What you need to know
Highlights from the Rams’ victory over the Colts on Sunday
The Rams stayed unbeaten on the young season with a 27-24 victory over the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday. The game had plenty of big moments — and here’s a breakdown of all the big highlights from the contest.
Cooper Kupp started off his big day when he connected with Matthew Stafford on a 16-yard touchdown pass with 3:18 left in the first quarter:
In the second, quarter, Troy Reeder picked off a Carson Wentz pass in the red zone:
A two-yard touchdown carry by Darrell Henderson extended the Rams’ lead to 17-6 early in the third quarter:
Rams defensive tackle Sebastian Joseph-Day records a big sack on Colts quarterback Carson Wentz on a critical third-and-nine in the third quarter:
Kupp picks up his second touchdown of the game on a 10-yard pass from Stafford in the fourth quarter:
A late-game interception by Jalen Ramsey seals the deal for the Rams late in the game:
Jalen Ramsey intercepts pass of Wentz replacement to seal 27-24 victory
With Carson Wentz sidelined by an apparent foot injury, Jacob Eason entered the game for the Colts. On his second pass, he was picked off by Jalen Ramsey and the Rams went to the two-minute warning with the ball and the three-point lead.
The Rams went three-and-out but were able to drain the clock, pinning the Colts on their own 10 with 24 seconds left.
Sony Michel piles up yards on drive that gives Rams late lead
We have a Sony Michel sighting.
Matt Gay kicked a 38-yard field goal to give the Rams a small cushion just ahead of the two-minute warning.
The Rams drove 55 yards in 12 plays to take the lead.
Michel got his first significant opportunity of the day because Darrell Henderson suffered a rib injury.
Michel carried seven times for 41 yards during the drive.
Rams 27, Colts 24, two-minute warning
Colts drive 58 yards for game-tying field goal midway through fourth
Rodrigo Blankenship kicked a 35-yard field goal to tie the score at 24.
Carson Wentz’s 34-yard pass to tight end Jack Doyle moved the ball to the Rams’ 25-yard line before the drive stalled.
Wentz barely escaped a sack on an incomplete third-down pass and then limped off the field. He threw his helmet to the ground and then sat on the bench and grabbing his right foot.
Rams 24, Colts 24, 7:25 left in fourth quarter
Rams reclaim lead less than two minutes after losing it
Rams receiver Cooper Kupp is having quite a game.
Kupp caught a 44-yard pass from Matthew Stafford, and then finished a four-play drive drive with a 10-yard touchdown catch to put the Rams back in the lead.
Kupp has eight catches for 160 yards and two touchdowns.
Stafford has completed 16 of 26 passes for 254 yards and two touchdowns, with an interception.
Rams 24, Colts 21, 12:11 left in fourth quarter
Rams special teams gaffe enables Colts to take first lead of day
Ashton Dulin recovered a botched punt snap in the end zone for a touchdown that gave the Colts the lead.
Rams punter Johnny Hekker was lined up in the end zone, when Matt Orzech’s snap appeared to hit punt protector Nick Scott before bouncing into the end zone. Dulin pounced on the ball for the touchdown.
It’s been a rough day for Rams special teams. For the second game in a row, the opponent returned the opening kickoff more than 40 yards.
Colts 21, Rams 17, 14:11 left in fourth quarter
Third quarter summary: Rams-Colts
The Rams scored on the first possession of the second half before going three and out on their next two possessions.
That gave the Colts the opportunity to pull within three points on Carson Wentz’s touchdown pass to Zach Pascal and a two-point conversion pass to tight end Jack Doyle.
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford has completed 13 of 22 passes for 189 yards and a touchdown, with an interception.
Cooper Kupp has six catches for 106 yards.
Wentz has completed 18 of 28 passes for 204 yards and a touchdown, with an interception.
Former USC receiver Michael Pittman has seven receptions for 113 yards.
Rams 17, Colts 14, end of third quarter
Darrell Henderson punches it in on opening drive of second half
Darrell Henderson scored on a two-yard run to cap the first drive of the second half.
The drive’s key play was receiver Cooper Kupp’s 43-yard catch and run to the Colts’ 31-yard line.
Rams 17, Colts 6 11:36 left in third quarter
The story of the Rams-Colts first half in five tweets
Here’s the story of the first half of the Rams-Colts game in five tweets. The Rams lead the Colts xxxx
Another red zone stop by Rams is followed by another lengthy scoring drive
The Rams appeared on their way to a touchdown after Troy Reeder’s interception, but they had to settle for Matt Gay’s 34-yard field goal.
