Mayfield, Akers lead Rams’ 51-14 blowout of Wilson’s Broncos

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Baker Mayfield threw two touchdown passes to Tyler Higbee, Cam Akers rushed for 118 yards and three more scores, and the Los Angeles Rams routed the Denver Broncos 51-14 Sunday for their 2nd victory given that mid-Oct.

Mayfield went 24 of 28 for 230 yards in a different standout general performance for his second gain in a few starts off with the Rams (5-10), who generated the very best activity of their dismal season on Christmas.

Rookie Cobie Durant returned his 2nd interception 85 yards for a landing with 4:08 left to cap the Rams’ 1st 50-point performance less than Sean McVay due to the fact their famed 54-51 victory around Kansas Metropolis in 2018.

For at least just one much more 7 days, Los Angeles averted starting to be the 1st defending Super Bowl champion to lose 11 games. Even with the NFL’s 32nd-rated offense coming in, Los Angeles became just the second staff to score 50 factors in the NFL this period, signing up for Dallas previously this thirty day period, and put with each other a comprehensively dominant effectiveness.

In his Los Angeles debut, Larrell Murchison built 2 1/2 of the Rams’ six sacks of Russell Wilson, who handed for 214 yards with 3 interceptions for Denver (4-11).

The beleaguered Wilson was not sharp in his return from a just one-activity absence with a concussion, throwing interceptions to stop Denver’s very first two drives. The second select was by Bobby Wagner, who confronted his longtime teammate and friend for the very first time right after investing a total ten years alongside one another in Seattle.

Wagner also sacked Wilson during the initially half, when the Rams improbably racked up 261 of their 388 yards before halftime and ultimately scored on their to start with eight drives from Denver’s higher than-typical defense, already matching their total-match period substantial in factors with their 31-6 halftime direct.

Denver trailed 41-6 before Wilson hit Greg Dulcich for the Broncos’ only touchdown with 8:30 to engage in.

Akers ongoing his late-period surge by creating the Rams’ to start with 100-property rushing match of the year, when Higbee led the passing assault with 94 yards obtaining for an offense lacking its prime 3 wideouts thanks to damage.

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The Rams led by double digits significantly less than 9 minutes in when Durant picked off Wilson’s second pass and Mayfield hit Higbee for a 9-property TD three plays later on. Higbee grew to become the Rams’ profession franchise chief in landing catches by a limited finish with his 19th score.

Wagner then poached a pass from Wilson across the middle of the area and created a extended return, and the Rams scored two snaps later on Akers’ 3-garden operate. Los Angeles experienced scored just one particular touchdown off a takeaway all time prolonged in advance of executing it 2 times more in the first quarter.

The Rams’ 17-level initial quarter was their maximum-scoring opening period due to the fact Week 6 of McVay’s initial year in 2017. They subsequently scored touchdowns on 4 consecutive drives for the 1st time in McVay’s tenure.

Higbee built his next TD catch early in the next quarter following a clean 75-yard generate by the Rams’ very long-struggling offense. Akers then punched it in once more 1:06 right before halftime for a 31-3 lead.

Ramsey picked off Wilson’s lengthy heave to the close zone on Denver’s opening push of the 2nd 50 percent. The Rams’ stress on Wilson improbably was led by Murchison, who signed with LA 13 days ago after Tennessee slash him.

Injuries

Murchison left in the fourth quarter with a neck personal injury. … Dulcich was ruled out with a hamstring injuries late in the fourth quarter.

UP Subsequent

Broncos: At Chiefs on Sunday.

Rams: “At” Chargers on Sunday.

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