Ebukam – Defensive Player of the Week.

Rams, Chiefs total 3 defensive TDs on MNF, led by Samson Ebukam’s 2

Lindsey Thiry

http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/25328237/samson-ebukam-leads-way-los-angeles-rams-kansas-city-chiefs-combine-3-defensive-tds-mnf

LOS ANGELES — Monday night’s showdown between the Los Angeles Rams and Kansas City Chiefs was supposed to be all about offense.

Then the Rams’ defense showed up.

Outside linebacker Samson Ebukam and defensive tackle Aaron Donald wreaked havoc for Patrick Mahomes, as the Rams scored 21 points on turnovers through three quarters and defeated the Chiefs 54-51 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

Ebukam also delivered pressure that resulted in two late interceptions thrown by Mahomes, one to Marcus Peters and another to Lamarcus Joyner.

The Rams’ 21 points off turnovers were as many as the Chiefs had allowed all season.

The Chiefs also scored a defensive touchdown when defensive end Allen Bailey returned a fumble 2 yards for a score.

The three defensive touchdowns were the most in a single game since Week 6 of 2017, when the New Orleans Saints (three) and Detroit Lions (one) combined for four, according to ESPN Stats & Information research.

“We just doing our job, playing good team football,” Donald said. “And staying together.”

Monday night’s high-scoring contest accounted for the most combined points in any game this season.

“They were scoring, we were scoring,” Jared Goff said. “You think it’s whoever has the ball last, and then we get two turnovers at the end. It was an insane game.”

Ebukam recorded the first fumble recovery and interception of his career, and he returned both for touchdowns. A second-year pro from Eastern Washington University, Ebukam became only the third player in Monday Night Football history with multiple defensive touchdowns in a game, according to Elias Sports Bureau research. He joins the Seattle Seahawks’ Andre Dyson in 2005 and the Miami Dolphins’ Dick Anderson in 1973.

Ebukam became the first player since sacks became official in 1982 with a sack, interception and multiple touchdowns in a single game, according to ESPN Stats & Info.

“I was so happy for him, for a guy like that, who puts in all the hard work,” defensive lineman Michael Brockers said. “He comes in ready to work every day. I’m proud of him.”

Entering Monday night’s game, Donald had not recorded a strip sack. Then the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year recorded two against Mahomes, who previously had not lost a fumble in his career.

“Just making my plays when they presented themselves,” Donald said. “And just trying to help my team to win.”

Donald strip-sacked Mahomes and Ebukam scooped up the ball and returned it 11 yards for a touchdown to give the Rams a 23-17 lead late in the first half.

In the third quarter, Donald once again strip-sacked Mahomes and rookie John Franklin-Myers recovered the ball. Four plays later, Goff scored on a 7-yard run, and the Rams led 30-23.

Later in the third, Ebukam tipped a Mahomes pass to himself, then rumbled 25 yards for a touchdown, as 77,072 fans in the Coliseum roared to their feet as the Rams went up 40-30.

“Two touchdowns, I ain’t got one in five years!” Donald said, smiling. “He got two in one game, but that’s what it’s about when you have playmakers and when you got a team like this, that at any time can make the big plays.”

Ebukam laughed after the game and said the last time he scored two touchdowns was in high school, when he played running back.

“I just kept playing hard, kept being myself, kept poised and just kept going,” Ebukam said.

The Chiefs got into the defensive-scoring action in the fourth quarter, when outside linebacker Justin Houston strip-sacked Goff, and defensive end Bailey returned the fumble 2 yards to give the Chiefs a 44-40 lead with 11:07 remaining in the game.

aeneas1

Ebukam highlights

kid had an awesome game, have to be incredibly happy for him! and he was in the process of being mugged on that pick!

Per ESPN Stats & Info, @RamsNFL OLB @samysosa_3 is the first #NFL player with an INT, a sack, and multiple TDs in a game.

(Sacks became official in 1982. Samson was born in 1995.) pic.twitter.com/rrAmEjbAA3

— J.B. Long (@JB_Long) November 20, 2018

Well Ebukam really made an idiot out of me in that game . I’d been dogging him for a while, like when he ran past Kamera at Brees. I love being wrong if that same guy shows up every game he definitely is the answer at OLB.

Herzog wrote:

So…. is he good now?

That’s a fair question.

Maybe he’s starting to break through.

Then again Tree had games where he made big plays but in the end he wasn’t consistently good.

So my inclination is to say great great game, but we’ll see if he holds up.

.

BonifayRam

The KC vs LA game worked in Ebukam’s favor. Ebukam plays much better in the passing game. The Seattle gm was totally different.

The trade for Dante Fowler Jr. is taking LATE root in Wade’s defense. Both OLB’ers, Ebukam & Fowler, are bringing speed from the outside edges now. The two above are working well in Wade’s front four DL passing scheme.

In addition…DE John Franklin Myers is improving now with every new gm under his belt. These 3 are coming on…………..

I expect rookie OLB’er Og Okoronkwo to show up & take Matt Longacre’s relief role after the bye. Longacre no longer has enough quickness nor speed to be effective playing starting OLB’er especially in the passing game or when facing a nimble quick QB. That late 2017 back surgery put a major dent into Matt’s performance. ML will be a UFA in 3 months anyway. His future best playing post will be as a 4/3 DE in a rotational role. It also appears that ML has put on a lot of lbs since last season around his mid section. Though ML still tackles very good when he can get his hands on them.