Matthew Stafford threw for 334 yards even without favorite target Cooper Kupp, Kyren Williams and Cam Akers combined for three touchdown runs and the Los Angeles Rams stunned the Seattle Seahawks 30-13 in the season opener Sunday.
Stafford was brilliant picking apart Seattle’s secondary for the 58th 300-yard passing game of his career in the regular season. He did so despite Kupp being sidelined for the first four games of the season while on injured reserve due to a hamstring injury.
Stafford found some new targets to use.
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Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Kobie Turner and defensive tackle Aaron Donald celebrates after a tackle against the Seattle Seahawks during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 10, 2023, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Rookie Puka Nacua had 10 catches for 119 yards and was targeted 15 times in the first game of his career. Tutu Atwell had a career-high 119 yards on six catches. And the Rams were at their best on third downs, where they converted 11 of 17 chances leading to long drives and a huge advantage in time of possession.
Los Angeles had 27 first downs, 426 total yards and 39:23 time of possession.
Williams had a 1-yard touchdown run in the first quarter and his 7-yard score on the opening drive of the second half gave Los Angeles a 14-13 lead. Akers added a 1-yard TD with 9:45 remaining on fourth-and-goal and left Seattle’s fans booing the performance of the home team.
The goal for Stafford, head coach Sean McVay and the rest of the Rams was to be competitive even after an offseason that due to salary cap issues saw most of the roster be gutted. That left Los Angeles relying on several unproven players surrounding the few remaining stars on the roster.
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf celebrates after scoring against the Los Angeles Rams during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 10, 2023, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
The opener was a good indication the Rams can be more than just competitive.
Meanwhile, Seattle flopped entering a season where the belief was it could close the gap on San Francisco in the NFC West. But many of the issues that emerged last season when the Seahawks ran into problems remained prevalent.
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Seattle couldn’t get off the field on third down. It couldn’t sustain its own drives going 2 of 9 on third downs and settled for field goal attempts in the first half when touchdowns were needed. The frustration with the performance became evident in the closing minutes when DK Metcalf was flagged for taunting and Quandre Diggs was called for unnecessary roughness for a foul away from the play.
Seattle had just 12 yards of offense and only one first down in the second half.
Geno Smith’s second season as a starter got off to a rocky start as he completed 16 of 26 passes for only 112 yards. He had a 10-yard touchdown toss to Metcalf in the first half, but Seattle had only one offensive play of longer than 15 yards.
Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams celebrates after scoring against the Seattle Seahawks during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 10, 2023, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
INJURIES
Seattle lost both of its starting offensive tackles to injuries in the third quarter with right tackle Abraham Lucas and left tackle Charles Cross leaving, along with wide receiver Tyler Lockett.
Lucas was announced with a knee injury. Cross limped off with a toe injury on his right foot and did not return. Later in the quarter, Lockett was hit by Rams safety Russ Yeast on a run play and was examined for a concussion. He did not return.
Rams cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon was injured late in the fourth quarter and did not return.
INACTIVES
Seattle was without rookie first-round pick Devon Witherspoon as the young cornerback continues to work back from a hamstring injury that limited him during training camp. Witherspoon was listed as questionable, but coach Pete Carroll said the team wasn’t going to rush him back after only returning to practice last week.
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UP NEXT
Rams: Host San Francisco next Sunday.
Seahawks: At Detroit to face the Lions next Sunday.
