NFL Photos | NFL Photography Gallery | NFL.com
How the Los Angeles Rams Advanced to Super Bowl LIII
How did the Rams get here? After an early exit in last year's Wild Card round, Los Angeles retooled with Marcus Peters, Aqib Talib, Brandin Cooks and Ndamukong Suh. The Rams got off to an 8-0 start, which included wins over playoff contenders in Minnesota, Seattle and the other Los Angeles. After a loss in New Orleans, the Rams bounced back with two defining wins over the Seahawks and Chiefs in L.A. Sean McVay's club slipped up a bit down the stretch, but secured a first-round bye and took care of the Cowboys in the Divisional Round. Back in New Orleans, a no-call kept the game within reach and in overtime, the Rams kicked their way into their first Super Bowl appearance since 2002.

The Los Angeles Rams upset Jon Gruden's return to the sideline of the Oakland Raiders. The Rams offense continued to look sharp under second-year coach Sean McVay.
Running back Todd Gurley finished with 108 yards on 20 carries and 39 yards with a reception touchdown. Gurley's 12 games with at least 100 rushing yards since 2015 were third-most in the NFL during that span.
Quarterback Jared Goff finished 18/33 with 233 pass yards, 2 TD, 0 INT and a 97.2 passer rating.
The game's final score was Marcus Peters' pick-six. Peters has three INT return touchdowns since 2015 (T-second-most in NFL). His teammate Aqib Talib has the most during that span (4).

It was the first time the Rams had started the season 2-0 since 2001 when they went 14-2 and played in Super Bowl XXXVI.
Running back Todd Gurley scored three touchdowns. Gurley became the first player in NFL history with three TDs and two 2-pt attempts converted. Gurley has now scored 23 scrimmage TDs since 2017, the most in the NFL over that span.
Quarterback Jared Goff finished 24/32, 354 pass yards (one yard short of his career high), 1 TD and 1 INT.
Wide receiver Brandin Cooks' 159 receiving yards were the most receiving yards by any player against the Cardinals since Week 16, 2016.
Punter Johnny Hekker was 1/1 on field goals (20 yds), and 1/1 on PATs after kicker Greg Zuerlein suffered a groin injury in warmups.
The matchup featured two starting QBs drafted first overall by the same franchise, Sam Bradford (2010) and Jared Goff (2016).

The Rams and their elite offense were far too much for the Chargers to handle in this game. The Rams chalked up 33 first downs and 521 yards of offense in their win over the Chargers. Over the last 40 seasons, they had 30-plus first downs and 500-plus yards of offense in just two games, both in 2000.
Todd Gurley finished with 23 rush attempts, 105 rush yards, 1 TD and five receptions for 51 yards. Gurley has been the biggest offensive weapon in the NFL over the past two seasons with 2,469 scrimmage yards (154.3 YPG) to lead the league.
Brandin Cooks had seven receptions for 90 yards. Cooks sat fifth in receiving yards since 2015.
Robert Woods tied his career high for receptions (10) for 104 yards and two touchdowns.

The Rams started 4-0 for the first time since the 2001 season (those Rams finished 14-2 and went to the Super Bowl). In the victory, L.A.'s offense racked up 556 total yards (456 pass, 100 rush), its most total yards in a game since Week 16, 2006.
Jared Goff finished 26/33 with 465 passing yards, 5 TDs and 0 INT for a 158.3 passing rating (a perfect rating). Goff became the second QB since 1950 to record 400-plus pass yards, 5+ pass TD and a perfect passer rating in a game and the first QB in NFL history to pass for 350-plus yards and have a 75-plus completion percentage in three straight games.
Gurley finished with 83 rushing yards on 17 carries, four catches for 73 yards and 1 receiving TD. Gurley had the most scrimmage TD (41) in the NFL since 2015.
Cooper Kupp set career highs in receptions (9), receiving yards (162) and receiving TD (2) and longest reception (70 yards).
Aaron Donald finished with 2.0 sacks, 4 QB hits and 2 tackles for loss.

The Rams had won five consecutive road games for the sixth time in franchise history. The last time the Rams won 5+ consecutive road games was 2000-01, when they won nine straight on the road.
Los Angeles became the fifth team to score at least 30 points in each of its first five games to start a season in NFL history. Three of the previous four teams to accomplish this feat advanced to the Super Bowl.
Jared Goff had his fourth-straight game with 300+ pass yards. He did not have more than two consecutive 300+ yard games before this season. Goff leads the NFL in pass YPG this season (345.4).
Todd Gurley, who did not miss an offensive play (63 snaps), finished with 22 rush attempts, 77 rush yards and three rushing TDs along with four catches for 36 yards.
To round out the scoring, Cooper Kupp had one touchdown to go with his six catches and 90 yards receiving.

