Rams Defense Shines in Gritty Win Over Ravens
The Los Angeles Rams leaned on their defense to pull out a gritty 17-3 win over the Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. With this win, Los Angeles now moves to 4-2 on their season. In a game where turnovers, flags, and physical play were defining factors, the Rams pushed through a sluggish first half and capitalized on key mistakes made by the Ravens to win against a team they haven't beaten since 2021. It was a hard-fought, defensive battle that showed just how resilient Los Angeles is and their depth on both sides of the ball.
The first half was defined by missed opportunities and defensive stops. Baltimore hit first with a 37-yard field goal made by Tyler Loop, while the Rams' kicker Joshua Karty missed a 26-yard attempt on the following drive, an issue that has been apparent this season with him. The defense aimed to disrupt the Ravens' offense, and defensive back Quentin Lake intercepted a pass intended for Zay Flowers, marking his first interception of his NFL career and putting the Rams in good field position. The Ravens quickly got the ball back after Matthew Stafford fumbled the ball on the first possession. Both defenses traded stops throughout the first half, preventing each other from scoring more points. However, the Rams managed to make a field goal before the half ended, sending both teams to the locker room tied 3–3.
The Rams took over in the second half while also capitalizing on mistakes. A gutsy fourth-down call, Stafford threw the ball deep to Kyren Williams for a 30-yard gain, and found him again on the next play for a walk-in touchdown run that gave the Rams their first lead and touchdown of the day. Moments later, linebacker Nate Landman, who had himself a day, forced a fumble from Flowers, his first career fumble, that was recovered by Quentin Lake at the 21-yard line. Stafford capitalized on the fumble, finding tight end Tyler Higbee for a touchdown to extend the lead to 17–3. Flowers' tough day continued as he fumbled again, and it was recovered by Tyler Davis, marking his second turnover of the game and keeping the Rams in complete control. The Ravens sacked Stafford on a fourth down inside the five-yard line, keeping the score to just a 14-point deficit with the hopes of the offense coming back.
The Rams' defense kept up the pressure through the fourth quarter. Baltimore ultimately decided to bench Cooper Rush, putting backup Tyler Huntley in to see where the team could go with him. However, it was a little more of the same, as Jared Verse picked up a key sack, and Huntley could not find much more success. Defensive tackle Larrell Murchison added another sack in the red zone, his first of the season, and Byron Young recorded two of his own to lead the team. The Ravens were stopped on fourth down with under four minutes to play, effectively ending their comeback hopes.
Stafford finished the night 17/26 with 181 yards, while the defense totaled four sacks, one interception, and two forced fumbles in a dominant showing. Nate Landman also got the LFG Player of the Game with 17 tackles, which is the most by a Ram since 2000. The Rams will now travel to London for an international matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars next Sunday at Wembley Stadium. With momentum on their side and their defense playing at an elite level, Los Angeles looks ready to keep building on their strong start to the season.
