(Credit: Travis Ellison/LA Rams)
It was a home game for the Rams (3-4) on Sunday before the 73,471 football fans at SoFi, or at least it was advertised that way. One look at the hundreds of Steeler fans waving their terrible towels, and you wondered if you had fallen asleep and woke up in Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh. It didn’t look like the Ram’s house as the Steelers defeated the Rams 24-17.
“So grateful for our fans. They come out here and travel. Truly believe we have the best fans in the world. It’s like a home game when we’re on the road. Huge shout out to them,” Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett said.
The Rams announced on Tuesday the release of kicker Brett Maher. Maher made 17 of 23 field goal attempts and 12 of 13 extra points in seven games with the Rams. On Sunday, he missed two field goals, 53 and 51 yards, respectfully, and an extra point in Sunday’s loss to the Steelers. The team signed Lucas Havrisik from the Cleveland Browns’ practice squad.
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(Credit: Travis Ellison/LA Rams)
In the first half, both offenses were sluggish until Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford connected with TuTu Atwell for a 31-yard touchdown. The Rams missed the extra point attempt, but the Atwell touchdown provided a much-needed spark. The Rams led at halftime 9-3.
The Rams would not prevail on Sunday, and here is why: the ultra-reliable Cooper Kupp dropped two passes in the first quarter caught a total of two passes for 29 yards and zero touchdowns. Puka Nacua, the bright light of Sunday, had eight catches for 154 yards. Stafford passed for 231 yards, completing 14 of 29, a touchdown, with an interception. Then there was the play that ended possibilities for the Rams.
It was the fourth quarter at the two-minute warning when the referees ruled Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett earned a first down, but replay showed he may have been short. Rams head coach Sean McVay could not challenge the play as the Rams had no remaining timeouts. McVay, however, said winning the game should not have come down to that specific play:
“I’m not going to sit here and make any excuses about stuff that didn’t go down. Those plays should not have come down to that if we executed like we were capable of.”
As the NFL heads into week eight, the Rams are on the road to take on the Dallas Cowboys (4-2) at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
