Los Angeles quarterback Matthew Stafford threw five touchdown passes to lead the Rams to a 35–7 rout of the Jacksonville Jaguars in London — the first time an NFL international game has featured a five-touchdown passing performance.
By Earl Heath | Contributing Sports Writer
Los Angeles quarterback Matthew Stafford threw five touchdown passes to lead the Rams to a 35–7 rout of the Jacksonville Jaguars in London — the first time an NFL international game has featured a five-touchdown passing performance.
With the win, the Rams improved to 5–2, their best start since their Super Bowl-winning season in 2021.
The last time Stafford threw five touchdowns in a game was Thanksgiving Day 2015, when he led Detroit to a 45–14 win over Philadelphia. This time, he had little trouble dissecting Jacksonville’s defense at the iconic home of English soccer, connecting with wide receiver Davante Adams for three scores.
Stafford, who has tossed 12 touchdowns with no interceptions over his past four games, also found rookie receiver Kanmata Mumpfield and rookie tight end Terrance Ferguson for touchdowns. His chemistry with Adams proved crucial with standout receiver Puka Nacua sidelined by an ankle injury.
“We saw a few opportune moments to go and take advantage of some one-on-ones,” Adams said. He added that he and Stafford had been exchanging text messages in recent weeks “talking through certain things.”
Adams became just the second player to score three touchdowns in an international game. The first was former Long Beach Poly and UCLA star Marcedes Lewis, who had three in Jacksonville’s 44–7 win over the Ravens at Wembley Stadium in 2017.
Adams caught two touchdowns in the first half, then added a third on a one-yard jump ball that sent many Jaguars fans to the exits.
Stafford finished 21 of 33 passing for 182 yards. Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence completed 23 of 48 for 296 yards and a touchdown to Hunter.
“It’s a blast,” said the 37-year-old Stafford, reflecting on his fifth trip overseas. “Sometimes travel is tough, but once you get out here, the fans are great, people are great.”
The Jaguars struggled mightily, allowing seven sacks and committing 13 penalties for 119 yards.
“I’m not going to stand up here and blame these players — it starts with me,” said Jaguars head coach Liam Coen. “You wouldn’t have guessed that we were here for a week, prepared and ready to play in this atmosphere, based on how we started.”
The Rams head into a bye week before hosting the New Orleans Saints at SoFi Stadium on Nov. 2. The Jaguars will also have a bye before traveling to face the Las Vegas Raiders that same weekend.