THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. -- For weeks, the Los Angeles Rams have been evolving as a team that can beat opponents in a variety of ways, be it with the top-ranked offense in the NFL, a defense allowing the ninth fewest points or the best special teams group in the league.
On Sunday they added a new wrinkle as a team that can withstand adversity then come out swinging and pummel a foe with big plays.
After struggling to get anything going offensively against the Houston Texans over the first two quarters -- and admittedly getting a bit rattled in the process -- the Rams settled down in the second half and unleashed a string of big plays on their way to another blowout win.
The Rams scored nine points in the first half.
They crushed the Texans by hanging 21 on them in the third quarter alone -- spurred on by Jared Goff's 94-yard touchdown strike to Robert Woods early in the quarter.
"We're playing with confidence right now and that's a good place to be and you can go through some drabs like that early on -- we never want to. Ultimately, we were shooting ourselves in the foot a lot, just penalties and negative plays," said Goff. "And (we) came out in the second half and got those big plays, we got a couple turnovers. Can't say enough about what the defense has been doing, just putting us in good field position and continuing ... keeping the momentum on our side. I talked to him (Woods) in the locker room at halftime and we're fine, don't freak out and came out and did our thing in the second half."
It's the mark of a team that is rapidly growing up, and in the process emerging as an NFL power.
"I think what it says is that we're pleased that when we faced a little bit of adversity, specifically offensively, the guys just stayed together and just kept competing and worried about the next snap because that's the only thing that we can control, is what's next," said Rams head coach Sean McVay. "Let's learn from the previous things and let's correct it moving forward and I think that's what guys did.
"Anytime that you're able to create some of the explosives that we did, I think it's very, very helpful. It's too hard in this league to go 12 and 15 plays all the time against some of these defenses. So, to be able to get some of those chunk plays that alleviate the stress on having to just kind of having to go 4 and 5 (yards) all the way down the field was critical and when you've got explosive playmakers like we do, it was big.
"You look at the first half where not a real good continuity, but the screen to (running back) Todd (Gurley) at least got us where we get some points on the board -- he continues to show up in the pass game, which is a big time thing for us."
The Rams are now 7-2, atop the NFC West, but with big games coming up against the Vikings, Saints, Eagles and Seahawks.
"The guys have done a good job," McVay said. "To be able to go through the nine games and get seven wins is a credit to our players. I think our coaches have done a nice job preparing them and putting them in some good spots.
"We know that, really after nine games we've done a couple good things that give ourselves a chance to still continue to play meaningful football and now we've got a game coming up against another 7-2 team at their place where they're playing really well on all three phases and it's going to be a great challenge against Coach (Mike) Zimmer and the Vikings."
--Wide receiver Robert Woods was signed as a free agent primarily to be a dependable possession receiver and veteran leader. He's been exactly that -- and much, much more. In two straight games, Woods has provided the big-play spark the Rams needed, taking a 52-yard screen pass for a touchdown last week against the Giants and hauling in a 94-yard touchdown from Jared Goff Sunday against the Texans.
"I heard the play call, I looked up, checked the coverage and pretty much saw the matchup and ran my route," Woods said. "I felt like I beat the guy and took three steps and saw the ball fly out. The ball was on the money, Jared Goff put it right in the palm of my hands, so I was just able to catch it and run. Saw the end zone and just a race to the end zone."
Woods finished with eight catches for 171 yards and two touchdowns Sunday. On the year he's caught 39 passes for 622 yards and four touchdowns.
"He's been huge. He's been as big as anybody on this team," said Goff. "I think just ... take everything he does on Sundays away -- it's been truly impressive seeing him day-in and day-out. The way he works, the way he brings guys along. His attitude daily and the way he communicates with me is impressive. I'm happy to have him and I know he's happy to be here."
--Left tackle Andrew Whitworth continues to be a revelation for the Rams, and he just seems to get better and better in spite of his advanced age of 35.
Whitworth has been a steadying force and an anchor to a much improved offensive line, and his freakish athletic ability is a sight to see. That was evident when he got out in front of Sammy Watkins on a screen pass to block two defenders to pave the way for a Watkins touchdown.
"He's so athletic and so big. I think people underestimate how truly athletic and fast he is," said Rams quarterback Jared Goff. "He can get out in front of guys. I think he blocked two guys on that play. Again, what he's done this season's been one of the biggest things of our season for sure."
