jackson and avila handling their pass rushers one-on-one, creating a pocket for stafford who steps up and delivers a dart to tutu for a first: pic.twitter.com/wguLObc1DT

— roberto clemente (@rclemente2121) September 12, 2023

Rams rookie edge rusher Byron Young had some promising moments during his debut in Seattle. He had a handful of pressures and QB hits.

Young is already known for his speed but we got to see what a great motor and physicality he possesses as well! pic.twitter.com/LbMIkRBojr

— RAMS ON FILM (@RamsOnFilm) September 12, 2023

10 receptions. 119 yards. Roll the @AsapPuka highlights. 🎥 pic.twitter.com/3PGJi3c6V8

— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) September 11, 2023

This is the closest look at Aaron Rodgers’ Achilles injury. I’m gutted for him.

🎥: @ACLrecoveryCLUB pic.twitter.com/FbrkkmDw8v https://t.co/Xlm6u6rTyj

— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) September 12, 2023

Most passing yards in week 1…

Tua Tagovailoa – 466
Kirk Cousins – 344
Matthew Stafford – 334
Mac Jones – 316
Derek Carr – 305
Jared Goff – 253
Jordan Love – 245
CJ Stroud – 242
Trevor Lawrence – 241
Josh Allen – 236

— NFL Stats (@NFL_Stats) September 12, 2023

Matthew Stafford's Week 1 @PFF

5 big time throws
0 turnover worthy plays
91.1 grade (2nd in NFL so far this week) pic.twitter.com/q2YWdmLl5W

— J.B. Long (@JB_Long) September 11, 2023

They cover the Rams at 7:52 in. It’s Breer & he makes very good points.

.

Also: 

Zooey wrote:

Kendrick looked bad a couple of times, but I’m not ready to demote him. I dunno. I saw Jalen Ramsey get embarrassed more than a handful of times,

I take that to heart because I went off on Kendrick during the chat because of the TD where he got fooled out of his socks, but, there are all sorts of indications that other than that he played a decent game.

The Rams crushed the Seahawks yesterday, but they're still big underdogs to the visiting 49ers in Week 2

You taking Rams +7 against San Francisco? https://t.co/dGzoSnVr2c

— Cameron DaSilva (@camdasilva) September 11, 2023

from https://www.si.com/nfl/2023/09/11/nfl-week-1-five-things-we-learned-49ers-chargers-rams-cardinals-lions#gid=ci02c91db0d00024cc&pid=rams

Old man Stafford will keep L.A. competitive

Matthew Stafford was again in the news because of what his wife said on her podcast, The Morning After With Kelly Stafford. She had plenty to talk about for the latest episode because of the Rams’ upset win of Seattle, but more on that later.

To recap, Kelly Stafford said her husband was having a hard time connecting with his many younger teammates, adding that they immediately stare at their phones after meetings. (The Rams opened training camp with about 40 rookies.) After the Rams’ quarterback was asked about her comments, the 35-year-old Stafford hinted that there was a miscommunication and that everything was fine with his inexperienced teammates.

Who knows whether Stafford hangs with teammates after film reviews, but they were certainly on the same page Sunday against the Seahawks, which was very impressive, considering receiver Cooper Kupp was placed on injured reserve a day earlier with a hamstring injury.

Stafford, who was well protected, quickly established a rhythm with fifth-round rookie Puka Nacua, who had 15 targets for 10 catches and 119 yards. Stafford also got 119 receiving yards from Tutu Atwell, the 2021 second-round pick who was inconsistent during his first two seasons. Stafford finished with 334 passing yards.

If the Rams stay afloat, they might be legit playoff contenders if Kupp returns to the field.

Rookie LG Steve Avila (OG1) was a legit difference-maker in Week 1 with his ability to anchor, set a firm pocket, recover and generate movement in the run game. Really nice debut. pic.twitter.com/WMrjnoTnEM

— Brandon Thorn (@BrandonThornNFL) September 11, 2023

Some of Donald being Donald from Week 1 pic.twitter.com/xa2SZwiY0S

— Brandon Thorn (@BrandonThornNFL) September 11, 2023

from Albert Breer: https://www.si.com/nfl/2023/09/11/nfl-week-1-takeaways-49ers-best-team-packers-talent

The Rams’ complete evisceration of the Seahawks might be the biggest surprise of the weekend. I say that, of course, as somebody who was surprised. As somebody who thought Seattle would be (and is) really good—I had Pete Carroll’s crew in the NFC title game. But also as somebody who thought the Rams would be a little better than some of the doomsdayers out there who idiotically thought the team was tanking for a certain quarterback who plays for the private school across town.

USC’s Caleb Williams won’t be a Ram, to be clear, because a team is going to have to be the worst in the league to get him and, so long as Sean McVay’s the coach, the Rams won’t be that.

That said, Los Angeles is a team that’s carrying $75 million in dead money for 2023, meaning roughly a third of its spending limit is devoted to players no longer on the team. The team also counts 19 rookies on its 53-man roster, which is more a necessity with that numbers crunch than it is any sort of youth movement. The Rams were also a team faced with a rising, loaded Seahawks group on Sunday in one of the NFL’s most hostile environments.

And somehow, the Seahawks didn’t stand a chance, getting outgained 426 to 180 in a 30–13 Rams rout. Afterward, McVay told reporters, “There was a grittiness, there was a toughness, there was a resilience on display from this team. And I loved it.”

Left unsaid was how foolish it was for anyone to bet against him, or his once-again-healthy quarterback, Matthew Stafford, who threw for 334 yards in Seattle. Remember, the Rams were decimated by injury last year, and went 5–12, yet they blew out the Broncos and hung tough with the Packers and Seahawks in the last month of the season. And so, again, the idea that anyone there was tanking on the watch of those two never made sense.

But what we saw Sunday? I didn’t see that coming either.