Rams, Akers assert Cam dominance over Patriots, Newton

The Rams defense may be the biggest party that’s legally allowed to gather in the state of California right now.

Michael Brockers had two of LA’s six sacks and Kenny Young DoorDash’d Cam Newton’s worst throw since the previous one (probably) 79 yards for a touchdown as the Rams beat the Patriots 24-3 on Thursday night.

Audiences on FOX, the NFL Network and Amazon Prime were treated to watching New England play one of their worst games in the Bill Belichick era, as the Rams became only the second team since 2006 to hold the Patriots to under six points in a game. Offensively, LA guaranteed that fans would at least get to see one Cam succeed this week as rookie Cam Akers mattered for 171 rushing yards.

The most by any rookie in a game this season.

Akers has 50 carries for 243 rushing yards over the last two games.

The two Cams made sure that Jared Goff wouldn’t be given many opportunities to prove that he mattered and he finished with 16 completions on 25 attempts for 137 yards with one touchdown and one very impressive, very lucky interception on a low throw.

The game was never particularly close, never particularly interesting to anyone who wasn’t rooting for the Rams or against the Patriots probably and the latter has lost some fans given that Tom Brady now plays Bruce Barianscheck instead. Los Angeles took a 7-0 lead on their first drive, gaining 75 yards with 35 of those coming on a single Akers run. The offense gained another 60 yards and three points on the next drive and the scoring margin made it all but 40 minutes from over when Young took advantage of Newton’s lack of it being five years ago.

Newton went 9-of-16 for 119 yards and was sacked four times before being benched for Jarrett Stidham and it wasn’t difficult for even Terry Bradshaw to mumble after the game that it’s time for the Patriots to sit Cam.

Legitimate MVP candidate Aaron Donald added 1.5 more sacks to his resume, giving him 12.5 on the season, which already matches his total from 2019.

The Rams improve to 9-4 on the season, guaranteeing Sean McVay his fourth winning season in four attempts, which would also make him the best kicker on the team. McVay gets his fourth winning season more than a month before he turns 35. The coach he beat on Thursday didn’t get his fourth winning season until he was 51.

This also means that if LA wins their next game, they’ll have a chance to win the NFC West with a win in Week 16 over the Seahawks. The Rams just have to hold off Adam Gase’s will to win with the Jets coming to SoFi next Sunday and if that happens, they’ll be one win away from no less than a postseason home game.

And they’ll be bringing the best defense in the NFL with them if they do.