INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Baker Mayfield was waived by Carolina on Monday and claimed by the Los Angeles Rams on Tuesday. After a cross-country flight, he obtained one brief observe along with his new group on Wednesday.
And on Thursday evening, Mayfield led the Rams to 2 late fourth-quarter touchdowns and a shocking 17-16 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders, capped by a 23-yard scoring go to Van Jefferson with 10 seconds left.
Mayfield may solely surprise what Friday will deliver on this wild week of his life, however the former No. 1 general choose is aware of it in all probability will not be extra enjoyable than some of the superb moments of his bumpy NFL journey.
“I don’t know when you may write it any higher than that,” Mayfield stated. “Clearly, we’d wish to be slightly bit extra stress-free, but it surely’s a reasonably rattling good story, I’ll be trustworthy with you.”
Simply two days after the Rams (4-9) claimed him, Mayfield went 22 of 35 for 230 yards — and finally snapped the defending Tremendous Bowl champions’ six-game dropping streak in dramatic model.
“What a fast research,” Rams coach Sean McVay stated. “He simply obtained right here 5 minutes in the past and found out a manner to have the ability to do some particular issues tonight.”
The Rams went on a 75-yard TD drive moments earlier than the profitable drive, the latter of which ended with Mayfield discovering Jefferson behind rookie Sam Webb ultimately zone. The 98-yard march was the longest go-ahead TD drive within the remaining 2 minutes of a recreation over the previous 45 NFL seasons.
Los Angeles trailed 16-3 after Daniel Carlson’s third area purpose with 12:20 to play, however Mayfield obtained the Rams shifting and Cam Akers made a brief TD run with 3:19 left, one play after he fought for a primary down on the Vegas 1 on a gritty fourth-down catch.
The Rams’ protection stopped Derek Carr and the Raiders on the 2-minute warning, however AJ Cole dropped a 64-yard punt on the Rams 2.
Undaunted and with no timeouts, Mayfield led the Rams downfield once more — with ample assist from an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the Raiders’ Jerry Tillery for knocking the ball out of the quarterback’s palms after a play. The drive included a contested 32-yard reception by Ben Skowronek, who completed with profession highs of seven catches for 89 yards.
“Man, you overlook what profitable is like, and it positive is enjoyable,” McVay stated after the Rams’ first victory since Oct. 16.
Josh Jacobs rushed for 99 yards and the one landing for the Raiders (5-8), whose three-game profitable streak led to humiliating vogue. Lower than 4 weeks after Las Vegas misplaced in former ESPN analyst Jeff Saturday’s NFL teaching debut with Indianapolis, the Raiders misplaced to a quarterback who joined his new group lower than 48 hours earlier than the sport and had only one transient walkthrough observe.
“We’ve performed towards (Mayfield) earlier than and know he’s a extremely good competitor,” Raiders coach Josh McDaniels stated. “He made some essential throws for them. We ready for all three quarterbacks, not essentially figuring out who we have been going to get and on a brief week, so give them credit score. He made sufficient performs.”
Carr handed for 137 yards with no TDs and two interceptions. Davante Adams made two jaw-dropping catcheswithin the first half, however had none within the second half whereas Las Vegas’ offense managed solely 67 yards.
“We left some performs and factors on the market,” Carr stated. “After which on the finish of the sport, I simply didn’t suppose we completed it how we may have completed it to win the sport. You already know, not even having to place the protection on the market or something like that. We simply didn’t execute.”
John Wolford ran the opening collection for the Rams’ offense, however McVay then turned it over to Mayfield, a participant he has lengthy admired. Mayfield was having a horrible season for the Panthers, however he improbably injected a spark into the Rams with a handful of massive performs and first rate drives regardless of minimal information of the playbook.
“There was type of a shortened checklist of performs that I used to be actually, actually finding out,” Mayfield stated. “I’ll say we dipped out of that little checklist and obtained into another issues.”
With McVay apparently giving detailed directions into his helmet earlier than every huddle, Mayfield instantly obtained the Rams shifting. Akers short-circuited Mayfield’s stable second drive with a fumble within the pink zone, however Rams linebacker Ernest Jones made an end-zone interception late within the first half.
Mayfield accomplished 15 of his 20 passes within the fourth quarter, flawlessly directing his new teammates downfield for 2 scores.
“I like to compete,” Mayfield stated. “I like this recreation.”
INJURIES
Jacobs injured his hand early within the second half and briefly went to the locker room, however saved taking part in. … Aaron Donald (excessive ankle sprain) missed his second recreation on account of harm in his nine-year NFL profession. … Raiders RG Alex Bars injured his knee on the opening drive and did not return. … Rams WR Jacob Harris injured his shoulder taking part in particular groups within the second half.
UP NEXT
Raiders: Host New England on Sunday, Dec. 18.
Rams: At Inexperienced Bay on Monday, Dec. 19.
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