INGLEWOOD, CA. — On the eve of their game, Rams rookie Jared Verse walked into what he thought was an empty team meeting room. For a moment, he feared he’d missed curfew — until he realized his teammates were crowded around hotel TVs, watching the Los Angeles Dodgers pull off a Game 7 rally to clinch their second straight World Series title.
A night later, the Rams followed that championship example with a dominant display of their own.
Matthew Stafford threw four touchdown passes — two to Davante Adams — and Los Angeles cruised to a 34–10 victory over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday at SoFi Stadium, their third straight decisive win.
“Watching the Dodgers do their thing, it fired us up,” Verse said. “They brought a title back to L.A., and now we’re trying to do the same.”
Stafford, Adams Lead the Charge
Stafford, in his 17th NFL season, looked as sharp as ever. He completed 24 of 32 passes for 281 yards and didn’t throw an interception, marking the 19th time in his career he’s tossed at least four touchdown passes.
Adams caught two of them — short slants of 3 yards each — giving him 111 career touchdown receptions, tying him with Tony Gonzalez for eighth on the all-time list.
Puka Nacua, returning from an ankle injury, provided the fireworks, catching seven passes for 95 yards, including a stunning 39-yard touchdown in tight coverage. Tyler Higbee added a score, and Kyren Williams became the Rams’ first 100-yard rusher this season, finishing with 114 yards and a touchdown.
“It was one of those days where everything clicked,” Stafford said. “We were feeding off the energy from the city — the Dodgers win, the crowd, the whole vibe.”
Rams’ Defense Stifles Saints Again
The Rams (6–2) combined that offensive precision with another smothering defensive effort, limiting the Saints to 224 total yards. Over their last three games, Los Angeles has allowed just 20 total points, the franchise’s best three-game defensive stretch since 2018.
The only real blemish came late in the first half, when rookie Tyler Shough — making his first NFL start — led a quick 71-yard drive in 47 seconds, capping it with an 11-yard touchdown pass to Juwan Johnson with seven seconds left before halftime.
Outside of that flash, New Orleans (1–8) struggled mightily. The Saints managed only three offensive snaps in the first 17 minutes of the second half as the Rams dominated time of possession, holding the ball for nearly 38 minutes and running 75 plays to New Orleans’ 51.
“We didn’t give ourselves a chance,” Saints coach Kellen Moore said. “They controlled everything — tempo, field position, clock. That’s on us.”
A City Riding the Wave
Even before kickoff, Dodger Blue energy lingered in the building. After Higbee’s opening-drive touchdown, the tight end mimed a baseball swing — a playful nod to the Dodgers’ “Dragon Ball Z” home-run celebration that’s become a citywide phenomenon.
Coach Sean McVay appreciated the crossover spirit.
“Happy for them, man,” McVay said. “They inspire us. Hopefully we can keep it rolling and add another trophy to L.A.”
Notes and Injuries
Puka Nacua briefly left in the third quarter after taking a hit to his ribs on a jet sweep but later returned to the sideline and said he could have gone back in if needed.
Rams kicker Joshua Karty missed a 39-yard field goal in the second quarter, his fifth miss or block of the season, to go with three missed extra points.
Shough finished 15 of 24 for 176 yards, one touchdown, and one interception in his debut, showing flashes despite the team’s struggles.
Up Next:
Saints: Travel to Carolina on Sunday.
Rams: Visit the San Francisco 49ers, looking to keep pace atop the NFC West.
