Somewhat unexpectedly, the Los Angeles Rams have started the 2023 season 1-0 – and they earned that win in dominant fashion against the Seattle Seahawks. They beat their rivals, 30-13, on the road Sunday and it wasn’t particularly close in the second half.
Before we look ahead to the upcoming 49ers game at SoFi Stadium, we’ll bask in the glory of the Rams’ 17-point win over the Seahawks by highlighting eight crazy stats from the victory.
1
Rams’ longest opening drive in at least 23 years
After holding the Seahawks to a field goal on their first possession, the Rams took the field on offense for the first time this season. And all they did was go 16 plays, 75 yards and milk 9:13 off the clock, eventually scoring a touchdown.
Their 16-play drive was the team’s longest opening drive in at least 23 years, showing how rare that was for Los angeles.
A historic opening drive. pic.twitter.com/MnDUtRJLkl
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) September 10, 2023
2
Rams held Seahawks to fewest 2nd-half yards in 15 years
Before the final play of the game, the Seahawks had a whopping 3 yards on offense in the second half. They gained 9 yards on the last play, giving them 12 in the final two quarters. The Seahawks’ 12 yards were the fewest of any team since 2008 when the Bears had 2 yards in the second half against the Vikings.
It was a downright dominant performance by the Rams defense in the second half.
The Seahawks ran 14 offensive plays in the 2nd Half yesterday.
The fewest in a Week 1 game since 2008 (any game since 2019).
They gained 12 yards on those plays, the fewest in the 2nd half of any game since 2008, when the Bears had 2 yards in 2nd half of Week 12 vs MIN.
— Rich Hribar (@LordReebs) September 11, 2023
3
Rams converted league-high 64.7% of their 3rd downs
No team was better on third down than the Rams this week. With the Jets and Bills still set to play on Monday night, the Rams have the best third-down conversion rate in the NFL thus far. They were 11-for-17 on that critical down, converting at a rate of 64.7%. The average conversion rate in the NFL in Week 1 was 36.8%, so the Rams were significantly better than average.
The Rams converted a league-high 64.7% (11-of-17) of their third downs in Week 1.
The league rate was 36.8%.
— Rich Hribar (@LordReebs) September 11, 2023
4
Puka Nacua had most yards ever by Rams rookie in Week 1
Nacua went off in his NFL debut, catching 10 of his 15 targets for 119 yards. Nacua’s 119 yards are the most ever by a Rams rookie in his debut, which puts into perspective just how good he was against the Seahawks.
With 120 receiving yards in today’s game, Puka Nacua recorded the most receiving yards in a rookie debut in Rams history. He is the 2nd player drafted in the 5th round or later with 100+ receiving yards in his NFL debut. pic.twitter.com/0xtcGwOaiX
— Los Angeles Rams PR (@TheLARamsPR) September 10, 2023
5
Nacua and Tutu Atwell are Rams’ youngest WR tandem with 100+ yards since 1958
It wasn’t just Nacua who stood out at wide receiver on Sunday. Atwell did, too. He caught six passes for 119 yards, matching Nacua’s yardage total in Week 1 and making the Rams the only team with a tandem that had 100-plus yards each.
Nacua and Atwell are the youngest Rams receivers to finish a game with at least 100 yards each since 1958.
Both Nacua and Atwell rank in the top five in receiving yards so far this season.
Per FOX broadcast, Puka Nacua and Tutu Atwell are the first Rams duo age 23 or younger with 100-plus receiving yards each since 1958 (Del Shofner and Lamar Lundy)
— Stu Jackson (@StuJRams) September 10, 2023
6
Rams already have half as many 30-point games as they had in 2022
The Rams topped 30 points just twice last season and they’re already halfway there in 2023. They averaged only 18 points per game a season ago, failing to top 25 points in 15 of their 17 games, so this season is off to a much better start.
7
2nd time since 2021 that the Rams have allowed fewer than 100 yards passing
The Seahawks finished the game with only 95 net passing yards after accounting for sacks. It’s only the second time since 2021 that they allowed fewer than 100 yards passing in a game, with the only other instance being last season against the Cowboys when they gave up 76 net passing yards to Cooper Rush – a game the Rams still managed to lose, 22-10.
8
Rams have 2nd-best pass-blocking grade of Week 1
The pass protection was stellar on Sunday afternoon. According to Pro Football Focus, the Rams finished the game with a pass-blocking grade of 84.8, which is the second-best in the league thus far. Only the Packers’ grade of 85.3 was better than the Rams in Week 1, and on the opposite end of the spectrum was Pittsburgh with a 31.0 grade.
Still Monday Night Football to be played, but so far, the Rams' offensive line has the second-highest pass blocking grade of Week 1 (84.8), according to PFF.
QB Matthew Stafford was kept clean on 76.9% of his dropbacks.
— Stu Jackson (@StuJRams) September 11, 2023
