LONDON – On the first play of the first drive of the game, Rams outside linebacker Jared Verse sacked Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence for a 2-yard loss. Three plays later, an incomplete pass forced Jacksonville to punt.
Los Angeles' offense then mounted a 13-play, 60-yard touchdown-scoring drive on its first series that erased nearly seven minutes of clock to take an early 7-0 lead.
Those kind of complementary drives by both phases sparked a fast start for Los Angeles (5-2), as a 21-point halftime paved way for a 35-7 win over the Jaguars (4-3) on Sunday at Wembley Stadium.
That fast start – coupled with an early missed 50-yard field goal by Jaguars kicker Cam Little – forced the Jaguars to go for it on 4th down four times, including on three-straight possessions at one point. Nine of Jacksonville's 12 possessions ended via turnover on downs or being forced to punt.
With wide receiver Puka Nacua out with an ankle injury, Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford tied his career-high with five touchdown passes – also his most as a Ram – as he spread the ball around to a variety of targets in the passing game. Ten different receivers caught a pass from Stafford across his 21 completions; he finished 21 of 33 for 182 yards.
Wide receiver Davante Adams accounted for three of Stafford's five touchdowns, the other two went to rookie wide receiver Konata Mumpfield and rookie tight end Terrance Ferguson (one each) for their first touchdown catches of their careers.
Here is the complete game recap, presented by American Airlines:
Keeping their first offensive series alive with a successful conversion on 4th and 3 from the Jaguars 16, the Rams cashed in via a 5-yard touchdown pass from Stafford to wide receiver Konata Mumpfield to take 7-0 lead with 6:38 left in the first quarter.
Los Angeles extended that lead to 14-0 on a 2-yard touchdown pass from Stafford to Adams late in the first quarter.
Early in the second quarter, Jacksonville had a 61-yard punt return for a touchdown nullified by an illegal block in the back penalty against it.
After safety Kamren Kinchens delivered a big hit on wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. on third down to force the Jaguars to settle for a field goal on 4th and 2 from the Rams 16, Jacksonville kicker Cam Little missed the ensuing 50-yard try wide left, keeping Los Angeles' lead at 14 with 6:58 to go in the second quarter.
On the possession after the miss, Stafford connected with Adams for a second time, that 1-yard touchdown touchdown pass extended the Rams' lead to 21-0 with 4:37 left in the first half.
The Jaguars reached the Rams' 11 on the ensuing possession, and the drive ended there after a turnover on downs on 4th and 7 as Los Angeles' defense stopped a scrambling quarterback Trevor Lawrence four yards shy of the line to gain.
Following a scoreless third quarter, L.A. extended its lead to 28-0 on a 31-yard touchdown pass off of play action from Stafford to Ferguson with 11:11 remaining in the fourth. Jacksonville got on the board on the following series via a 34-yard touchdown pass from Lawrence to wide receiver Travis Hunter with 9:06 left in the fourth quarter.
Ultimately, though, it was too little, to late for the Jaguars, as the Rams answered with a 1-yard touchdown pass from Stafford to Adams to make it 35-7 with 4:58 remaining.
