Newcomer Mayfield rallies Rams earlier Vegas 17-16

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Baker Mayfield was waived by Carolina on Monday and claimed by the Los Angeles Rams on Tuesday. After a cross-country flight, he obtained a person short observe with his new group on Wednesday.

And on Thursday night time, Mayfield led the Rams to two late fourth-quarter touchdowns and a gorgeous 17-16 victory about the Las Vegas Raiders, capped by a 23-lawn scoring pass to Van Jefferson with 10 seconds still left.

Mayfield could only wonder what Friday will deliver in this wild 7 days of his life, but the previous No. 1 general select is aware of it in all probability would not be much more enjoyable than one particular of the most awesome moments of his bumpy NFL journey.

“I really do not know if you could write it any much better than that,” Mayfield reported. “Obviously, we’d like to be a minor little bit additional pressure-free of charge, but it is a rather damn superior tale, I’ll be honest with you.”

Just two days after the Rams (4-9) claimed him, Mayfield went 22 of 35 for 230 yards — and inevitably snapped the defending Tremendous Bowl champions’ 6-video game shedding streak in extraordinary style.

“What a swift examine,” Rams mentor Sean McVay explained. “He just got in this article 5 minutes ago and figured out a way to be capable to do some unique items tonight.”

The Rams went on a 75-lawn TD drive times prior to the winning push, the latter of which ended with Mayfield getting Jefferson powering rookie Sam Webb in the finish zone. The 98-garden march was the longest go-forward TD drive in the final 2 minutes of a recreation in excess of the past 45 NFL seasons.

Los Angeles trailed 16-3 soon after Daniel Carlson’s third subject intention with 12:20 to engage in, but Mayfield acquired the Rams shifting and Cam Akers made a quick TD operate with 3:19 remaining, one perform right after he fought for a initial down at the Vegas 1 on a gritty fourth-down catch.

The Rams’ protection stopped Derek Carr and the Raiders at the 2-minute warning, but AJ Cole dropped a 64-lawn punt at the Rams 2.

Undaunted and with no timeouts, Mayfield led the Rams downfield once again — with sufficient assistance from an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the Raiders’ Jerry Tillery for knocking the ball out of the quarterback’s arms after a participate in. The drive incorporated a contested 32-lawn reception by Ben Skowronek, who concluded with job highs of seven catches for 89 yards.

Story proceeds

“Man, you neglect what successful is like, and it sure is fun,” McVay explained right after the Rams’ very first victory since Oct. 16.

Josh Jacobs rushed for 99 yards and the only touchdown for the Raiders (5-8), whose 3-match winning streak finished in humiliating fashion. A lot less than four months after Las Vegas missing in former ESPN analyst Jeff Saturday’s NFL coaching debut with Indianapolis, the Raiders dropped to a quarterback who joined his new group a lot less than 48 several hours ahead of the sport and had just a single quick walkthrough observe.

“We’ve played against (Mayfield) ahead of and know he’s a really very good competitor,” Raiders coach Josh McDaniels said. “He manufactured some significant throws for them. We organized for all three quarterbacks, not automatically recognizing who we were going to get and on a short week, so give them credit history. He made sufficient plays.”

Carr passed for 137 yards with no TDs and two interceptions. Davante Adams designed two jaw-dropping catchesin the initial fifty percent, but had none in the second half while Las Vegas’ offense managed only 67 yards.

“We left some performs and factors out there,” Carr mentioned. “And then at the close of the sport, I just did not believe we finished it how we could have concluded it to gain the game. You know, not even owning to set the protection out there or anything like that. We just didn’t execute.”

John Wolford ran the opening sequence for the Rams’ offense, but McVay then turned it about to Mayfield, a participant he has extensive admired. Mayfield was obtaining a horrible period for the Panthers, but he improbably injected a spark into the Rams with a handful of huge performs and decent drives in spite of minimal understanding of the playbook.

“There was sort of a shortened checklist of plays that I was genuinely, genuinely researching,” Mayfield reported. “I will say we dipped out of that very little listing and received into some other items.”

With McVay seemingly supplying specific recommendations into his helmet before every huddle, Mayfield right away acquired the Rams transferring. Akers short-circuited Mayfield’s stable second push with a fumble in the red zone, but Rams linebacker Ernest Jones made an finish-zone interception late in the very first fifty percent.

Mayfield done 15 of his 20 passes in the fourth quarter, flawlessly directing his new teammates downfield for two scores.

“I enjoy to compete,” Mayfield said. “I enjoy this match.”

Injuries

Jacobs hurt his hand early in the next 50 percent and briefly went to the locker area, but saved playing. … Aaron Donald (high ankle sprain) skipped his next video game thanks to damage in his 9-yr NFL profession. … Raiders RG Alex Bars injured his knee on the opening push and did not return. … Rams WR Jacob Harris injured his shoulder enjoying unique teams in the second 50 percent.

UP Subsequent

Raiders: Host New England on Sunday, Dec. 18.

Rams: At Inexperienced Bay on Monday, Dec. 19.

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