Road warriors: Rams reclaim their game with help from Ramsey

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Jalen Ramsey’s impact on the Los Angeles Rams was immediate and obvious.

So was the impact of getting out on the road, where the Rams always play their best football under coach Sean McVay.

The Rams (4-3) emphatically ended their three-game skid with a 37-10 win at Atlanta on Sunday in the debut of Ramsey, the elite cornerback acquired last week to energize their season. Ramsey had four tackles and forced a fumble while going up against star receiver Julio Jones, but he affected almost every passing down with his presence, according to his teammates.

“It was great, (because) it felt like we were able to do a lot of different things,” said Aaron Donald, who accidentally injured his second quarterback this season while forcing a fumble. “With him in man coverage, we got opportunities to get after the quarterback. The quarterback was holding the ball long, and guys took him down. When you’ve got guys on your defense locking (receivers) down and giving you opportunities to get after the quarterback, it’s going to be a fun day.”

McVay said Ramsey’s presence allowed the Rams to be freer with blitzes, and they sacked Matt Ryan five times as they improved to 17-4 away from Los Angeles in the regular season since McVay took over in 2017. That’s easily the best road record in the NFL during that span.

They’re building on that success this week by staying on the road. The Rams will practice at Georgia Tech this week before they fly to London, where they’ll face the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.

Los Angeles’ offense also looked fairly normal in Atlanta after a miserable performance against San Francisco one week earlier. Jared Goff looked sharper with more time to throw, and he spread the ball among eight receivers while the Rams made five lengthy drives.

This long road trip could be exactly what the Rams need to refocus their season after that eyebrow-raising skid. They’re also just one game into a four-game stretch against opponents currently boasting six combined wins, so everything is in position for Los Angeles to play its way back into the NFC West race ahead of four division matchups in December.

“It’s going to be a normal week for us in terms of getting into your Monday rhythm and getting ready for a Sunday game,” McVay said. “(Except) we’re in Atlanta.”

WHAT’S WORKING

The Rams’ reconfigured secondary got high marks from its coaches. Along with Ramsey taking on Jones, Los Angeles got solid games from new starting cornerback Troy Hill and from safeties Marqui Christian and rookie Taylor Rapp, the replacements for injured starter John Johnson. McVay is eager for his new starters to get another full week of preparation together, and the isolation of this road trip could accelerate their growth into a cohesive unit.

WHAT NEEDS HELP

The Rams still didn’t run the ball well, managing just 90 yards on the ground on 36 attempts despite having possession for over 37 minutes. Todd Gurley had only 41 yards on 18 carries, and his longest run was 10 yards. Rookie backup Darrell Henderson got only 31 yards on 11 carries, and the Rams’ only jet sweep to a receiver generated just 6 yards for Robert Woods. LA has dropped to 23rd in the league with just 97.1 yards rushing per game after ranking third last season (139.4) and eighth in 2017 (122.1).

STOCK UP

Dante Fowler has been a steady if unspectacular contributor to the Rams’ defense this season, but the pass rusher on a one-year contract came through spectacularly against the Falcons with a career-high three sacks and a team-leading seven tackles. While Donald was the engine driving LA’s constant pressure, Fowler’s big-play skills resurfaced and wrecked Atlanta’s offense. A few more games like it, and Rams fans will increase their clamor to lock him down on a long-term deal.

STOCK DOWN

Kicker Greg Zuerlein is still solid, but his ultrareliable reputation has taken a hit this season. While he made three field goals in Atlanta, he also missed a 40-yarder that was his fourth miss inside 50 yards already this season. That matches Zuerlein’s total misses inside 50 yards in the Rams’ three previous seasons combined.

INJURED

The Rams emerged from Mercedes-Benz Stadium with no new injuries, which is big news for a team missing several starters. Backup running back Malcolm Brown could be back from his ankle injury for the game in London, but it’s too early to know.

KEY NUMBER

34: The number of times Gerald Everett has been the target of a pass in the Rams’ last four games. He was only targeted 35 times in the Rams’ previous 10 games combined. The third-year tight end is getting an increasingly large role in the Rams’ offense, both thanks to his improved play and Goff’s comfort with him as a safety valve.

NEXT STEPS

Taking care of business on the road. The Rams welcome the chance for bonding and focus during their week in Georgia. The flight to England is shorter from the East Coast, and their schedule minimizes the time they’ll spend out of the country. A win over the hapless Bengals would put Los Angeles at a solid 5-3 heading into its bye week and the second half of the regular season.