The Rams started 6-0 for only the fourth time in their team history. The win extended their road game win streak to six games.
The Rams dominated the running game against the Broncos with 270 rush yards compared to Denver's 60. Todd Gurley took 28 carries, scoring two touchdowns and running for a career-high 208 yards.
Wide receiver Robert Woods finished the game with seven receptions for 109 receiving yards, leading the Rams' offense with 36 receptions and 524 total receiving yards on the season.

The Rams outplayed the 49ers across the board to improve their record to 7-0 for the first time in franchise history since 1985. Los Angeles' offense racked up 331 total yards, scoring 39 points and converting 41.7 percent of all third downs. Todd Gurley carried the bulk of the offense, scoring two touchdowns on the ground and catching a touchdown pass from Jared Goff.
On defense, Aaron Donald recorded game-breaking numbers. Donald sacked 49ers quarterback C.J. Beathard four times, halted the 49ers offense with six tackles for losses and finished the game with nine total tackles.

In the Rams' eighth straight win of the season, Todd Gurley proved to be an offensive nightmare lined up as a receiver. When lined up in the slot or wide out, Gurley caught all three of his targets for 72 yards and a touchdown. That's in addition to his 25 carries for 114 rush yards. Elsewhere on the offense, Robert Woods became Goff's favorite target due to the injuries to Cooper Kupp. Tight end Josh Reynolds also contributed three receptions, 42 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
The Rams' victory also featured special teams trickery with punter Johnny Hekker converting a fake punt to Sam Shields for a first down. Hekker also downed two punts inside the 5-yard line, and linebacker Ramik Wilson forced the game-sealing fumble on a kickoff in the fourth quarter.

This was the first game in NFL history in November or later between teams each averaging at least 33 PPG entering the game. It turned out to be the Rams' first loss of the season.
Jared Goff finished 28/40 with 391 pass yards, 3 TD, 1 INT and a 115.7 passer rating. Goff attempted at least 40 passes in a game for the fourth time in his career and the first time in 2018.
Todd Gurley recorded another touchdown, keeping his streak of at least one TD per game this season. Gurley had 13 carries for 68 yards and six catches for 11 yards.
Cooper Kupp made his return to the field after sitting out since Week 6 to finish with five receptions, 89 rec yards and 1 TD. Brandin Cooks added six receptions for 114 yards and 1 TD.
The Rams defense was unable to sack Drew Brees while giving up 487 total yards.
Los Angeles would return to New Orleans for a rematch in the NFC Championship Game in January.

At 9-1, the Rams posted their best record through 10 games since 1969 and moved to 5-0 after losses in the Sean McVay era. The Rams offense scored 30-plus points in eight of their first 10 games this season. Only two teams in the Super Bowl era had logged more games of 30-plus points through their first 10.
Jared Goff had his seventh game with a 100+ passer rating in 2018 by throwing 28/39 for 318 yards and two touchdowns.
Todd Gurley marked his 13th consecutive game with a touchdown, tied for the fourth-longest streak in NFL history. Gurley finished with 16 carries for 120 yards and three catches for 40 yards.
Brandin Cooks had 10 catches for 100 yards and his second career rushing touchdown.
The Rams defense recorded nine sacks.
Los Angeles' season was upended when Cooper Kupp suffered a season-ending torn ACL in the fourth quarter.

A showdown initially set to take place in Estadio Azteca was instead moved to Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum at a week's notice. It was the first game in NFL history in which both teams scored more than 50 points. The Rams and Chiefs combined for 14 total touchdowns (second-most in NFL history), 105 points, 1,001 total yards and 827 pass yards. Patrick Mahomes and Jared Goff each threw for more than 400 yards and at least four touchdowns.
This game was the best regular-season game according to Adam Rank's NFL's top 10 games of the 2018 regular season.

The Rams clinched the NFC West with their victory over the Lions, becoming the first team in 2018 to clinch its division. The win marked the first time the Rams have won 11 games in consecutive seasons in franchise history.
The Rams' dominant offense continued to produce with 344 total yards (195 passing, 149 rushing), despite Jared Goff's continued struggles on the road (accruing a 68.6 passer rating after completing only 17 of 33 throws with 1 touchdown and 1 interception).
Robert Woods contributed with five receptions, 67 yards and one receiving touchdown. Woods reached 971 receiving yards on the season, second only to Brandin Cooks' 1,206 receiving yards.

