Woods Scores First TDs of 2017 vs. Giants

Wide receiver Robert Woods has had quite the successful homecoming to Los Angeles thus far. Signing with the Rams in March brought Woods back to the city he grew up in, and since then he has become one of the team’s most reliable offensive contributors.

But heading into Week 9, there was still one thing missing from his stat sheet. Though Woods’ had racked up 27 catches for 381 yards — leading the team in both receptions and receiving yards — he had not yet reached the end zone.

The drought ended on Sunday against the Giants, as the former USC standout scored not one, but two touchdowns to help the Rams to their third-straight win. Last weekend’s contest marked the first multi-touchdown game of the fifth-year pro’s career.

“I think it is great for him,” head coach Sean McVay said. “You look at the contributions he’s made to our team, not only in the pass game, but in the run game, and also what he represents week in and week out with the way he leads in the receiving room. But certainly, that first touchdown play was all him.”

After offensive pass interference and chop block penalties, the Rams found themselves needing to convert a difficult 3rd-and-33. Hoping to put L.A. within field goal range, quarterback Jared Goff hit Woods on a screen pass on the left side.

As McVay put it, Woods “showed off his 200-meter speed as he was able to cut across the grain and finish,” weaving his way towards the goal line.

“That was a strong finish by Robert,” McVay said Monday. “Left tackle Andrew Whitworth and left guard Rodger Saffold got out front and made big-time blocks at the point of attack. So, with things like that, that was a big spark for our team.”

“That was nice huh?” Goff said with a laugh. “I threw it to him and kind of saw the seam he saw and I was like, ‘Oh we might have a chance here,’ and sure enough he hit it like he did and got himself his first touchdown the hard way.”

“The floodgates were wide open,” Woods said. “‘Whit’ had the big block and I just followed him inside, then ran and did the rest.”

Woods celebrated in the endzone with his teammates as he struck a pose. Running back Todd Gurley played photographer, snapping imaginary photos to commemorate Woods’ first touchdown as a Ram. But it wouldn’t be the last cause for celebration.

Goff also connected with Woods on another touchdown in the third quarter. After a 44-yard screen pass to Gurley placed the Rams inside the five-yard line, Woods capped off the drive with a four-yard touchdown to extend L.A.’s lead 41-10.

In all, Woods finished the contest with four catches for 70 yards.

“That was a big spark for our team,” McVay said. “He’s been a guy that we have tried to feature in some of those situations and we’re happy for Robert that it worked out for him today.”