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00:00NBC Sports, celebrating its 20th season of Sunday Night Football, welcomes you to the following presentation of the National Football League.
00:11Battle of division leaders in SoFi tonight.
00:14It was in the stadium three years ago that Baker Mayfield played the first of his five games for the Rams, and that turned his career around.
00:21He's back to face them tonight and just spoke with Melissa Stark.
00:25Baker, you're back in SoFi playing against the team that you said made football fun again.
00:31What did your time here do for you and your career?
00:34Just revitalized it at a time where I needed it most and I didn't really know where that next step was going to be.
00:40They helped me find the fun in it again and realized what kind of offense I wanted to be in and helped me find that.
00:45Strong start to the season for you guys, but you've coming off two straight losses.
00:50How does the team get back to that early season form?
00:53We just did all the little things right early on.
00:54We've got to do that.
00:56Injuries or not, none of that matters.
00:58Nobody cares, no excuses.
00:59So we've got to do the little things right when it matters on third downs, critical situations, and figure it out.
01:03You talk about injuries.
01:04You battled a couple that limited your mobility, but you ran last week for the first time in four weeks.
01:10What does your running ability do for this offense?
01:12Just trying to take advantage of whatever's there.
01:14I know I'm not the fastest guy, but if the pass lanes are closed up and there's some rush lanes there, I've got to take advantage of them.
01:21Baker, have fun tonight.
01:22Thank you.
01:23All right, Melissa, thank you.
01:24We look forward to watching Baker here tonight.
01:25There you see the coaches, Sean McVay and Todd Bowles, their second head-to-head as head coaches.
01:30And each team a half game ahead, Rams and Seahawks, Bucs over the Panthers, who play tomorrow night up in Santa Clara.
01:37So both are thinking about the big things in the conference, but also trying to win their divisions one more time.
01:44Well, speaking of winners, Aaron Donald, Super Bowl champion with these Rams, future Hall of Famer.
01:51It's Aaron Donald celebration night here, 60,000 bobbleheads, pretty cool bobbleheads, too, as a matter of fact.
01:58And the real deal in person, in the flesh, Aaron Donald in the house here tonight and being celebrated by the Rams.
02:05The Bucs won the toss, and they want the ball, so Harrison Mevis, who has never kicked off in the NFL, he's kicked the last couple of games, only extra points.
02:15He's the place kicker for the Rams.
02:16He'll kick it off tonight with Cameron Johnson and Owen Wright, back deep to receive for the 6-4 Buccaneers.
02:23It's been a terrific day of football. Multiple overtime games, great comebacks. Let's see what two division leaders have in store for us. Rams and the Bucs, run in a row.
02:35Off we go on a Sunday night. And so far, here comes Owen Wright for Tampa.
02:4225, Wright, Shia, and 30, and that's where the Buccaneers offense will take over.
02:49Baker Mayfield, Lake Travis High School.
02:51Rashad White, Arizona State.
02:53Chris Godwin, Middletown High School.
02:55Sterling Shepard.
02:56Odohovah.
02:57Emeka Abuka.
02:59Dee, Ohio State University.
03:00Kate Otten, Washington.
03:02Tristan Wirfs, Iowa.
03:03Michael Jordan, The Ohio State University.
03:06Graham Barton, Duke.
03:07Dan Finney, Indiana.
03:09Luke Jettike, Central Michigan.
03:11Ben Bredesen twisting up front. He's the starting left guard. Second game out.
03:15No Bucky Irving. The starting running back is out for the seventh consecutive game.
03:20They hope to have him back soon.
03:22Rashad White helps carry the load.
03:24And a powerful run to the left to the 34.
03:27It's a gain of a half dozen off the handoff from 30-year-old Baker Mayfield.
03:33Good start to the season as any quarterback.
03:35Really, 12 touchdowns, one pick.
03:37But you see those numbers have flipped just a little bit.
03:39He has looked more himself, especially as Melissa Aston, starting to run again last week in the loss at Buffalo.
03:46Former number one overall pick of the Browns back in 2018.
03:51Has found a home year three as a Buccaneer.
03:54Second and four. Mayfield out quick.
04:02And then get Ibuka, the terrific rookie receiver on the edge, once shy of a first down, as he is stopped by Cameron Kitchens.
04:09The safety for the Rams.
04:10Third and a yard coming up.
04:12Amika Ibuka really has been quite the story this year, hasn't he?
04:17Came on and just exploded on the scene.
04:20And thank goodness he did because of all the injuries.
04:23Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Jalen McMillan.
04:26Just one after another, he stepped up and really created those big plays.
04:30We haven't seen quite as many the last couple of games, though.
04:33Sean Tucker, the back, third and a yard.
04:40Tucker's got it running inside, and he has a first down across the 40-yard line.
04:46Tucker, in his third year out of Syracuse, three touchdowns in the game in Buffalo last week.
04:51He and White will split the load tonight.