Matthew Stafford completed passes to five receivers during a 16-play drive, including three to Cooper Kupp for nine, 11 and 14 yards.
The Colts forced the field goal when lineman DeForest Buckner pressured Stafford on third and nine from the 16 yard-line, forcing an imcompletion.
Rams 10, Colts 3, 1:55 left in second quarter
Matthew Stafford and Carson Wentz trade interceptions
The Rams waged a second defensive stand inside the five yard-line.
The Colts were in position to take the lead after safety Khari Willis intercepted a pass by Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford.
The Colts drove to the three, but on third down, Rams inside linebacker Troy Reeder intercepted a Carson Wentz shovel pass intended for tight end Jack Doyle.
Rams 7, Colts 3, 10:09 left in second quarter
Colts cut lead to 7-3 early in second quarter
Rodrigo Blankenship kicked a 48-yard field goal to pull the Colts to within four points.
Quarterback Carson Wentz engineered a seven-play, 45-yard scoring drive.
All but three of those yards came on a 42-yard pass from Wentz to receiver Michael Pittman. Wentz was under pressure from Aaron Donald, and appeared susceptible to what would have been the Rams’ third sack, but he lofted a pass that Pittman, who broke from from safeties Jordan Fuller and Nick Scot, hauled in for the catch.
Rams 7, Colts 3, 14:41 left in second quarter
After stopping Colts, Rams go 90 yards to take 7-0 lead
The Rams seized the momentum with a goal-line stand, and Matthew Stafford took advantage.
Stafford completed five passes during a 90-yard, eight-play drive that culminated with Stafford’s 16-yard touchdown pass to Cooper Kupp.
Stafford had a 16-yard completion to Robert Woods, a 23-yard pass to running back Darrell Henderson, a 12-yard pass to Van Jefferson and 13-yard strike to Kupp before the touchdown pass.
Rams 7, Colts 0, 3:18 left in first quarter
Rams stuff Colts on three plays from the one on Indy’s opening drive
We’re underway in Indy and it didn’t look good for the Rams when the Colts returned the opening kickoff 41 yards, then drove 49 yards in 11 plays to the Rams’ one-yard line.
But the Rams stopped running back Jonathan Taylor three times, including on a third-down dive.
On fourth and goal, Rams edge rusher Leonard Floyd sacked quarterback Carson Wentz at the 10.
Rams 0, Colts 0
Sean McVay and Matthew Stafford looking to build on last week’s win
INDIANAPOLIS — It’s less than an hour before kickoff here at Lucas Oil Stadium where the Rams play the Indianapolis Colts.
The Rams are coming off a 34-14 season-opening victory over the Chicago Bears at SoFi Stadium. This is the second time in two weeks that the Colts are hosting an NFC West opponent. The Seattle Seahawks defeated the Colts, 28-16.
Rams coach Sean McVay and quarterback Matthew Stafford are looking to build on the offense’s showcase performance against the Bears. In his Rams debut, Stafford passed for 321 yards and three touchdowns. He connected with Van Jefferson and Cooper Kupp on long touchdown pass plays and with Robert Woods on a short one.
The Rams had trouble stopping the run in the season opener and expect another test for a defensive front that has weathered several personnel changes.
That bodes well against a Colts defense that gave up four touchdown passes against the Seahawks and an offense coordinated by former McVay assistant Shane Waldron.
Darrell Henderson will start at running back, but McVay is expected to work Sony Michel into the rotation after Michel got only one carry against the Bears.
The Rams defense amassed three sacks and forced two turnovers in the opener but must improve against the run. The Rams gave up more than 100 yards rushing against the Bears, including a 41-yard run on the second play.
In a game with high-profile skill position players, the marquee matchup involves Rams defensive lineman Aaron Donald, a six-time All-Pro, going against Colts guard Quenton Nelson, an All-Pro in each of his three NFL seasons.
Donald, who has 86½ career sacks, and All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey lead a defense that will try to neutralize quarterback Carson Wentz and an offense that also features running back Jonathan Taylor and receiver Michael Pittman.
Rams vs. Colts matchups: Sean McVay, Matthew Stafford aim to continue offensive roll
Breaking down how the Rams (1-0) and the Indianapolis Colts (0-1) match up heading into their game at 10 a.m. Pacific time Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The game will be carried on Fox (Channel 11).
