The Los Angeles Rams beat the Dallas Cowboys 30-22 in the NFC Divisional Playoffs at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum on Saturday, January 12. This clash was a “put up or shut up” game for the Rams, but they emerged victorious.
Head coach Sean McVay and the Rams offense favored a more ground-and-pound offense early on. They also opted for a more conservative approach by settling on a 25-yard Greg Zuerlein field goal. The Cowboys offense sent a message the following drive to the Rams defense when Dak Prescott found Amari Cooper on a 29-yard touchdown pass.
The Rams continued finding success driving the ball downfield in the second quarter, but their red zone struggles reappeared. Once again Zuerlein found himself nailing a chip shot to trim their deficit to 7-6.
Part of the Rams’ success stemmed from newcomer C.J. Anderson. He eventually found the end zone the following drive to give the Rams a 13-7 lead. Todd Gurley wanted in on some of the glory and sprinted for a 35-yard touchdown run to increase their lead, 20-7. Zuerlein attempted a 63-yard field goal to end the half, but it was wide right.
The Rams offense continued their onslaught, maintaining their dominance on the ground and time of possession. Zuerlein nailed a 44-yard field goal to increase their 23-7 lead. Ezekiel Elliot found the end zone to remain competitive. The Cowboys clawed their way closer after earning a 2-point conversion to make the score 23-15.
The nail in the coffin came from a 1-yard touchdown run from Anderson, increasing the lead to 30-15. Prescott found the end zone one last time in a last ditch effort. The Rams held on to the 30-22 victory. It was their first playoff victory in 14 years.
The Rams are now eagerly waiting to find out their opponents in the NFC Conference Championship game. The game is scheduled for Sunday, January 20 at noon PT. More details to come after the conclusion of the New Orleans Saints and Philadelphia Eagles matchup.
Source: ESPN.com
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