(East Los Angeles, CA) [From The Editor’s Desk]: The weather was great on this bright and sunny 2022 Christmas Day. Fans were dressed up in their favorite Blue and/or Red Santa Claus outfits. Children were all smiles as they showed off their neatly costumed looks. And tailgating couldn’t have been better to enjoy while being in the great company of family, good friends, work-mates, or former high school/college teammates who are all now, and/or have been part of the Rams Nation for some time. The 82° weather on this memorable game-day was perfect for a short-sleeve shirt day.

[GAME PREVIEW]

The Denver Broncos and #8/Russell Wilson came into SoFi Stadium in Week #16 with a poor (4-10) overall record equal to the Rams’. However, the sub-plot in this game would be the “match-up” between Wilson and his former Seattle Seahawk teammate, #45/LB/Bobby Wagner.

The Rams simply were “On Fire/En Fuego” and focused on their game plan. The level of complimentary football that their Head Coach, Sean McVay, expected was evident. Breaking from a season-long  sideline blue-colored top, he was locked in on the team’s Inspire Change theme, as he wore a black, long sleeve top with the words, “opportunity, equity, freedom, and justice” that were easily read on its front side.

–GAME SUMMARY–

[1st Qtr]: The Broncos won the coin-toss and deferred to the Rams. The Blue & Gold dominated the opening period with great defense and an efficient “Red Zone” offense. Put them together and what do you get after three possessions, a field goal and 2 touchdowns for a quick (17-0) lead at the 3/4 mark of the stanza. The Broncos managed to score a field goal with just (00:39) seconds left, cutting the lead to (17-3). Wilson suffered through two interceptions, the first by #14/Cobie Durant, and the second by his former teammate, Bobby Wagner. The Rams also made their defensive game statement in the period with this type of play. 

[2nd Qtr]:  The Rams kept up the offensive pressure on each possession and the result produced two more scores, one by TE/#89/Tyler Higbee on a 7 yard pass from Mayfield at the (9:47) mark. The other came by way of a short run of  2 yards by #3/Cam Akers. Both PATs by Gay were also good making it (31-6) by halftime.

[HALFTIME SCORE]: Rams  31  Broncos  6

[3rd Qtr]: Only a Rams field goal by Gay from 30 yards at the (3:43) mark was added to their growing advantage. Akers continued to provide a very good to an exceptional game performance as often as his number was called. 

[4th Qtr]: The game was pretty academic in terms of the final outcome, but Coach McVay stuck to his game plan and inserted many new faces into the game in order to get them those most-valued game reps. With that in mind, the Rams continued to play hard and cash in on scores with “big time” plays that electrified and pleased the crowd of 71,525  for the entire game. Akers scored his 3rd TD of the game at the (12:30) mark boosting the score to (41-6).

The Broncos finally put a drive together and at the (8:20) mark, Wilson connected with TE/#80/Greg Dulcich for an 11 yard TD. The 2 point conversion was attempted by the Broncos and after a couple of flags, they succeeded to move the score to (41-14). Gay followed with another 5o yarder for a (44-14) lead with (6:16) left. And on one of those electrifying crowd plays, Durant, delivered the Christmas present with his 85 yard “Pick 6” that came with (4:08) remaining in the game. This made the score Rams 51, Broncos  14 and basically the Game was over. Christmas Day was a very good day for Rams Nation!

[FINAL SCORE]:  Rams  51  Broncos  14

[INDIVIDUAL GAME-STATS]

{OFFENSE} Passing: Mayfield/24-28=230 yds/2 TDs; Receiving: Higbee/9 receptions=94 yds/2 TDs/Ave=10.4 yds; Brycen Hopkins/3 catches=57 yds/Ave=19 yds; Van Jefferson/5 receptions=19 yds; Rushing: Akers/23 carries=118 yds/Ave=5.1 yds/3 TDs

{DEFENSE} Interceptions: Durant/2 INTs/100 yds/Ave=50 yds/1 TD; Wagner/1 INT=13 yds; Jalen Ramsey/1 INT; Tackles: Wagner/5 tkls/1 sack; Michael Hoecht/3 tkls/2 sacks; Larrell Murchison/4 tkls/2 sacks.; Ramsey/4 tkls.

[OF SIGNIFICANCE]: Tyler Higbee’s impressive and team record-setting performance for a Rams tight end amounted to these new totals: (299) career catches for (3,063) yards, and (20) TDs.

[NEXT UP]: Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday, January 1st at 1:25 PM.| To watch: go to CBS; To listen, tune in to ESPN LA 710 AM | 93.1 JACK FM | KWKW 1330