Tyler Higbee has been looking forward to this day for almost a year.
The Los Angeles Rams tight end was unstoppable once he got the ball and started moving toward the touchdown zone.
Early in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s game against the New York Jets, Higbee took a short ball from Matthew Stafford, raced down the sideline, and dove over the goal line for the game-winning 11-yard score that gave the Rams a 19-9 victory.
After damaging the ACL and MCL in his right knee during the playoffs last January, Higbee made his season debut. “I didn’t know I was going to have to jump,” he said. “I lowered my shoulder in an attempt to enter the pylon, where I encountered many guys. Then I thought I would take advantage of a small hole.
“The way Michael Jordan’s arm was out in the air reminded me a little bit of ‘Space Jam’. This must be included.
After a sluggish start against the Jets (4-11), it was and it proved to be the decisive score as the Rams (9-6) won their fourth consecutive game and kept their position atop the NFC West rankings on a day when the temperature was a chilly 23 degrees (minus-5 Celsius) at kickoff.
“A strange game,” Rams coach Sean McVay said after both teams had a number of lengthy drives during the day.
But after struggling against Rodgers and New York’s offense for the majority of the game, Los Angeles’ defense came up with a play that changed the game’s momentum.
At the Jets 21, Kam Curl sacked Rodgers on a blitz and forced a fumble that Jared Verse recovered after Joshua Karty tied it at 9 with a 38-yard field goal.
“As I was falling, it landed right on top of me,” said Verse. “One of those things: right place at the right time.”
Stafford found Higbee for the game-winning touchdown three plays later.
“Just happy for him to get out there and play,” Stafford stated. “And to be able to cap it off with a touchdown with a great effort at the end, it was awesome.”
Higbee’s Rams teammates surrounded him when he underwent shoulder surgery during the offseason.
“I almost passed out,” he smiled. “It was very humbling.”
Following the strip-sack, Rodgers hobbled off the field for a short while and visited the injury tent, but he returned for the Jets’ subsequent series.
Rodgers stated that his knee was fine but added that he should have tossed off the ball to avoid being sackable. “That was bad a bad play,” he remarked.
With 5:17 remaining, Karty’s 45-yard field goal gave the Rams a two-point lead at 19-9.
The Jets were unable to organize a successful comeback. With 1:57 left, Anders Carlson attempted a 48-yard field goal, but it went wide right. Jordan Whittington recovered Xavier Gipson’s muffed punt return to give the Rams the victory, denying New York another opportunity to get the ball.
Stafford ended 14 of 19 for 110 yards after going 6 of 10 for 46 yards and an interception in the first half. On 23 carries, Kyren Williams gained 122 yards and scored a touchdown.
A strong start for New York was overshadowed by the loss, as Rodgers was 28 of 42 for 256 yards and a score to Davante Adams.
“The rhythm disappeared, I think,” Rodgers said of the Jets’ offense, which stalled mostly after a scorching start and a 2 of 5 fourth-down performance.
At the Jets 1, the Rams’ first possession ended with Jacob Hummel downing a punt from Ethan Evans, and Rodgers and New York’s offense promptly got going with a touchdown drive from 99 yards out.
The Jets were able to get down to the Rams 11 thanks to five first downs, including an 8-yard pass to Adams on fourth-and-2 from the 20. With 23 seconds remaining in the first quarter, Rodgers executed a nice play-action fake, rolled to his right, and found Adams for a touchdown, giving New York a 6-0 lead.
On the extra point, Carlson missed for the second time this season, going wide left.
To tie Miami’s Dan Marino and Mark Clayton for the third-most touchdown passes in NFL history, it was Rodgers’ 499th regular-season touchdown pass and the 82nd time he and Adams have teamed for a score, including the playoffs.
Stafford’s career-long run of five games without a turnover came to an end when Tony Adams intercepted him on the Rams’ subsequent drive. However, when interim coach Jeff Ulbrich decided to go for it on fourth-and-1, but Breece Hall was stopped for no gain, the Jets turned the ball over on downs, giving Los Angeles the ball at New York’s 33.
When Williams ran up the middle for a 2-yard touchdown run, the Rams took advantage of the short field. However, Karty hit the right upright, and the teams were deadlocked at six late in the second quarter.
Injuries
Jets DL A few hours prior to the game, Quinnen Williams tried to use his damaged hamstring, but he was scratched. CB Sauce Due to a hamstring injury, Gardner missed the second half. In the third quarter, Tony Adams hurt his ankle. LT rookie After the game, Olu Fashanu was on crutches due to a left foot injury he sustained halfway through the fourth quarter. Ulbrich stated that following Fashanu’s testing, the team would have further information.
Up next
Next Saturday night, the Rams will host the Arizona Cardinals, a competitor in the NFC West.
Jets: Next Sunday, go to Buffalo to play the Bills, an AFC East rival.
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