourselves.”
Misfires and Missed Kicks
Rams kicker Joshua Karty hit the upright on a 26-yarder in the first quarter, and though he later connected from 36 yards, the attempt was shaky enough for coach Sean McVay to pass on a short field goal late in the game.
“Protection was fine, we’ve just got to make the kick,” McVay said. “He hit the next one, but it wasn’t clean — the snap was a little high.”
Despite the miscues, McVay was upbeat afterward, even apologizing mid-press conference for a snappy response to a question about Nacua’s injury. “It’s been a long week,” he joked.
Nacua and running back Blake Corum, who both exited briefly in the second quarter with ankle and foot injuries, returned in the second half.
Injury Updates:
Ravens: LT Ronnie Stanley (ankle) returned from a one-game absence but exited before halftime. Rookie edge rusher Tavius Robinson left with a broken foot.
Rams: RB Blake Corum (ankle) and WR Puka Nacua (foot) both returned after short absences.
Up Next:
Rams: Travel to London to face the Jacksonville Jaguars next Sunday.
Ravens: Head into a bye week before hosting the Chicago Bears on Oct. 26.
