By Earl Heath | Contributing Sports Writer
The Los Angeles Rams put together a strong second-half performance to secure their third consecutive victory, holding off the Washington Commanders 20-13 before a crowd of 60,114.
Wide receiver Puka Nacua caught 14 passes from quarterback Matthew Stafford for 150 yards and a touchdown, while the Rams’ defense received a major boost from the return of defensive star Myles Garrett, who recorded three sacks and forced a fumble.
The victory improved Los Angeles to 5-4, moving the Rams above .500 for the first time this season.
“I thought our guys did a great job of being able to find a way,” head coach Sean McVay said. “There was a lot of opportunities that we missed offensively to make plays, extend drives, but they did enough. I love the way that Matthew responded after the turnover where he leads us down the field — had a bunch of gutsy conversions.”
McVay also praised Stafford’s ability to bounce back and continue trusting his receivers.
“He was awesome,” McVay said. “That’s one of the things that we want to be able to show as coaches, is show confidence to come right back to you. He made a bunch of plays. We needed all 14 of those catches.”
Nacua delivered when the Rams needed him most. He climbed the ladder in the corner of the end zone to haul in a 7-yard touchdown reception early in the fourth quarter, breaking a 13-13 tie.
However, the victory came at a cost. Nacua suffered multiple injuries to his right leg and foot, including MCL and PCL strains and turf toe. McVay told reporters that the injuries occurred on the Rams’ final offensive play against Washington, when Nacua took a hard hit on a jet sweep. He is expected to miss several weeks and could be placed on injured reserve.
“It’s been something that we’ve been calling on our offense, to be able to execute on those critical downs,” Nacua said. “Obviously, still putting the defense out there at the end in that fourth quarter is something that we want to try to avoid, but when we’re getting points in the red zone, it feels a lot better. Something that we can continue to improve upon.”
Garrett also provided a major lift in his return to the lineup. The All-Pro defensive end had missed seven games with a knee injury after being sidelined since the season-opening loss to the 49ers in Australia. He looked active and fresh, making his presence felt throughout the game.
Defense Closes the Door
After a sluggish first half, the Rams’ offense began moving the football more consistently, with Nacua leading the way.
Meanwhile, Garrett and the defense tightened their grip on the game. Despite playing without two cornerbacks, Los Angeles forced Washington to punt or turn the ball over on five consecutive drives.
The Commanders finally broke that scoreless stretch when Nick Cross intercepted Stafford. Washington managed only nine yards on four plays before settling for a field goal.
Quarterback Jayden Daniels, a San Bernardino native, threw for 274 yards, but Washington struggled to generate enough offense. The Commanders (2-6-1) were also without Treylon Burks and lost top receiver Terry McLaurin for the season, leaving their passing attack inconsistent.
Two Washington possessions in the final minutes ended without points, including a lateral play that ended as time expired.
“Frustrating game,” Commanders coach Dan Quinn said. “Once again, we have not nailed our complementary football and I’ll keep saying it until we do. We’re halfway through the season, and that all has to click. After stops, I don’t think we capitalized.”
Injury Concerns Could Challenge Rams
While the victory was important, Los Angeles also suffered two significant injuries.
Guard Steve Avila left the game with a hamstring injury and did not return. Avila has been enjoying the best season of his career according to Pro Football Focus metrics, posting a 75.2 overall grade. He has allowed just 12 pressures and no sacks this season.
His absence could be significant for an offensive line that has been one of the Rams’ strengths.
Nacua’s potential absence presents another major challenge. His 14-catch performance demonstrated just how important he has become to Stafford and the passing game.
The Rams will look to build on their three-game winning streak while monitoring the health of two key contributors. The defense’s strong finish and the offense’s second-half improvement provide plenty of encouragement, but keeping the roster healthy will be critical as the season moves forward.