04:54Make the right tackle, Luke Gedeke, move him over here to the left side and just play a little power football.
05:00And we did see over 200 yards of rushing a week ago for the Tampa Bay Bucs.
05:07And Sean Tucker really had a breakout kind of performance.
05:11You would expect he's going to get a little more opportunity here tonight, too.
05:16And Todd Bowles really likes the third year back.
05:20He's in motion.
05:22Mayfield, so good out on the edge.
05:24Not much open, so Baker takes off and gets a couple of yards.
05:28He's tracked down by Kofi Turner, one of the good young guys on that defensive front for the Rams.
05:36Guys matching play-calling wits when the Buccaneers have the ball tonight.
05:40On your left, it's Chris Shula, the second-year defensive coordinator for the Rams.
05:44And on the right, Josh Broussard, 35 years old, first year as the offensive coordinator for the Bucs.
05:49They've been rotating through him because everyone who gets that job gets a head coaching job.
05:54That's how it works sometimes.
05:55And Chris Shula has the number-two scoring defense in the land right now.
06:00So good stuff on that side of the ball, too.
06:03Second and seven.
06:05Throwing it backwards to Tens Johnson.
06:07He's very close to the first down.
06:09He is slight but speedy.
06:11The seventh-round pick, the rookie out of Oregon.
06:14You know, it's so interesting, Mike.
06:16We've talked about some of the injuries to the skill position guys,
06:19but for Todd Bowles and his staff, they have been rotating in the offensive line
06:24at the wide receiver, running back, and it's amazing the record is as good as it is.
06:30Jump on the ball quick, third and one, and Tucker gets the first down.
06:34Pleased with that.
06:3544 to the 44.
06:37Here's the Rams defense.
06:38So if you know the Rams, there's a big name missing from those defensive lineups.
07:03Quentin Lake, the leader of the secondary, out with an elbow injury.
07:06Bayfield, deep shot downfield.
07:08Ibuka down there.
07:09Emeka couldn't get it.
07:11Broke it up by Kobe Durant.
07:14Played it perfectly in the air to tip it away.
07:17The deep shot to Ibuka.
07:20Yeah, Ibuka really was wide open on the play,
07:22but it took Baker a minute to get his feet set,
07:26and that cost him just a little precious time,
07:29and Durant was able to catch up and make this play.
07:32Great hustle to get back, get his head back around, knock it down.
07:36Those are the kind of plays that Ibuka's been making all season long, though.
07:50Second and ten.
07:52Inside game.
07:54Not much going on with White.
07:57That defensive front for the Rams,
07:59and that's another one of the young ones.
08:01Braden Fisk.
08:01Braden Fisk is a stud last year, led him with eight-and-a-half sacks,
08:07but watch how physical this guy is.
08:09Just right through Feeney, the guard, and able to make that kind of play.
08:15So now you get them backed up, and now this Rams defense,
08:18and they are so good in these situations when they get a chance to rush the pass.
08:23Here we go.
08:24Good sight for Buccaneer fans.
08:2614 going to the top of your screen.
08:29Chris Godwin missed the last five games.
08:31Fibula injury.
08:32Pressure comes.
08:33Picked up.
08:34Mayfield escapes.
08:35Anybody open downfield?
08:37He fires incomplete.
08:39Onyette Godwin breaking.
08:41Ibuko is deep.
08:42Couldn't get on the same page.
08:44Fourth down.
08:45Punting unit coming up.
08:46This is what you'll see.
08:49They end up coming, both of them, from this side,
08:52going to flush out Baker Mayfield to his right.
08:55You can only pick up one of the two.
08:57But Baker, actually, his numbers are so much better
09:00when he's scrambling and out of the pocket
09:02than just that first-look wide receiver.
09:05That's typically where they get some big action.
09:07Tenth-year veteran Riley Dixon
09:11will try to pin the Rams deep.
09:13Xavier Smith, the normal pocket turner,
09:15is out with a concussion.
09:17So Aaron Williams comes up.
09:19He's starting running back and makes the fair catch
09:21at the 19-yard line.
09:23Just a 24-yard punt.
09:24Hand the ball to Matthew Stafford.
09:27As hot as there is in that position.
09:28On the field next.
09:34How good is that?
09:35That's Kobe Turner, the defensive lineman for the Rams.
09:39His nickname's the Conductor.
09:40Fell in love with music,
09:42and his mom played gospel music
09:43as he was growing up in the house.
09:45No sheet music.
09:47Playing it by ear, the Sunday Night Football theme.
09:50Doing that this week.
09:51How cool is that?
09:52Heard it a couple of times.
09:53Yeah, I could play.
09:55From the 20, Rams to the left.
09:57Kyron Williams for nothing.
09:58Here's the rest of their offense.
10:01Matthew Stafford, Georgia.
10:02Kyron Williams, Notre Dame.
10:04Devontae Adams, Fresno State.
10:06Pukinakua, Tarkanian Middle School.
10:08Jordan Whittieson, Cuero Tays.
