The Rams' six-game win streak came to an end in Week 13, as the Panthers won a shootout in Carolina. While three turnovers by quarterback Matthew Stafford and an uncharacteristic defensive performance cost Los Angeles down the stretch, the Rams still posted elite rushing efficiency and pass protection.
Here are five interesting stats from the Rams' 31-28 loss in Carolina.
The Rams' season-high 7.7 yards per carry on designed runs (not counting kneel-downs) is tied for the 10th-highest in any game this year, according to nflverse data
The Rams' running backs combined for 153 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries. Running back Blake Corum said postgame that they were switching between outside zone and duo runs, both of which were effective against the Panthers' front. Neither Corum nor Williams was tackled behind the line of scrimmage. Los Angeles' 66.7% rushing success rate was tied for the third-highest in a game this season, according to Next Gen Stats.
"I just think we were pressing our spots, hitting our holes, and when they were there, taking advantage of it," Williams said.
Corum's 11.6 yards per carry on Sunday is the fourth-most in a game this season among running backs with seven-plus carries, according to Next Gen Stats (NGS)
Corum set career-highs in total rushing yards (81) and longest run (34 yards) in what was both the most productive and efficient game of his career thus far. Corum reached 19.76 miles per hour on his 34-yard run, the 20th-fastest ball-carrier speed of Week 13 (via NGS), and forced three missed tackles (according to Pro Football Focus).
This is the second time this season the Rams have lost a game where they punted just once
The Rams' offensive drives went as follows: Touchdown, interception, interception, touchdown, touchdown, end of half, punt touchdown, fumble. Four touchdowns and three turnovers meant the Rams only punted the ball once, but still came up short against Carolina.
A similar outcome occurred in a loss to Philadelphia earlier this season, when the Rams had two kicks blocked and turned the ball over twice (one interception and one on downs), but punted just once.
Stafford was pressured on a season-low 13.3% of his dropbacks, the eighth-lowest pressure rate allowed on any quarterback this season, according to NGS
The Rams' offensive line continues to stand tall in front of their veteran gunslinger, as they allowed just four pressures on 28 dropbacks Sunday. However, Stafford was sacked on two of those four pressures. Unfortunately, the second forced a fumble that cost L.A. the opportunity to tie the game late in the fourth quarter.
Only one of Carolina's eight blitzes generated a pressure, and Stafford completed five of seven attempts for 105 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions against five-plus rushers.
The Rams' offensive success rate (60%) was nearly 20 percentage points higher than the Panthers' (40.7%), according to nflverse data
Not counting kneel-downs, the Rams' offense was nearly 1.5 times more successful than the Panthers', but turnovers and explosive plays by Carolina made the difference. Two fourth-down touchdown passes of over 30 yards from Bryce Young in the second half gave the Panthers leads on plays that would have changed the course of the game had they not converted.
On the flip side, Stafford turned the ball over twice while deep in Carolina territory. Sometimes, consistent success doesn't win games, execution in critical situations does, and the Panthers did that better than L.A. on Sunday.
