INGLEWOOD, Calif. – The Rams' defense came up clutch in the team's season-opening victory over the Texans. After tight end Colby Parkinson fumbled at Houston's 12-yard line, the Texans drove down the field, but inside linebacker Nate Landman punched the ball out of running back Dare Ogunbowale's hands, and the Rams retained possession and ran out the clock to secure a 14-9 win.
Head coach Sean McVay, quarterback Matthew Stafford and wide receiver Puka Nacua spoke with local media after the game. Here are the most significant quotes and talking points from those press conferences:
"We always talk about practice, performance and preparation equaling game reality. That's what (Landman's) done. He has gotten more punch-outs than anybody. He has just a great feel for it. He's so intentional, and I think it's rubbed off on the rest of the group, and he got it at a critical time. You talk about competitive greatness, that was on display." - McVay
In his first game as a Ram, Landman "closed the game out in a big way," McVay said. He was served as a team captain and wore the green dot as the defensive signal-caller. The defense he commands held a talented Houston offense to just 2 of 9 on third downs, allowing no touchdowns or plays run in the red zone. McVay said the defense "kept us in that game in spite of us having some uncharacteristic execution (errors)."
Offensively, McVay said Stafford was "in great command all day," adding that "he came up with clutch play after clutch play," including a 24-yard pass to Nacua to ice the game. Another clutch pass went to wide receiver Davante Adams on second-and-long, when Stafford threw a dig route to the veteran, who scooped up a low throw to convert. "That play was big, and that ended up leading to points," McVay said. He blamed himself for putting the offense in that situation with a "s***** play call" that ended up losing three yards on a screen.
The offensive line endured several injuries throughout the course of the game, as both Steve Avila (first quarter) and Kevin Dotson (fourth quarter) exited with ankle injuries. Beaux Limmer slotted in at left guard when Avila left, and then swung over to the right side when Dotson exited and Avila came back. McVay praised both Limmer for his ability to fill in at both spots and Avila for toughing through an ankle injury.
"I felt like my face was on my face mask and I was standing up and it was just all the way down here to the left. But just got some quick stitches and then got back out there." - Nacua
After Texans linebacker Henry To'oto'o hit Nacua helmet-to-helmet, he had to be evaluated for a concussion and got stitches in his head, where a cut had opened up. But he returned to the game and got "ready to hit someone all over again." However, he wasn't looking to get his lick back on the hard-hitting To'oto'o, who he played in the Polynesian Bowl all-star game with, because "you never want to look out for those (linebackers)."
Nacua was on the receiving end of the pass that put Stafford above 60,000 career passing yards for his career, something only 10 quarterbacks have ever done. Afterwards, Stafford came up to Nacua and said "I'm glad the ball went to you." Nacua was confused and thought to himself, "I'm pretty sure the play was supposed to come to me," before he looked up at the big screen and realized Stafford meant the ball that broke the 60,000-yard mark. "I'm like, 'Oh, I'm so sorry, brother. I totally missed that,'" Nacua said.
"You can't go out there and play like that (worrying about an injury). Maybe that's stupid to think, but that's how I feel. I just go out there and play." - Stafford
After being held out of training camp and much of the preseason with a back injury, Stafford "felt great" in the season opener, finishing with 245 passing yards and one touchdown. He was also sacked three times, but it didn't seem to phase him. "There was some good stuff I did today. I think there's some plays I think I can be better and try to avoid some more negatives for us," Stafford said.
130 of his passing yards went to Nacua, whose toughness was praised by Stafford, a notoriously tough player himself. "When it becomes tackle football is when Puka Nacua's game comes to life. And we're really blessed to have him as a player, but as a person too, and as a competitor." Stafford said this will be "another one of those stories in probably a really long, successful career" of how Nacua had to get stitched up to come back, "make some big plays (and) seal the game at the end of it."