10:10Colby Parkinson, Stanford.
10:12Howard Jackson, Iowa.
10:13Steve Avila, TCU.
10:15Coleman Shelton, Washington.
10:16Kevin Dawson, Louisiana.
10:18Warren McClayman Jr., Georgia.
10:21And a completion.
10:23To Williams for only a couple of yards.
10:26Or a couple of starters are missing for the Rams there.
10:28Right tackle Rob Havenstein on injury reserve.
10:31Same true with Tyler Higby, one of their tight ends.
10:34Both are at least four weeks for Sean McVay.
10:36So, a couple of changes for the Rams.
10:38We'll watch those closely as we go through the night.
10:40Right now, they face a third and seven.
10:48One of the top offenses in the league.
10:50Sixth in scoring.
10:51Eighth in yards.
10:53They've taken great care of the ball.
10:54With count, Stanford fires inside Devontae Adams to the 36-yard line.
11:00Game to 13 and a first down for L.A.
11:08Seen a lot of magic between these two guys.
11:11Devontae Adams has come over here.
11:13And Pukinakua handles a lot of the heavy work down inside, catch and run.
11:17But you can see Matthew Stafford still has that zing.
11:22And when he wants to put it somewhere, it goes.
11:24And defensively, a lot of young players out there for the Bucs.
11:28They have to be careful with Stafford.
11:30Don't follow his eyes.
11:31Vita Vance has took himself out of the game.
11:34As Stafford's pass will slingshot to Colby Parkinson.
11:37The tight end will gain about eight yards.
11:40He'll mark them right around the 43-yard line.
11:43We talked about Matthew Stafford at the very beginning.
11:4527 touchdowns and two picks.
11:48Only Patrick Mahomes in 2020 has gotten off to a 10-game start like that.
11:53It's one of the reasons that the 37-year-old is currently the favorite to win the MVP.
11:58The number one pick by the Lions 17 years ago.
12:02Year five with the Rams, of course, winning Super Bowl 56 in this building against the Bengals.
12:082nd and 3, fake to William Stafford on time.
12:19Puka Nakua on the run.
12:22Puts his head down to the 28-yard line.
12:26Gain to 29, first down, Rams.
12:32Puka Nakua does this more than anybody I know.
12:36He runs his routes in between people, sometimes between the guard and the tackle,
12:41that time between the tackle and the tight end.
12:43But it is very difficult to try and follow him.
12:46And then Matthew Stafford, you try and follow his eyes,
12:49you have no idea where he's going to throw it.
12:51But that's the kind of magic that they have brought to this offense.
12:55And now as they get down closer to the red zone here,
12:58Devontae Adams kind of takes over from here.
13:01Turbo trip!
13:02On first down, Stafford, scanning, Yaya Diaby gets to him and brings him down.
13:10The Bucs are in desperate need of a pass rush, and Yaya got him for a loss.
13:18Nice job by Yaya Diaby on the outside,
13:21and he got a little help on the backside with some coverage
13:24because you could see Stafford had an idea.
13:27He had time to go one, two, and three.
13:30And then Diaby just got right through Alaric Jackson.
13:35Lost a 10 on the play.
13:37He leads the team with five sacks.
13:38That's the best guy up front, Vida Veya.
13:41They took a look at his right ankle as he came out.
13:44Maybe put a little tape on it, as you can see.
13:46Back in the lineup, second and 20, quick.
13:50Diaby's hand was in the lathe.
13:52Nakua grabs it.
13:53It's a game of two.
13:55It was close.
13:57Yaya Diaby couldn't decide if he wanted to go hit Puka
14:00or try to get an interception and get out of there,
14:03but he has been the prominent figure here so far
14:07in this first quarter.
14:08Barely missed that.
14:10Rams jumped the ball, third and 18, Stafford.
14:13Sideline, Nakua, inbounds, first down.
14:19In 18, they get 20 into the red zone.
14:24Nobody does a better job at the top of their route
14:27than these receivers.
14:28Watch this little double wiggle
14:30right as he gets to the breaking point at the top
14:33and just no chance whatsoever
14:36to make that play on the outside for McCullough.
14:39That is huge.
14:42When you get those third and longs like that
14:44to convert that.
14:46And jumping the ball, too,
14:48to take care of the personnel questions.
14:50Okay, running down by the official,
14:52thinking about calling a timeout.
14:53Doesn't need it.
14:55From the 16, Stafford outside.
14:57Colby Parkinson toward the goal line.
15:00And he is marked out of bounds at the one.
15:06Who would have ever believed
15:08that Matthew Stafford would be doing
15:10sort of naked bootlegs coming out and around.
15:14Remember in training camp,
15:16this guy could barely practice.
15:19It was only like two weeks of practice
15:20before opening day,
15:22and now they have him under center.
15:24They have him going a lot of play action.
15:26They have him rolling out.
15:27He is the complete quarterback,
15:30and it sure never looked like
15:31it was going to be that
15:32when we started this year.