When Rams have the ball: It might be difficult for quarterback Matthew Stafford to improve upon his opening-week performance when he passed for 321 yards and three touchdowns in a 34-14 victory over the Chicago Bears. In that game, receivers Van Jefferson and Cooper Kupp caught long touchdown passes, and Robert Woods a short one. Look for coach Sean McVay to show the Colts — and future opponents — that the playbook also will include longer routes for Woods, veteran deep threat DeSean Jackson and perhaps rookie Tutu Atwell as the offense expands. Also keep an eye on running back Sony Michel, who should become more involved. Michel, a fourth-year pro acquired in a late preseason trade with the New England Patriots, got only one carry in the opener because McVay said short scoring drives and flow of the game dictated that Darrell Henderson remain on the field. The Colts gave up four touchdown passes and 140 yards rushing in their 28-16 season-opening loss to the Seattle Seahawks. All-Pro tackle DeForest Buckner and All-Pro linebacker Darius Leonard are top players for a unit under the direction of defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus.
As with Clayton Kershaw, Rams’ Matthew Stafford believes he can pitch in more
Early this week, Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford headed to Dodger Stadium to watch former high school teammate Clayton Kershaw pitch for the Dodgers.
“It was cool to go see Clayton do his thing,” Stafford said Wednesday as the Rams began preparing for Sunday’s game at the Indianapolis Colts.
While Kershaw, a three-time Cy Young Award winner, has shown Los Angeles fans his talent since 2008, Stafford is coming off an impressive L.A. debut in the Rams’ season-opening victory over the Chicago Bears.
Stafford, who played 12 seasons with the Detroit Lions, completed 20 of 26 passes for 321 yards in the 34-14 victory, connecting with Van Jefferson and Cooper Kupp on long touchdown plays and Robert Woods for a short touchdown.
Stafford’s 156.1 passer rating was just below the gold-standard 158.3.
“It was definitely a good, clean start,” Rams coach Sean McVay said Wednesday as his team began preparations for the Colts. “But I think he’d be the first to tell you that, ‘Hey, did a lot of really good things but … can do some things better as well.’ ”
Rams’ Aaron Donald getting grip on one-sack opener by switching gloves for Colts
Since 2014, when the Rams selected him with the 13th pick in the NFL draft, Aaron Donald has dominated, piling up sacks against all but four teams.
The Indianapolis Colts are among the missing, though Donald offers a reasonable explanation.
“Never played against ‘em,” he said, laughing, after practice Thursday.
That will change Sunday when the Rams play the Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
The Rams last played the Colts in the 2017 season opener at the Coliseum — coach Sean McVay’s first game — but Donald did not play in the 46-9 Rams victory because he had ended a holdout on the eve of the opener.
Rams’ Sony Michel is fine waiting for opportunity to get in the running
His Rams debut consisted of three snaps and exactly one carry for two yards.
Sony Michel said he had no problem with it.
As the Rams prepare for their game Sunday at the Indianapolis Colts, Michel said he was fine with a limited role in the 34-14 season-opening victory over the Chicago Bears.
“The No. 1 goal is to win,” Michel said. “It’s not really about me and individual success. ... When my opportunity comes, I just have to make sure I’m prepared.”
The Rams acquired Michel in a late preseason trade with the New England Patriots. With Cam Akers out for the season because of an Achilles injury, the Rams sought a proven back to pair with third-year pro Darrell Henderson, who is coming off ankle surgery for the second time in two years.
Rams vs. Indianapolis Colts: NFL Week 2 odds, analysis and picks
Betting lines and odds for Rams vs. Colts on Sunday.
Los Angeles Rams (-3.5, 48.5) at Indianapolis Colts
Sean McVay had to spend some time thinking about the risk-reward of not using Matthew Stafford in the preseason. The longtime Lions quarterback might have put on a new team’s helmet and jersey for the first time in his career in August but did not get any game reps until Week 1.
As it turned out, McVay and the Rams had nothing to worry about. Stafford looked to have a firm grip on the offense and threw for 329 yards on just 20 completions, with a near-perfect 156.1 passer rating, in the Rams’ easy victory.
The task at hand gets tougher this week, as the Rams face an Indianapolis Colts team that many predict to win the AFC South, or at least make a playoff push as a wild-card contender. With a long trip to Indy for the first road game of the season, sharp and public bettors are at odds about the right side in this game.