GLENDALE, Ariz. – The Rams said all week that they were looking forward to responding after a tough loss in Carolina. They did more than that, dominating the Cardinals in Arizona, 45-17, in a Week 14 victory that featured some spectacular individual efforts.
After the game, Rams head coach Sean McVay, quarterback Matthew Stafford, running back Blake Corum, defensive end Kobie Turner and outside linebacker Byron Young spoke to the media about the complete effort. Here are the most significant quotes and talking points from those press conferences.
"I'm feeling better (after traveling separately from the team due to an illness). Yeah, it was one of those deals that, you know, it hit me Friday night. It was kind of going around. I think our little boy gave it to my wife first and then got me pretty good. And I feel good, though. Just wanted to be able to be smart and not give ourselves a chance of giving it to anybody else because of how contagious this could be." - McVay
McVay said it was difficult to do his usual post-game routine after a win where he gives out game balls because he was trying to be careful not to get too close to anyone. "I don't like this," he said. Still, he coached a great game and said he's proud of the team, which he described as "player-led," and the situation was "a good reflection of the coaching staff, too."
The run game's success "takes all 11," McVay said, but also acknowledged that Corum and running back Kyren Williams are running hard and pressing the right gaps. He added that, in the pass game, Stafford did "a great job of distributing the ball" and not taking negatives when pressured, as he had zero sacks on the day, which McVay said was important against a defense like Arizona's.
"I thought we really disciplined how we approached the game. They wanted to run small people out there and we were in 13 (personnel) and it was just, 'Hey, let's keep running the rock.' And we can call all those runs, but if we don't make them work, then they have the upper hand. So a ton of credit to our guys up front, our tight ends, our backs, receivers blocking." - Stafford
The Rams leaned heavily on 13 personnel (one running back, three tight ends) on Sunday and it resulted in a season-high 253 rushing yards (not including kneel-downs) on 7.7 yards per carry. Stafford said the Rams were "dictating the terms" of the game on Sunday by spreading the ball around and succeeding in the run and pass game.
Wide receiver Puka Nacua had a career day with seven catches for 167 yards, and Stafford said that, while the incredible plays he makes don't surprise him, he certainly doesn't take them for granted. "Just try to put in some good spots for him, and he does unbelievable stuff, coming down with the football, contested catches," Stafford said. "So... I wouldn't say I'm surprised, but I do appreciate all of them. I don't sit there and take them for granted, that's for sure."
"(Breaking a big touchdown run is) definitely something I've been wanting to do and feel like I've been super close. The line has blocked it really well a couple of times and it was just up to me to finish the play off." - Corum
Corum hit 21.3 miles per hour on his 48-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter, the longest run of his career and of the Rams' season. He said that, during the week, they had an idea that play might hit big at some point. He saw the hole, burst through it, and when he saw the safety slip, he knew it was time. "I knew I needed to break a long one sooner than later," Corum said.
He and Williams have been one of the most formidable running back tandems in the NFL in recent weeks, and they combined for 212 rushing yards on Sunday in Arizona. They keep each other fresh and are always rooting for, and pushing, each other on the sidelines. "When I'm on the sideline, I see Kyren break off and run, I get hyped," Corum said. "And that makes me, when I go in, I want to break off a long one just so we can keep feeding off each other."
"We always bring the energy. We always have the focus. But I think we are a little bit more urgent this week (after the loss to Carolina), and that's something that we're going to look to continue to carry throughout the rest of the season." - Turner
Guys were spending just a bit more time taking care of their bodies and watching film this week after the loss to Carolina, Turner said, and it paid off on Sunday. "We got to do a better job of not putting ourselves in that position and carrying that over each week," he said. "But I think we have done a really great job of that. I think the urgency just ticked up just a little bit more."
Early on, the Cardinals scored an opening-drive touchdown, but then the Rams settled in. Turner said that the first quarter "didn't really feel like" the Rams defensively, but turned it around. He added that they knew tight end Trey McBride would be heavily involved, and after the first few drives, they started to contain him.
"We know that (opening-drive score) was unacceptable. We just started playing our keys better, we just locked in, but yeah, giving up a touchdown like that on the first drive, we never do stuff like that, so that just woke us up. Something that we needed." - Young
Young echoed Turner's claim that their preparation this week after the loss included a heightened sense of urgency. He also said that McVay's illness meant they didn't have a team meeting, which made him a bit worried, but he was glad that his leader was able to make the trip.
He also talked about how proud he was of inside linebacker Nate Landman for intercepting his first pass of the season, when he usually forces turnovers via punch out. "Celebrating with him, those are the moments we grind for and we practice for."