15:34I'm not laughing at you.
15:35I'm laughing at Stafford
15:36as he's waiting for Sean McVay
15:38who has long play calls.
15:39The timeout is taken here by the Rams.
15:42Stafford and McVay have this great relationship,
15:44and they're on, like,
15:45the highest level of offensive intelligence
15:48you can have between a QB and a play caller.
15:50It's like he's waiting,
15:51and he's, like, looking for the play call,
15:52which are long.
15:53Okay, I got it.
15:54I got it.
15:54Come on.
15:54Give it to me.
15:55Oh, man.
15:59So these plays are, like, 25 words long.
16:03So if you're late getting them in,
16:05or if in any way Sean McVay bestes it up,
16:09now it gives Matthew Stafford less time,
16:12and these guys are only, like, two years apart.
16:14It's like they're the same age.
16:16They're over there,
16:17and so sometimes when they have a conversation,
16:19it could be, like, two old buddies
16:21in the conversations.
16:22He's like, uh, you want to hurry up?
16:24It is fun, to say the least.
16:26Pukka Nuku is at the length of play calls.
16:28It's like the Harry Potter book.
16:30First and goal from the one.
16:32Kyron Williams, the back.
16:36Stafford, Devontae, Adams, got it!
16:39Touchdown!
16:39NFL touchdown reception leader.
16:53There's another one.
16:54There's almost no way, Mike, he got outside.
16:57You're going to see him, recall him
16:58way outside shoulder out here, right?
17:01So watch what happens.
17:03He's going to give them the quick, hard inside move
17:06and still got out there.
17:07I just don't think in the history of the game
17:09there has been maybe a handful of people
17:12with release moves like Devontae Adams,
17:15and that's the reason he leads the league in touchdowns.
17:18Game kicking for Harrison Mevis,
17:22and he knocks it through.
17:24He's hit all ten.
17:25Game 11 for Devontae Adams has a round.
17:28Touchdown reception number 11.
17:31Stafford did all eight on the drive,
17:32and it's 7-0 L.A.
17:37Tonight's 4K Skycam coverage is delivered by Walmart.
17:45Rams fans were making a lot of noise
17:47as on the beautiful screens up here,
17:50they were watching the Cowboys' comeback of the Eagles,
17:53fully aware that an Eagles loss, which did happen.
17:56A couple of the Rams win here tonight.
17:57Now they would have the top record in the NFC.
18:00Mevis' kickoff to the end zone.
18:02Ball comes out to the 35.
18:04We go back to what just happened in that end zone.
18:06No way it should have happened.
18:08Zion McCollum is out here on this outside edge.
18:11He knows he's got help inside with Antoine Winfield.
18:15He just cannot let this outside release happen.
18:18And yet, because Devontae Adams is so good,
18:21he ends up with two guys chasing him
18:23to the back corner of the end zone.
18:25And just brilliant, brilliant release moves
18:28by Devontae Adams, and you shouldn't be surprised.
18:31One of the best all-time.
18:33Yeah, fadeaway jumper.
18:34Yeah, I got you.
18:35Well, he asked Stafford about it
18:36because he threw Calvin Johnson in the red zone
18:38for all those Detroit years.
18:39He said Calvin was one of a kind,
18:41but Devontae has short area separation
18:44unlike anyone I've ever seen.
18:46You saw it right there.
18:48Sean Tucker, the run.
18:49Game of four.
18:50As the second drive begins for the Buccaneers,
18:53down seven to nothing.
18:56Pretty amazing story, right,
18:59with Sean Tucker and what he's been able to do.
19:02And he was a guy that went undrafted.
19:05And we were talking a little bit with Todd Bowles about it,
19:08and he said, the guy runs 4-3.
19:10Don't be surprised when he outruns people.
19:12He had a little heart murmur, I guess,
19:14coming out in the draft, and people shied away from him.
19:18And, oh, the Bucs are glad they didn't.
19:21The team is an undrafted free agent.
19:23Now he's given them a lot the last couple of years.
19:25Here he is again on the run to the left.
19:28He'll gain two more.
19:29Melissa Moore on Sean.
19:30Yeah, Todd Bowles did say he was an All-American at Syracuse
19:33several times to us.
19:34Rushed for nearly 1,500 yards his final season.
19:37But as Chris said, went undrafted because of a heart condition.
19:40That was discovered in his pre-draft physical
19:43for the Combine in 2023.
19:45And I asked him about it.
19:46He is so humble.
19:46He said, I believe everything happens for a reason.
19:49I don't focus on the past.
19:50I'm just focusing on where I am now.
19:52And I like where I am now.
19:54And he said, I'm just making sure I'm ready when my number's called.
19:57Yeah, got to watch him a lot and get to know him a bit
19:59during his time at Syracuse.
20:00Third all-time leading rusher for the Orange.
20:03Classy kid.
20:04Good to see him succeed.
20:05Here's Mayfield.
