Field Level Media
Sep 12, 2021
Matthew Stafford completed 20 of 26 passes for 321 yards and three touchdowns in his team debut to lead the host Los Angeles Rams to a 34-14 win over the Chicago Bears on Sunday night.
Van Jefferson, Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods each hauled in touchdown passes for Los Angeles (1-0). Darrell Henderson Jr. added 70 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
David Montgomery had 16 carries for 108 yards and a touchdown to lead the offensive attack for Chicago (0-1). Andy Dalton completed 27 of 38 passes for 206 yards and an interception, and rookie Justin Fields completed both of his pass attempts and rushed for a 3-yard touchdown in limited action during his NFL debut.
The Rams wasted no time in showing Stafford's value to the offense. He connected with Jefferson for a 67-yard score with 10:36 remaining in the first quarter.
Los Angeles increased its lead to 10-0 on a 53-yard field goal by Matt Gay with 4:39 to go in the first quarter.
Gay connected again, this time from 22 yards, to make it 13-0 with 11:39 left in the second quarter.
Chicago cut the deficit to 13-7 with 34 seconds to go in the half. Montgomery bounced off a pair of would-be tacklers and stretched the ball across the goal line for a 3-yard rushing score.
The Rams made it 20-7 early in the second half on another deep ball from Stafford. He fired a 56-yard touchdown pass to Kupp, who capitalized on busted coverage in the Bears' secondary for an easy catch before jogging into the end zone.
Chicago pulled within 20-14 on Fields' first career touchdown with 4:14 remaining in the third quarter. He kept the ball and sprinted right for a 3-yard touchdown to cap a 16-play, 81-yard drive.
The Rams responded on the next possession. After Kupp caught a pass to give Los Angeles first-and-goal, Henderson punched in a 1-yard touchdown run to make it 27-14 with 1:19 left in the third quarter.
Woods made a leaping catch in the back of the end zone to increase the Rams' lead to 34-14 with 3:17 to go in the game.
--Field Level Media