NFL week seven: Jacksonville Jaguars host Los Angeles Rams at Wembley – live | NFL
Key events
Jaguars 0-21 Rams 2:00, 2nd quarter
Lawrence finds Thomas on the sideline for 24 yards, then keeps the chains moving with some nice mid-range work. First move into the red zone for the Rams and the Jaguars make the trick play on 2nd and 6. LA is not fooled and Hunter’s scrum is stopped at the line of scrimmage. Third key to come.
Jaguars 0-21 Rams 3:34, 2nd quarter
Lawrence comes out and throws a quick pitch right into the dirt. Odd. Another miss follows as a wide-open Washington goes out of bounds to knock away a much-improved long pass. Lawrence calls timeout on third and long.
During this downtime, Adams snatching a pair of TDs makes me jealous as Nacua languishes on my fantasy bench this week. Does anyone have any start/sit suggestions for me? I promise I will win your match this week.
LANDING! Jaguars 0-21 Rams 4:37, 2nd quarter
If you make a mistake, at least try to learn from it. The Jaguars commit another unnecessary pass interference penalty on an incomplete pass from Stafford moving them to midfield. A wide-open Adams then moves the ball 16 yards into the red zone and Colby Parkinson thinks he’s scored until he’s politely told he was on the one-yard line. Adams makes a great one-handed grab for a 1-yard touchdown. Stafford is on fire: 15/20, 127 yards, 3 touchdowns.
Jaguars 0-14 Rams 7:11, 2nd quarter
This is NOT good! The ride starts off well with Lawrence shaking off some rust. He scans the field and finds Tim Patrick for a 22-yard strike. The Jags enter Rams territory. A touchdown would be very useful here. And as I finish typing, Lawrence throws a perfect fastball on 3rd and 2 to his star wideout Brian Thomas. The ball passes directly through his hands. Kicker Cam Little steps in for the 50 yard run and misses. Thomas will blame himself for taking his eyes off the ball.
Jaguars 0-14 Rams 9:59, 2nd quarter
The Jacksonville defense shows up. Stafford takes out three with airtight coverage from the Jags defensive backs. And on the punt, more bad luck. Parker Washington returns it for the TOUCHDOWN but an illegal block above the waist of Jarrian Jones clears it. Experts say it’s a bad decision because blocking doesn’t affect the game. I’m not sure I agree, but Suh then interjects with “if you play football, you know that”, so that’s me instantly putting myself in my place. Definitely a bad call. Boo referees, boo.
Jaguars 0-14 Rams 11:18, 2nd quarter
A third sack (already) sends Lawrence to the turf and a botched run puts the ball in Lawrence’s hands on 3rd and 13. The QB and his young receiver Hunter, however, are not on the same wavelength and the ball passes by him. Punt.
Jaguars 0-14 Rams 12:38, 2nd quarter
Jacksonville smartly turns to the run and gets to midfield with Travis Etienne turning away. LA responds and then stops to set up a 4th and 1. The Jags go for it and Parker Washington runs three yards on a nifty little end around the play.
Jaguars 0-14 Rams 1:38, 1st quarter
The tone has just been clarified for the Rams defense. They are here to intimidate Trevor Lawrence. Linebacker Byron Young chases the QB out of the pocket and pushes him out of bounds with a level of unnecessary aggression bordering on the comical.
LANDING! Jaguars 0-14 Rams 1:51, 1st quarter
Boom! Xavier Smith already today records the seventh different receiver hit by Stafford. A short run by Blake Corum then sets up a 1st and goal. Adams then beats his man at the goal line, Stafford throws him and the veteran brings him down for the score. So very easy and the Jacksonville defense is really struggling. What an incredible start for the Rams.
Jaguars 0-7 Rams 3:25, 1st quarter
The Rams were back in Jaguars territory in the blink of an eye thanks to a 26-yard pass interference penalty and a 23-yard strike to tight end Colby Parkinson. Then, Adams makes his first catch of the day to bring Los Angeles into the red zone at the 15-yard line.