20:06His pass to Godwin is held onto.
20:08And a first down.
20:10So great for the Buccaneers to get Chris Godwin back in the lineup.
20:14He's missed eight of their first ten games to start the season.
20:18And that's really what they've needed.
20:20They've just needed an anchor because Amika Ibuka has been sensational, right?
20:26But he has gone from the number three receiver to the number one receiver.
20:30Now you bring Godwin back in there.
20:32They're not going to play him a lot tonight.
20:34Play him about 30, 35 snaps.
20:36But just want to work him in slowly.
20:38But that was a big one there.
20:41Two and a half here in the opening quarter.
20:42Two Ibuka.
20:43Trying to get the block from Ryan Miller.
20:45We're in the tight end.
20:46I should say.
20:47But Kobe Durant blew all of that up for the loss of a couple of yards.
20:52Kobe Durant's had a good game here already.
20:55And we have seen big physical play out of some of these cornerbacks in the past.
21:00But, boy, that takes courage when you have a big tight end in Cade Otten coming down trying to drill you
21:06and stay and focus on that tackle.
21:09That chain sparkly looks good.
21:12You want one for game 500?
21:14Get a big 500 chain?
21:17Only if you're a bop.
21:18That's all I stuck?
21:20Second and 13.
21:21Manfield fires.
21:27Durant taking it away.
21:29Durant's on the run.
21:30Down the sideline.
21:32Kobe Durant looking to cut inside.
21:34Touchdown.
21:42Otten bottled it.
21:43Durant stole it.
21:45Great hustle by the Rams to throw a finishing block.
21:49LA leads 13-0.
21:50As bad as it gets for a receiver right here.
21:58You bobble, bobble, bobble, and then hand it to a defensive back, basically.
22:04And it's interesting that he did have a little control, and there was a bit of a knee on the ground.
22:10I don't know.
22:12With contact, we're going to bring in Terry McCauley here as they look.
22:15This has not been confirmed yet.
22:17Terry, what should we be looking for here?
22:18So he's got to have control, and then he has to have it long enough to perform and act common to the game.
22:25And they rule he was not, and they have confirmed it as a touchdown.
22:33So confirmed that it wasn't his long enough stolen by Durant.
22:39Nevis adds the extra point.
22:41And the LA Rams see the Bucs win the toss, take the ball.
22:46A score by LA on offense, and the Rams defense is heard from, as Durant, with the takeaway, takes it to the house.
22:5614-0 in the Rams' house.
23:03Kaydon's got to be so frustrated.
23:04Chris, what did you see as a former receiver on that one?
23:06Well, I mean, I thought it was obvious he had control when the knee went down, but I know that's not enough.
23:14Right, Terry?
23:16Exactly, Chris.
23:17He then has to have it long enough to perform and act common to the game.
23:21And as we see, it got stripped pretty quickly.
23:23It just isn't clear and obvious that he had it long enough, enough to reverse to down by contact.
23:30So even if we all acknowledge right here he has control and the knees down, that is not a completed pass.
23:38By rule, that's correct.
23:40And we showed it to you in real time a couple of times just to give you a feel for that.
23:45Because as you slow it down, you get a little different perception of that.
23:49But in real time, you can see why, one, the call was made on the field, and two, they stay with it after confirming the touchdown,
23:56which automatically happens on a turnover-slash-scoring play.
24:01So, the Bucs are in a 14-point hole, and Rashad White is the back with Baker Mayfield.
24:08Work to do inside, broken up.
24:10It's Cameron Kitchens on the pass intended for Otten.
24:14Right now, the Rams are on their front foot.
24:17Cameron Kitchens is just red-hot right now.
24:21Over the last five weeks, we have him graded as the number one player playing defense right now.
24:26These are those match zones, so they may drop into a zone,
24:29but when you come anywhere close to me, I am going to go play you like it's man-to-man coverage.
24:35And right now, we have seen Cameron Kitchens just light up offenses around the NFL.
24:41And right now, the Rams are showing a lot of pressure, but they have two new guards in for the Tampa Bay Bucs,
25:09and so they are doing a lot of slants and stunts and bringing the slot in there.
25:15It is just pressure coming forward, and Baker Mayfield right now needs a big play.
25:21He needs something to back off Chris Shula in this defense.
25:25It's slot who is coming.
25:26Josh Wallace got a little bit of that to deflect it.
25:29Third and ten.
25:29And Bucca in motion, Mayfield trying to escape, ran into his own man as he was being brought down.
25:39Kobe Turner, the conductor, plays the theme, takes down the opposing QB.
25:45He's off to a lyrical start tonight.
25:48So one of the things you'll see with this team is that they do stunts later than most defenses that I see.
25:57So they'll go up the field a couple of yards, and then they'll stunt.
26:02So that when they're coming back around the corner the way that Kobe Turner was that time,
26:08they're right into the face of the quarterback.
26:11Two and a half sacks for Turner.
26:13A lot of that conductor celebration yet this year.
