INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Not lengthy after Baker Mayfield led the Los Angeles Rams to a 17-16 comeback victory over the Las Vegas Raiders on Thursday evening, coach Sean McVay stood on the podium and laughed.
“Similar to we drew it up,” McVay stated.
The Rams snapped their six-game dropping streak in spectacular trend, led by Mayfield, who was taking part in two days after he was claimed off waivers. Mayfield got here off the bench after Los Angeles’ first sequence, changing beginning quarterback John Wolford.
After the Rams had trailed by 13 factors within the fourth quarter, Mayfield led the staff on a 98-yard game-winning drive, ending with a 23-yard landing go to huge receiver Van Jefferson with 10 seconds remaining.
“I do not know if you happen to can write it any higher than that,” Mayfield stated. “Clearly we might prefer to be just a little bit extra stress free, but it surely’s a fairly rattling good story, I will be trustworthy with you.”
In accordance with the Elias Sports activities Bureau, the 98-yard drive was the longest go-ahead landing drive that started within the ultimate two minutes over the previous 45 seasons.
“You’ll be able to’t say sufficient about Baker Mayfield and the management, the resilience [and] the competitiveness,” McVay stated. “And what a fast examine. I imply, he simply acquired right here 5 minutes in the past and discovered a manner to have the ability to do some particular issues tonight.”
Mayfield stated the previous three days have been “fairly hectic,” as he went from Carolina on Monday to taking part in in Los Angeles on Thursday evening.
“Some powerful selections, however the whole lot occurs for a cause,” Mayfield stated. “Proper now I’ve simply acquired lots of feelings, however I am actually, actually blessed and I am actually grateful proper now, particularly simply the fellows right here that welcomed me in and helped me do the crash course right here.”
The Rams trailed 16-3 after Daniel Carlson‘s third subject purpose with 12:20 to play, however Mayfield led a 75-yard drive capped by Cam Akers‘ landing run with 3:19 remaining.
After stopping Derek Carr and the Raiders on the 2-minute warning, the Rams discovered themselves in a precarious scenario when AJ Cole dropped a 64-yard punt on the Rams 2. With no timeouts, Mayfield led the Rams downfield and acquired to the Raiders’ 23 with 15 seconds left. Mayfield then linked with Jefferson within the again nook of the top zone.
On the profitable play, Mayfield stated he was “utterly shocked” to see the Raiders line up in press protection with 15 seconds left.
“I actually thought they have been going to come out and play zone,” he stated. “However they simply stayed with it, and I noticed the weakside security keep down, and Van’s an ideal go-ball runner, go up and get it, and he received off the road and did a great job.”
Mayfield accomplished 15 of 20 passes within the fourth quarter, the second-most completions in any quarter of his profession, in line with ESPN Stats & Data.
A former Heisman Trophy winner and No. 1 total choose, Mayfield was requested the place Thursday evening’s comeback win together with his new staff ranked amongst his profession highlights.
“That is up there, to be trustworthy with you,” he stated on the Amazon broadcast. “I did not suppose it was going to play out like this, however I’m certain glad we coated the two-minute operation, my goodness.”
Mayfield is 0-22 in his profession as a starter when trailing by 13 or extra factors, however this was the second time he has led a 13-point comeback off the bench. He additionally erased a 14-0 deficit in his NFL debut in 2018.
Regardless of beginning the sport, Wolford did not try a go. It’s the third time up to now 10 seasons {that a} beginning quarterback didn’t try a go, in line with ESPN Stats & Data.
Mayfield has now performed for 3 groups in his first 5 seasons, making him simply the second participant taken No. 1 total within the frequent draft period (since 1967) to take action.
Data from The Related Press was used on this report.