Jaguars 0-7 Rams 4:53, 1st quarter
Apparently Ndamukong Suh, in studio for Sky Sports, is an Arsenal fan. He had a bit of Patrick Vieira in him, didn’t he?
Jaguars 0-7 Rams 5:12, 1st quarter
The offensive outfit pushes the Jaguars back 10 meters, a difficult start to the response. A superb overthrow by Kobie Turner at the line of scrimmage forces 3rd and 14 and Lawrence overthrows Travis Hunter. Three and go again. A 1 minute 27 second workout followed by a 1 minute 20 second effort will definitely keep the Rams linebackers fresh.
LANDING! Jaguars 0-7 Rams 7:01, 1st quarter
No Nacua, no problem. Stafford uses five different receivers on the first drive, finishing with rookie Konata Mumpfield (who?) for a five-yard score. This is only his second catch in his young career. Great job finishing this under pressure after going for it on 4th and 3.
Jaguars 0-0 Rams 7:01, 1st quarter
The Rams are on a roll and in Nacua’s absence, Davante Adams is targeted but knocked down on the opening play. Tight end Tyler Higbee then found the first down with a short, easy pass to the right to Stafford. A good mix of running and passing in the rain still finds some first downs with the tight ends featured. Higbee in particular keeps this dynamic moving with some good catches with what looks more like a bar of soap than a ball. Here we go, McVay doesn’t trust his kicker alert. 4th and 3 at the 16 yard line and the Rams go for it. And they get it thanks to running back Kyren Williams making the grab.
Jaguars 0-0 Rams 14:03, 1st quarter
Here we go! Lawrence and the Jaguars offense take the field for the first drive. First play and Verse sacks the QB. I told you the pass rush was good. This isn’t the start Jacksonville was looking for. Three and out. Punt.
Preamble
Hello and hello football fans, week seven of the NFL is upon us and has brought with it the rarest of treats: a match between two teams (two!) with winning records in London! The 4-2 Jacksonville Jaguars host the 4-2 Los Angeles Rams at home at Wembley. It’s definitely a reason to celebrate because at 2:30pm in the UK and the earliest of mornings for LA fans at 6:30am, we have a chance to close out this year’s London series with a cracker.
The English capital has only been graced once before with a clash between two “good” teams when the Giants and Packers, both 3-1, came to party in 2022. Yes, it only took 15 years of slop to finally receive a blessing when Daniel Jones defeated Aaron Rodgers 27-22 with a fierce second-half comeback after trailing 17-3.
The G-men would make the playoffs, so are the Rams or Jaguars heading in that direction? Both are well placed with Los Angeles in a three-way tie for the lead in the NFC West and Jacksonville a game behind Jones’ Indianapolis Colts in the AFC South.
It’s a little early to start projecting the playoffs though, so let’s take a look at today’s game. The big team news is that the Rams are missing big man Puka Nacua at wide receiver and the Jaguars are without star linebacker Devin Lloyd. On the pitch, the history of both teams has so far been marked by success disappointed by inconsistency. For Los Angeles, the running game has been an issue while the offense, led by quarterback Matthew Stafford, has been one of the most productive in terms of yards and completion rate in the league but is 24th in red zone efficiency, scoring a touchdown just 50 percent of the time they enter the 20-yard line. Watch out for head coach Sean McVay, who digs into his box of tricks to throw many different looks at the Jaguars as the Rams aim to cross the 30-point mark for the first time this season (second if you count the Titans).
On defense, Los Angeles is much sturdier and has not allowed teams to score a single touchdown twice this season. The guys the Jaguars need to be most wary of are football’s best passing duo, Jared Verse and Braden Fiske. The game could be won or lost based on how Jacksonville protects its quarterback Trevor Lawrence. Or they could try to revive the running game to take the pressure off him after struggling against the Seahawks. Jags fans are hoping Lawrence who beat the Chiefs shows up today.