26:17Big hang time from Riley Dixon, Farrah Cough, by Kyron Williams at the 28-yard line.
26:24The conductor, that musical background, give me a little more of that Sunday football theme
26:28as we head out to break.
26:37Look at that beautiful shot.
26:38In the hills, back here at SoFi in Englewood, all Rams, leading 14 to nothing.
26:47Inside, Brennan Williams gets about five against Tampa Dibes.
26:50Yaya Diaby, Lou.
26:54Elijah Roberts, SMU.
26:55Vita Vell, Yate University.
26:57Logan Hall, Houston.
26:59Anthony Nelson, Iowa.
27:00Shavaske Dennis, Pitt.
27:02Levante David, home of the Blackshirts.
27:04Ticker Parish, K-State.
27:05Antoine Winfield Jr., Minnesota.
27:07Tucky Smith, Georgia.
27:08Zion McCollum, Sam Houston.
27:11Jamil Dean, their corner out with a hip injury.
27:14Big loss for the Bucs.
27:16Gave a 44 last week.
27:17There goes Blake Corum, the backup running back on that carry.
27:22And the pistol behind Stafford.
27:24He'll take it again.
27:26Yeah, they come back to the left.
27:27Two runs for Corum.
27:29Gets the Rams a first down as we get to the end of the first quarter.
27:33Again, the Rams dominate a first quarter.
27:36Last five games, they're outscoring their opponents 63 to 3 in the first.
27:40And it's 14-0 tonight.
27:43Sunday Night Football continues after these messages.
27:47Tonight's S&F sites are provided by Nationwide.
27:55The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, devoted to global cinema, the arts, sciences.
28:02The artistry of movie making.
28:04A lot of familiar movie themes and things you see in that museum.
28:08Just one of the many things connected to the great motion picture industry out here in Southern California.
28:14Second quarter begins.
28:15Stafford throwing back inside.
28:17And it's complete for just a gain of a yard on that first down throw.
28:21It was to Jordan Whittington.
28:23Chris, what a nine months it's been for Stafford.
28:26In February, his agents were given the opportunity to shop around, maybe get a deal.
28:30And then he goes through the offseason.
28:32His back is bothering him.
28:33Limited in the preseason to the point they weren't sure if he was going to play to start the season.
28:39And now he's been terrific.
28:40Inside throw is caught there by Tavis Allen, who had to fight it in front of Sarasi Adenas.
28:44And picks up six yards.
28:48He'll be third and short.
28:49So the interesting part was he was just getting ready for camp and he got hurt.
28:53So he went six weeks where he didn't play football when everybody else was preseason and the whole thing.
28:59So he comes back a couple of weeks before the season starts and goes, I'm just going to give this a try.
29:04I don't think this is going to go very well, but we'll try it.
29:07Did okay.
29:08Did a little bit.
29:09And then he gets to opening day and he is admittedly nervous, has not taken a hit.
29:15He's got a bad back.
29:18And he's been nothing but terrific since.
29:20Continuing 10 for 10 to start the night.
29:24Ganante Mugfield, the rookie out of Pittsburgh, with a first down to the Bucs 44.
29:29He just has such a deep understanding and did not have any training camp at all.
29:34Watch him.
29:35And he's just going to go from the right side, saw exactly what he didn't want to see, snaps right back to the other side.
29:43And Mugfield makes a nice play.
29:46I mean, so the idea that he is 37 years old, no camp, back hurts, he's coming out and potentially the MVP of the league.
29:56It's one of the really incredible stories of the league this year.
29:59On first down, Stafford, 11 of 11, one shot of the best in his career to start a game.
30:10Devontae Adams, first down of the 29.
30:12That's a gain of 14.
30:13You know, some quarterbacks look nervous as they scan the field.
30:16Watch Stafford look to his left here.
30:19Make sure he has that.
30:20I don't like that.
30:21There's the middle.
30:21Okay, I think I'll just glide right out here.
30:24There's nothing jerky about it.
30:27It's just a free flow, like a dance move or something out there.
30:32And watching him call plays in the huddle, I mean, he is staring down those guys.
30:38And he's maybe the only guy who can call a 25-word play call and get away with it.
30:44It's been great.
30:45That was 12-4-12 to start.
30:48Trying to go for 13.
30:49And that was broken up by Davis, or to Davis Allen.
30:53Broken up by Tykee Smith of the Bucs, who are desperate to slow down the ramps here.
30:58It'll be second and 10.
30:59Well, just to see him play at this level, I think he impresses himself at this point.
31:08Remember when we walked in the room?
31:10I'm like, what are you doing, Pilates or what?
31:13I mean, his core was, like, rocked up.
31:15And, you know, we've seen him before, and it's not like he's out of shape or anything.
31:18But I think because of the back issues he had, he had to do all that core work.
31:24And really, he's been playing at his best.
31:26Agreed.
31:29Fake decorum.
31:31Slipping out to Colby Parkinson.
