Jared Goff likes how the Los Angeles Rams are shaping up.
“We can be as good as we want to be, honestly,” the fifth-year quarterback said after Monday night’s 27-24 victory over Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. “We’ve got it all in front of us. Everything is there for us to take.”
Goff threw for 376 yards and three touchdowns, and Matt Gay kicked a 40-yard field goal with 2:36 remaining to lift the Rams back into first place in the NFC West. Goff completed 39 of 51 passes, including short scoring throws to Robert Woods, Van Jefferson and Cam Akers.
Meanwhile, the Rams’ defense pressured Brady all night and sealed the win with rookie safety Jordan Fuller’s second interception of the six-time Super Bowl champion.
On offense, the Buccaneers failed to hit on deep passes and did not have a completion longer than 18 yards. Both of Brady’s interceptions came on misfired throws down the field.
“They did a good job preventing [the big play],” Brady said. “They play a defense that makes them tough to hit. Not impossible, but we didn’t hit any. I have to do a better job.”
Goff threw a pair of interceptions, too, helping the Bucs (7-4) remain close in the second half. But when the Rams (7-3) needed him to stand tall, he rebounded to lead them right down the field to retake the lead after Brady tied it with his second TD pass.
“I’ve always believed in myself in any situation, but when you actually do it in a tough environment, it makes you feel good,” Goff said.
“Jared just continued to demonstrate resilience,” Rams coach Sean McVay said. “I love the fact he was outstanding from the jump. We had that one little mistake, and he just kept competing. What he did in terms of leading us down the field at the most important moment was critical.”
Brady was 26 of 48 for 216 yards and two touchdowns. The Rams sacked him once after getting to Russell Wilson six times in the previous week’s 23-16 victory over the Seattle Seahawks.
Gay, a 2019 Bucs draft pick who was released after a rookie season marked by inconsistency, is the Rams’ third kicker in four weeks.
“I found out on Monday that the Rams were bringing me in,” Gay said. “It was a quick flight so I could begin testing so I could be eligible for the game. Saturday was the first day I could be in the building. Luckily we played Monday night.”
Historic crew
An all-Black officiating crew worked an NFL game for the first time in league history.
Referee Jerome Boger led the crew, which also included umpire Barry Anderson, down judge Julian Mapp, line judge Carl Johnson, side judge Dale Shaw, field judge Anthony Jeffries and back judge Greg Steed.
The members of Monday night’s officiating crew have a combined 89 seasons of NFL experience and have worked six Super Bowls. The first black official in any major US sport was Burl Toler, hired by the NFL in 1965.