PHILADELPHIA – The result was heartbreaking, but Rams running backs Kyren Williams and Blake Corum showed what this backfield can accomplish when both get opportunities to impact the game on Sunday.
Against the reigning Super Bowl champions, the two backs averaged a combined 5.3 yards per carry, totaling 147 yards on the ground. They were only tackled behind the line once and created three explosive runs (10-plus yards) each. Williams also caught a touchdown early in the second half, bringing his yardage total to 112 on the day.
"Everything was working," Williams said. "We knew how they were going to line up. If they got into that 6-1 (front), we knew what we were going to do, and, man, we did that. Blake and I, I think we fed off each other well today."
Williams (94 rushing yards on 20 carries) and Corum (53 rushing yards on eight carries) both had their way with the Eagles' defense on Sunday, despite the 33-26 loss. L.A. was the most productive and efficient offense on the field in Philadelphia, and their running game was the reason why.
Going into the week, Williams said the running backs were challenged to take charge of the game by making the defense feel their impact. He and Corum both "played a really major role in that" on Sunday, Williams said, and head coach Sean McVay agreed.
"We were able to run the ball really efficiently," McVay said. "We were able to control the game."
As the first half ticked down inside two minutes, Williams broke off his best run of the day. After two quick moves at the line brought two defenders to the grass, Williams ran over a linebacker, made a safety miss and galloped past the first down marker for a 12-yard gain. After L.A. picked up eight more yards through the air, kicker Joshua Karty hit a 46-yard field goal before halftime.
On the Rams' first play from scrimmage out of the half, L.A. went to Williams again, this time in the air. He caught a pass in the flat and high-stepped into the end zone for a 10-yard score. His two catches for 18 yards brought his total yardage to 112 on the day.
A short while later, the Rams' lead back sprinted onto the field, smacking his helmet to hype himself up for the ensuing drive. It's that type of authentic energy that got him voted a captain and offered a three-year extension this offseason.
Meanwhile, Corum was as elusive as he's ever been, explosively bursting through holes in the defense. On one outside zone run, he cut all the way back across the field for a first down, fending off Eagles defenders in the process.
L.A. hammered the outside runs all afternoon, a few of which gave the Rams' backs nothing but green grass in front of them. The blocking and play-calling were as significant to the run game's success as the running backs' vision and burst.
Still, after a brutal loss like that one, it's hard to focus on the positives when the wound is still fresh. Williams, as a leader on the team, used some of his natural effervescence to deliver a message to his teammates.
"I know I'm more hungry now than ever because I hate the Eagles but they put us through something that we need to get put through," Williams said. "And I'm glad that it happened this early in the season because it's only going to make us better later in the season. You never know what's going to happen when it comes to those times in the playoffs where we need to dig down deep and find ourselves. Every man in this locker room is going to be able to do that now because of this experience here. So man, I'm just excited; excited for the journey, excited for this team, the individuals in my room. We're going to keep punching that clock and going to work."