31:34First down and more to the 15-yard line.
31:36That's 14 more.
31:39As this Rams offense cannot be stopped, the Bucs defense on its heels for the second straight week.
31:45I mean, Mike, they have no idea where the ball is going here.
31:50When you're playing offensively or defensively, either one,
31:54sometimes you get in a game or you get a couple of drives going,
31:58and you feel like, oh, okay, I got this or I can do that.
32:01Right now, there's flailing going on on both sides of the ball for the Bucs.
32:05Waiting.
32:06Waiting.
32:08Waiting.
32:08Waiting.
32:08I can't get in.
32:10I can't get in.
32:10Take, take, take, take, take.
32:13Turbo's in.
32:15Corum off the middle, jumping through the hole.
32:19First down for Blake.
32:20Corum to the 5-yard line.
32:27There we go.
32:28Bread and butter right here.
32:30Double team here.
32:31Double team there.
32:32This linebacker chooses to jump that way.
32:35As soon as he does, Corum goes that way.
32:37That's the offense that they've been running here.
32:40And when they can throw the ball like this and then play those double teams,
32:44last week it was outside zones.
32:47There's nothing this team can't do right now offensively.
32:50Ready, right, hold on.
32:50Ready, ready, ready.
32:52Turbo's in.
32:53Bursting goal.
32:55Look at the Puka Nakua.
32:58Kendall Vildor is going to see more time in the secondary
33:02because of the injury to Jamel Dean back there in coverage on Nakua.
33:06And Devontae Adams is going, okay, Puka, there's your one.
33:10That's it.
33:10They're all coming to me from now on.
33:13And it really has kind of turned into that.
33:15When they're up the field, Puka Nakua is the guy that catches a lot of wide receiver screens,
33:20catch and run slants, that kind of stuff.
33:22And then once they get down in the red zone, man, it has been all Devontae Adams.
33:26There he is off to the left this time.
33:29The lone receiver with three tight ends, which the Rams do a lot.
33:35The fake.
33:36Stafford on the roll.
33:37And throws it at the feet of Adams.
33:41And he's coming across the formation with him.
33:44But the Buccaneers had him cover it up.
33:47Tykee Smith right around it.
33:50Third down.
33:52I think Devontae a little slow to get up there,
33:54but the last thing in the world he wants to do is come out down here in the red zone.
33:59This is money time here.
34:01I think he got his hair cut in his helmet or something down there.
34:05There's a Colby Parkinson's towel to get that all straightened out.
34:16Third and goal.
34:22That's her.
34:23Rock it to the end zone.
34:24Touchdown, Parkinson.
34:35Just a perfect start for the Rams.
34:40Nightmare start for the Buccaneers.
34:44So you want to double team the wide receivers, do you?
34:47Okay, we have two guys there.
34:49That means Parkinson's going to go one-on-one
34:51and be wide open right behind him.
34:53You jump the wide receiver,
34:55you're going to get the no-lookie right there.
34:58Toying with him, that's all he's doing.
35:05And Harrison Mavis
35:07makes it 21 to nothing.
35:12Third straight game,
35:14Colby Parkinson catches a touchdown.
35:16Matthew Stafford off, fire.
35:1814 to 17, two touchdowns.
35:21And the Rams making a statement
35:23on Sunday Night Football.
35:24Sunday Night Football brought to you by Hyundai.
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35:42And by Walmart,
35:43shop Black Friday deals and score big online.
35:47That was a big play.
35:49That was Centennial High School blocking modern day.
35:51a team that always gets its way to the finals
35:53in the high school football playoffs.
35:55But Centennial will move on.
35:58They'll face Santa Margarita next week.
36:00They are coached by Carson Palmer.
36:02That game in the Rose Bowl coming up on Friday night.
36:06Touch back here.
36:07Bucs will take it out to the 35.
36:10So Baker Mayfield,
36:11familiar with this place.
36:12December 8th of 2022.
36:14It was his 68th game,
36:16but it was a pivot point in his career.
36:17He was only on the Rams for 45 hours.
36:21Throws that touchdown pass that Thursday nighter
36:23against the Raiders.
36:25Gets the win.
36:25Gets the game ball.
36:27It helped him hit the reset button.
36:29Because Stafford was out with an injury.
36:31Mayfield was here a couple weeks later.
36:33They dominated Denver on Christmas Day.
36:36And Baker Mayfield got his mojo back.
36:37And it changed the course of his career.
36:40Signed with the Bucs as a free agent.
36:41And has taken them to division titles in the playoffs
36:44the last couple of years.
36:45Now trying to bring him back
36:47as Sean Tucker carries.
36:49Just shy to the 48-yard line.
36:51Gain of five.
36:52This is what I say, Chris,
36:53after that game.
36:54First time I had fun playing football in a few years.
36:56That feeling of success,
36:58remembering what it was all about
37:00after all of his struggles in Cleveland.
37:02He kind of hit the reset button for him.
