The Rams snuck away with a hard-fought 20-13 victory against the Browns on Sunday Night Football. It was a sloppy win, but it was a win nonetheless in a hostile environment. Here’s a few of the studs that made a victory possible, and a few duds that didn’t help the cause.
Stud: DT Aaron Donald
The box score rarely tells us how dominant Aaron Donald was during a game. He had four tackles, two tackles for loss, and one sack against Cleveland. That doesn’t begin to tell the story of how Donald dominated this game from start to finish.
It was about as loud of a four tackle game as you can possibly have. Donald was all over the field causing havoc against a weak Browns offensive line. The Rams needed Donald to have a day to win this game. He had that and then some.
If there was ever any doubt why Aaron Donald was ranked as the NFL’s best player by his peers in the preseason, those doubts were silenced in Cleveland. Donald has been worth every penny of the massive contract extension he signed last season.
Dud: G Jamil Demby
Jamil Demby made his first career start on Sunday night, replacing injured guard Austin Blythe on the right side next to Rob Havenstein. The only way it could have been worse is if the Rams lost the game.
Demby was called for two false starts, including one when the Rams were on the one yard line. The other one was followed by Demby getting destroyed off the line by Myles Garrett, who snuck past the second-year guard to force a fumble on Jared Goff.
Demby wasn’t the only offensive lineman to have a bad day against Cleveland, but he was certainly the worst of the bunch. Goff will be counting the days until the team gets Blythe back on the right side.
Stud: WR Cooper Kupp
The Cooper Kupp comeback tour isn’t stopping anytime soon.
Cleveland entered this game missing their entire secondary. Kupp took full advantage of the opportunity to tear apart a depleted unit. The third-year receiver hauled in 11 of 12 targets for 102 yards and two touchdowns. Kupp was once again Goff’s favorite target in Week 3. He ran wild all over Cleveland’s JV secondary. If he can stay healthy, Kupp should be in for a massive season.
Dud: RB Todd Gurley
Todd Gurley ran for 43 yards on 14 carries Sunday. He didn’t catch any passes, but he did make some crucial blocks and played well in pass protection when needed. You can’t blame Gurley for when the offense struggled against Cleveland, but you also can’t credit him for when the offense was working. He was just kind of there.
Kind of there is fine when you’re talking about a back like Peyton Barber. We’re talking about Todd Gurley, the man who broke the running back wage scale when the Rams committed $60 million to the All-Pro back over the course of four years. Gurley has not looked great this season. He’s had moments of brilliance during each of the team’s three victories, but it’s not what you would hope to get out of a man who scored 40 touchdowns over the previous two seasons.
The Rams could really use a massive game from Gurley against Tampa Bay in Week 4. Things need to get moving soon in the Rams’ backfield.
Stud: OLB Clay Matthews
Clay Matthews arrived in Los Angeles this spring as a former star at the tail-end of his career returning home to finish out his career where it all started.
After three games, Matthews has four sacks, and has recorded one in every game so far.
Matthews is benefiting from less pressure and a more limited role in Los Angeles. All he has to worry about is getting to the quarterback. He’s done that, picking up two sacks in the team’s victory against the Browns.
The six-time Pro Bowl linebacker has certainly had some help getting to that number. Matthews cleaned up on some sloppy missed tackles to acquire his sacks tonight. Michael Brockers, Dante Fowler, Samson Ebukam, and obviously Donald all contributed to the Rams’ dominance against Baker Mayfield. The second-year quarterback was running for his life all night. Everyone deserves credit for that, but the box score credits Matthews the most.
Clay Matthews already has more sacks than he did last season in just three games. He’s truly turned back the clock, and the Rams are reaping the benefits.
Dud: TE Gerald Everett
Gerald Everett has been splitting snaps with Tyler Higbee ever since he joined the Rams as a rookie in 2017. He’s been inching closer and closer to becoming the team’s top option at the position. With Higbee sitting out due to an injury in Cleveland, Everett had an opportunity to assert himself as TE1.
Instead, he was held to a quiet two receptions for 15 yards on just two targets.
Everett did everything that was asked of him, but it’s still a disappointing result from somebody with as much potential as he has. This was his chance to take an opportunity and run with it. He came up empty. Don’t expect anything to change in the tight end rotation when Higbee returns from his injury.
Stud: S John Johnson
Aaron Donald is the clear best player on the Rams’ defense. John Johnson may very well be the next best.
Johnson quickly took over the starting safety job as a third-round pick in 2017. Last year, he emerged as one of the best young safeties in the NFL, finishing second on the team in tackles and coming up with big play after big play, most notably the game-winning interception on Drew Brees in the NFC Championship.
In year three, Johnson seems to be taking yet another leap. He did what he does best against Cleveland: make tackles and win games. Johnson led the way with nine tackles and scored a game-sealing interception Baker Mayfield late in the fourth quarter. He’s an absolute stud and one of the best mid-round picks of the Les Snead era.
The Rams would be wise to make room on their cap sheet to give Johnson a hefty contract extension when he’s up in 2021.