The Rams had one of their worst offensive games of the Sean McVay era with 214 total yards. Jared Goff threw a career-high four interceptions while going 20/44 for 180 yards.
Robert Woods surpassed the 1,000-receiving yard marker, joining his teammate Brandin Cooks.
The Rams defense recorded three interceptions, but that was not enough to propel the offense to score more than six points.

The Rams came up short against the Eagles in Week 15, marking the first time Los Angeles had lost consecutive games in the regular season under Sean McVay. The Rams had struggled on offense over their last two weeks with Goff having not thrown a touchdown pass in either game. According to Next Gen Stats, Goff struggled under pressure against Philadelphia, completing only six of his 12 attempts under pressure and throwing an interception.
Todd Gurley continued his dominance with 12 carries, 48 rush yards and two rushing touchdowns. Additionally Gurley was targeted 13 times for 10 receptions and 76 receiving yards. at that point, Gurley had 17 rushing touchdowns and 21 total touchdowns.

The Rams snapped their two-game losing streak with a win over the Cardinals thanks to a surprising performance from newly acquired C.J. Anderson. Anderson's 167 rush yards in his debut with the Rams were the most by a player in his debut for a team since 2008. Anderson became the first player in NFL history with at least 100 rushing yards in his first game with a team in a season, with that game coming after Thanksgiving
Robert Woods scored his first career rushing touchdown to go along with six caches for 89 yards and a receiving touchdown.
League leader in sacks Aaron Donald recorded seven tackles, three sacks, four QB hits and four tackles for loss. Donald set a new Rams franchise record for most sacks in a season in the win.

The Rams secured the second seed and a first-round bye in the NFC. It was the first time the franchise had won back-to-back division titles since a seven-season streak from 1973-79.
Jared Goff went 15/16 for 199 yards, 4 pass TD, 0 INT and a 121.6 passer rating. It was Goff's third game with 4-plus passing TDs in 2018. Goff finished the season with a career-high 32 passing TDs.
C.J. Anderson had 23 carries, 132 rush yards and 1 rush TD, recording back-to-back 100-yard rushing games for the second time in his career.
Josh Reynolds had four catches, two of them for touchdowns, to go along with his 55 receiving yards.
Brandin Cooks finished with five catches for 62 yards and two touchdown catches. Cooks and Robert Woods were one of two NFL duos in which both players finish with 1,200+ receiving yards.
Aaron Donald finished with a career-high 20.5 sacks after recording one sack against the 49ers.

Sean McVay has won 24 games in his first two seasons in the NFL, tied for the third-most wins over a coach's first two seasons. The Rams won at least 13 games for the third time in franchise history. Every time prior they went the Super Bowl.
Since the Wild Card was introduced in 1978, the Rams had a first-round bye six other times and reached the Super Bowl in three of those instances.
Each of the last five Super Bowl champions had a first-round playoff bye (2017 Eagles, 2016 Patriots, 2015 Broncos, 2014 Patriots, 2013 Seahawks).

The Rams out-rushed the Cowboys 273 yards to 50 yards in the Divisional Round, helping Los Angeles advance to the NFC Championship Game in New Orleans. The Rams' rushing offense continued to excel, as C.J. Anderson and Todd Gurley became the fourth teammate duo to record 100-plus rush yards each in a playoff game in the last 30 postseasons. The Rams have averaged 232.3 rush yards per game since signing Anderson in Week 16.

The Rams never led in the game until Greg Zuerlein's 57-yard field goal, the longest game-winning field goal in playoff history, in overtime to advance to Super Bowl LIII. Los Angles is the first road team since 2012 to win a conference title game. Zuerlein's kick was set up from John Johnson's interception of Drew Brees on New Orleans' first drive of OT.
L.A. nearly lost the game after corner Nickell Robey-Coleman appeared to have committed pass interference late in the game, but the referees missed the call.
C.J. Anderson had 16 carries, 44 rush yards while Todd Gurley was held to four carries for 10 yards and one touchdown.
Brandin Cooks became the fifth player since the 1970 merger with 100-plus receiving yards vs. his former team in the playoffs.
The Rams' defense held the Saints to 290 total yards. Aaron Donald recorded two tackles for loss and three QB hits, increasing his season total to 44 QB hits, most in the NFL, including playoffs.