37:04He thought that reset button was going to Carolina,
37:06which is where he was.
37:07Didn't work out there.
37:09They released him.
37:10The Rams have Stafford and the injuries bring him in.
37:12And Sean McVeigh, in the time with him,
37:15changed everything for Baker.
37:17Yeah, he said that McVeigh was a real jerk.
37:19He made him call all the 25-word plays.
37:23And that used him off a wristband
37:24with the guy who'd only been here
37:25truly for 43 hours.
37:28In trouble here.
37:29Just gets rid of it.
37:30Incomplete.
37:31There's no receiver in the area.
37:32And the conversation will be,
37:34was he out of the tackle box or not?
37:36And the referee, Clay Martin,
37:38who we have not heard from
37:39in this penalty-free first third of the game,
37:43says no grounding.
37:44It's going to be third down.
37:45Yeah, it was, it was close,
37:46but I think that's the right goal.
37:49Take a look.
37:51Those, those lines don't exist,
37:53so maybe inside is,
37:56that, but he was definitely moving that way.
37:58So they avoid the penalty
38:02of trying to avoid a three and out.
38:05Third and a half does it.
38:11Mayfield taking up,
38:12got a lot of room to run,
38:13and Baker slides
38:14as he gets a much-needed Tampa first down
38:17from the 48-yard line.
38:19But it's one of the things that
38:21Baker will have to take advantage of.
38:23When you see the line studs
38:25of this Rams team,
38:28you'll know that they are running full speed.
38:31And sometimes,
38:32if you can take advantage
38:34and step up and through,
38:35I mean, look at the craziness
38:37of these guys rushing the passer.
38:39So there's going to be some built-in gaps.
38:41And we know this team's at its best
38:43when Baker Mayfield is running on occasion.
38:47That was Tristan Wirfs.
38:48He got knocked down there.
38:49And he's one of the best tackles.
38:51Rashad White.
38:53For just a yard.
38:55Trish, you come back Baker Mayfield.
38:57Walk on to Heisman.
38:58Number one pick.
38:59Got Cleveland to the playoffs.
39:00Didn't work out long-term there.
39:02But just the joy that he expressed,
39:04even a couple years later
39:05when we talked to him
39:06about those games with the Rams.
39:08But you know,
39:08he was in Carolina and demoted.
39:11And they had him playing
39:12the defensive end
39:14on the scout team defense.
39:17Now think about that.
39:19From the number one overall pick
39:20and used to getting treated
39:22like the number one overall pick
39:24to the scout team defensive end
39:26and then come here
39:28and win that game with the Rams,
39:29you can imagine
39:30what that meant to him.
39:32And in front,
39:35the grab twisted around
39:37there at the 48-yard line.
39:39Melissa?
39:40Yeah, Mike,
39:40been watching Baker Mayfield
39:42down here on the sideline,
39:43down 21 to nothing.
39:45He has remained very calm,
39:47not showing frustration.
39:48Prior to this drive,
39:50he went up to multiple members
39:51of the offense
39:51saying,
39:52one play at a time,
39:53just trying to figure out
39:55how to work their way
39:56back into this one.
39:56We talked to Todd Bowles,
39:59his head coach,
40:00about Baker
40:01and just the confidence
40:02and the energy
40:03constantly brings to this team
40:05and the belief.
40:08And they're dipping
40:09into that bag of belief
40:10right now.
40:11Chris Godwin is a guy
40:13that so many times,
40:15if they've had practice
40:16time together,
40:17this is where he goes
40:18right here.
40:1936, Rams bring pressure
40:21Mayfield,
40:21trying to run for it again
40:23and he gets there
40:24for the first down
40:26at the 41-yard line.
40:29Bowles reminds him,
40:30you don't have to run over
40:31everyone all the time,
40:33but he got the yards there.
40:34Watch Godwin come in here
40:36and he was going to be open
40:38and that was going to be the target,
40:40but Mayfield just has been
40:41under so much pressure
40:43and those two runs,
40:45it's no accident.
40:46So many times,
40:47Baker Mayfield
40:48picks this Buccaneers offense up
40:51doing exactly that.
40:56Tucker in the back
40:58and there he's Sean
41:00running left.
41:01Got a nice block
41:02through a tackle
41:03and a nine.
41:04I'm going to go to the next
41:09and I'm going to go to the next
41:10and I'm going to go to the next
41:12and I'm going to go to the next
41:13and I'm going to go to the next
41:13and I'm going to go to the next
41:14and I'm going to go to the next
41:15and I'm going to go to the next
41:16and I'm going to go to the next
41:17and I'm going to go to the next
41:18and I'm going to go to the next
41:19and I'm going to go to the next
41:20and I'm going to go to the next
41:21and I'm going to go to the next
41:22and I'm going to go to the next
41:23and I'm going to go to the next
41:24and I'm going to go to the next
41:25and I'm going to go to the next
41:26and I'm going to go to the next
41:27and I'm going to go to the next
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