NOTES: QB Jared Goff posted a career-high 355 yards while completing 25 of 37 passes and no interceptions for a 125.4 passer rating. Goff, Kansas City's Alex Smith and New England's Tom Brady are the only three quarterbacks in the NFL this season with multiple games passing for at least 300 yards, three passing touchdowns and zero interceptions. Goff is the only quarterback in franchise history to pass for 300-plus yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions in consecutive games. ... WR Robert Woods had a career day with eight receptions for 171 yards and two touchdowns. Woods hauled in the third-longest reception in franchise history, a 94-yard touchdown from Jared Goff. Woods collected a second touchdown on a 17-yard reception. Woods is one of six wide receivers in the NFL this season to post 125-plus receiving yards and multiple touchdown receptions in a single game. ... WR Sammy Watkins notched a 12-yard touchdown reception. Watkins has four touchdowns this season and has scored a touchdown in back-to-back games. ... -RB Todd Gurley rushed 11 times for 68 yards, a 6.2-yard average with a long of 34 yards. He added six receptions for 68 yards. In total, Gurley collected 17 touches for 102 yards from scrimmage. Gurley registered a 43-yard reception from Goff. That was the third 40-plus yard reception of Gurley's career. He joins Marshall Faulk, Steven Jackson and Amp Lee as the only running backs in franchise history with three or more receptions of 40-plus yards. ... DT Aaron Donald sacked Texans QB Tom Savage and forced a fumble. OLB Matt Longacre recovered the ball and returned it 8 yards. Donald has recorded 5.5 sacks this season. Donald is the first Ram to force a fumble during the first drive of the game in back-to-back games. ... LB Mark Barron intercepted Tom Savage in the red zone and returned it 15 yards. It was Barron's third interception of the season, which is a personal best. Barron has eight career interceptions, five as a member of the Rams. ... OLB Samson Ebukam, a rookie, earned his first career sack on Tom Savage and caused him to fumble. DT Tyrunn Walker recovered the fumble. ... LG Rodger Saffold left the game on Sunday with an ankle injury and will be reevaluated this week. ... OLB Robert Quinn was held out of Sunday's game with an undisclosed illness.
REPORT CARD VS. TEXANS
--PASSING OFFENSE: A-minus -- The Rams started slowly in the pass game, with just 104 yards and no scores in the first half. But that all changed in the second half, and Jared Goff finished with a career-high 355 yards passing and three touchdowns. Robert Woods was his go-to target, hauling in eight passes for 171 yards and two scores.
--RUSHING OFFENSE: B-minus -- The Rams didn't rush for many yards -- 104 on 25 carries -- but Todd Gurley did average 6.2 yards on 11 carries for 68 yards, and the run game helped set up some big plays in the pass game via the play-action pass. The run total was due in part to the Texans' defense, but also the Rams taking advantage of their stop-the-run mentality by burning them through the air.
--PASS DEFENSE: A -- The Rams gave up just 194 yards through the air, came up with two interceptions -- and barely missed two others -- while sacking Tom Savage three times and forcing two fumbles. Savage finished with a dismal 55.4 passer rating, due mostly to the pressure being applied by the Rams and the back-end pass coverage.
--RUSH DEFENSE: A -- The Texans managed just 89 yards on 25 carries, and their run game was nowhere to be found in the second half when the Rams pulled away and their passing game offered nothing in relief. Michael Brockers, Alec Ogletree and Aaron Donald were dynamic at the point of attack, and dominated the Texans offensive line.
--SPECIAL TEAMS: B -- Pharoh Cooper averaged 25 yards on two kickoff returns, 10.7 on three punt returns. Greg Zuerlein was good on all four of his field-goal attempts and Johnny Hekker averaged 51 yards on four punts. All in all, another solid day from the special teams.
--COACHING: B-plus -- The Rams struggled in the first half to get anything going offensively, but head coach Sean McVay did not panic, and gathered his team at halftime with some key adjustments and some settling words. The next thing you know, the Rams dropped a 21-point third quarter hammer on the Texans to win in blowout fashion. The Rams' ability to deal with the early adversity is a testament to their young head coach, who refused to let one bad half turn into a full game struggle.
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