(East Los Angeles, CA) [From The Editor’sDesk]: NFL’s Week #7 came at a very good time for the (3-3) Rams as they pulled out many stops to focus on their “quick-strike” air attack hoping to be in this encounter led by #9 QB/Matthew Stafford and his two phenomenal young wide-outs and big “1-2” punch performers, All-Pro Veteran, #9 Cooper Kupp and Rookie, #17 Puka Nakua.
On that past given Sunday, Head Coach, Mike Tomlin and his Pittsburgh Steelers (3-2) were welcomed into the Rams House for a confrontation between the AFC’s North/Black & Gold and the NFC’s West member, before another well-proportioned fandom of Steeler and Rams fans. Thousands of the new edition of the “Terrible Towel” and the very popular hats and jerseys were evident throughout SoFi Stadium, as it has been for most of the visiting teams this season. While the TV cameras may not show too many crowd shots with visiting fans wearing team branded costumes and/or incredible looking mythological personalities looking like Steeler, or other visiting team players, they have come and will continue to come to SoFi Stadium to support their favorite teams, whoever they may be. The season is only half-over.
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[GAME SUMMARY]
[1st Qtr]: The Rams won the “coin-toss” but deferred to receive the second-half kick-off. The Steelers offensive unit would show what it had to bring to this combat right-off-the-bat. Both teams had three possessions but couldn’t establish anything sustainable for first downs. The Steelers punted twice and the Rams twice, but the Rams missed a chance at an early game score and lead, when a makable 53 yard field goal attempt by #8, Brett Maher, was missed when it hit the left upright at the (3:35) mark.
[2nd Qtr]: The Steelers scored first on a 53 yard field goal by #9 Chris Boswell with (14:51) left in half. Again the teams swayed “back-and-forth” while pushing and pulling with no clear-cut advantage. That went on until the Rams took possession with (3:40) left to play. They started their drive 88 yards away and in 8 plays chewed up (3:00) minutes of clock to put up the only touchdown of the half when Stafford found #5/WR, TuTu Atwell, on a “comeback” route at the southern goal line. He caught it easily and then walked it in for the score. With that, the Rams led (9-3). Much to Head Coach Sean McVay’s and the entire Rams SoFi Stadium crowd sudden dismay, Maher missed the PAT, leaving the Infinity Screen by Samsung showing a lop-sided baseball type-score for a (9-3) reading to close the half.
[Photo Gallery Credit]: Frankli Robles for East L.A. Sports Scene Productions, LLC
[HALF TIME SCORE]: Rams 9 Steelers 3
[3rd Qtr]: Rams started with the ball at their own 25 yard line. Unfortunately on this very first drive of the half, Stafford’s pass, intended for #10 Cooper Kupp was intercepted by #90 T. J. Watt at the 31. He returned it for a near touchdown as Puka Nakua tackled him from behind at theRams 7 yard line. To follow=-up, Coach Toml;in ordered his QB #8, Kenny Pickett to go off tackle for the score. The Boswell PAT was good and the score was now (10-9) in favor of the Steelers. The rams then had to get back on track with their ensuing obsession and that they did vi the ground game with Henderson racking up good yardage followed by a great 32 yard long gainer “hook-up” between Stafford and Nakua that got them to the Steeler 31 yard line. A few plays later they were tin the “Red Zone” on another connection between Stafford and Nakua. Two more plays later and on a Coach McVay 3rd & 1 call from the Pittsburgh 1, Stafford handed off to D. Henderson for the scoring plunge. The Rams 2-point conversion was good on a quick flip to Kupp, giving the Rams a (17-10) lead.
[4th Qtr]: Steelers maintained possession on this drive to begin the proceedings. after a big 39 yard “catch and run” by WR # Johnson down to theRams , followed by a quick 13 yard scoring burst over tackle by #30 Jaylen Warren . The PAT was good, to tie the game at (17-17). The Rams took the ensuing kick-off but could not construct nor maintain an effective drive. They punted and Steelers took over on their 25 again. Then, another Big catch and run was produced this time by #14 George Pickens, as the Steeler fans kept erupting into cheers and rounds of thunderous applause for their welcomed and visiting team. Pickens repeated yet again on another big pass reception for 21 yards to advance the ball down to the Rams 45.
Steelers Head Coach, Mike Tomlin, then went to their “ground & pound” offense moving decisively and deeper into Rams territory with each new first down. The game clock was at (8:40) when they secured another set of downs at the Rams 19. Then the Blue & Gold were penalized for the bad mistake of having (12) men on the field. On the re-start of the game, a pass was then completed to #83 Conner Heyward in the Red Zone for 11 yards, taking it down at the Rams 3 yard line.On the next play, #22/RB, Najee Harris then leaped high and into the end zone for the “go-ahead” score at (24-17) with just (7:2o) left to play.
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From that point on, the Rams mustered a couple of first downs with RB/#24 Royce Freeman doing great and timely rushing. However, when Staffrod couldn’t complete passes to his “clutch” receivers, Kupp nor Nakua, they had to punt, giving the Steelers one more possession. From the (5:28) mark, they proceeded to simply run out the clock by playing good game control and using perfect clock management to secure the victory as Steelers QB, Pickett took three consecutive victory kneels to end the game.
[FINAL SCORE]: Pittsburgh Steelers 24 L.A. Rams 17 Attendance: 73,471
