The Los Angeles Rams won their fourth straight game on Sunday, defeating the New York Jets 19-9. Nothing has come easy for this Rams team in 2024, and Sunday was no different. The Rams needed a fourth-quarter comeback and big pushes from the defense to earn their ninth win of the season. Here are my 10 takeaways from the win against the Jets.

1. Rams must overcome another slow start

The Rams have scored three first quarter touchdowns this season. For comparison, they had seven first-quarter touchdowns in 16 weeks in 2022. It’s great that the Rams showed they can overcome the slow starts. At the same time, there will be a point where they could come back from a deficit. It’s not a recipe for success. They currently rank 31st in the first quarter with 1.8 points per game.

It wasn’t just the offense’s slow start, the defense also allowed a 99-yard touchdown drive early in the game. The Rams need to find ways to take control of games sooner. While it’s unrealistic to expect them to play like they did against the Buffalo Bills three weeks ago, they need to find a way to start again.

2. The game plan on offense felt very mundane

Even though the Jets lost Quinnen Williams and suffered injuries during the game, the game plan felt very mundane on offense. The colder weather could certainly be a reason, but Matthew Stafford targeted receivers behind the line of scrimmage on 10 of his 19 pass attempts. Stafford had an average target depth of just 3.6 yards down the field. The Rams just didn’t push the ball.

The Rams’ offense relied heavily on running the ball and wide receiver screens. Whether this approach was intentional or weather-related, it was a different McVay offense than we’ve been used to.

3. Bending but not breaking the defense almost cost the Rams the win

The lack of aggressiveness was also an issue on the defensive side of the ball. The Rams’ defense looked much more like the one that was trying to find its identity earlier in the season. Chris Shula beat Aaron Rodgers twice. That’s despite Rodgers ranking 32nd out of 34 quarterbacks in EPA per dropback against the Lightning.

They gave up a 99-yard touchdown drive on their first possession, giving the Jets control of the clock. There was a point where the Rams offense hadn’t touched the ball for over a quarter of the game. Four of the Jets’ first five possessions lasted more than ten plays and took up 24:29 of actual playing time. While the Jets only scored nine points in those four possessions, running out the clock shortened the game and made possession a premium. The Rams defense didn’t break and that’s a positive. However, the defense must continue to be aggressive, as it has been in recent weeks.

4. Omar Speights has given Rams what they need at linebacker

At the beginning of the season, the Rams had problems at the linebacker position. Since Omar Speights took over for Troy Reeder, the level of linebacker play has improved and the undrafted free agent has made several key plays. Speights is another diamond in the rough that the Rams and general manager Les Snead have found.

Against the Jets, Speights shot through the gap on fourth down and stopped running back Breece Hall in the backfield just before the first down. The offense managed to take advantage and score a touchdown. Later in the first half, the Jets tried to score a touchdown. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers found Davante Adams in the end zone. However, Speights got his arm between Adams and the ball, breaking up the pass and saving a touchdown. These are two key plays that made the difference in this game.

5. Kyren Williams takes over for the third game in a row

Similar to the second half of last season, running back Kyren Williams is taking over games and has become the focal point of the Rams’ offense. Williams had 29 carries in consecutive weeks prior to Sunday. More impressively, Williams had more runs than Stafford last week. That was also the case on Sunday, but Williams had more runs and yards passing the ball than Stafford.

Against the Jets, Stafford was 14 of 19 for 110 yards and averaged 5.79 yards per attempt. Williams ran the ball 23 times for 122 yards and averaged 5.3 yards per carry. The offense now runs primarily through Puka Nacua and Kyren Williams. For Stafford it was the fewest passing yards in a win in his career. The Rams play a physical brand of football if that brand of football wins games in December.

6. The defense played when it needed to

Although the Rams’ defense wasn’t perfect, this unit made plays when needed on Sunday. They had the fourth down stop that led to the first touchdown. Speights managed to break up the pass in the end zone at the end of the half to keep the game within three points. Ahkello Witherspoon had a pass breakdown down the sideline covering Adams to force another turnover on downs. Late in the game, it was Kam Curl who blitzed the ball loose after a fumble that was recovered by Jared Verse.

This has been the theme of the Rams defense this season. Although they are not always perfect, they often make decisive plays when it matters most. During times when the offense struggled, it was the defense that kept the Rams in the game. For the first time since 2015, the defense allowed fewer than 10 points in two consecutive games. This is a group that continues to improve as the year progresses.

7. Jordan Whittington is a special teams ace

The last time the Rams beat the Jets at MetLife Stadium, special teams played a big role. In that game, Johnny Hekker flipped field position with a huge punt, setting up the game-winning field goal. In 2024, special teams played a big role in the Rams’ victory at MetLife. A big reason for this was Jordan Whittington.

Whittington embraced his role on special teams and was an ace there. Against the Jets, Whittington ran the ball and hit the punt at the one-yard line. Later in the game, it was Whittington who pounced on a botched punt that won the game. While Whittington played well, Joshua Karty hit two field goals in difficult conditions. Karty missed an extra point but made it from 38 and 45 yards. Meanwhile, the Jets kicker missed an extra point and his only field goal attempt.

8. How can you not be happy for Tyler Higbee?

Almost a year ago, Tyler Higbee tore his ACL in the wild card round of the playoffs. The Rams tight end has been out since then, working to get back on the field. Sunday’s game against the Jets was Higbee’s first game back. In the fourth quarter, with the game tied (9-9), it was Higbee who scored the touchdown to give the Rams the lead. It was obvious how much Higbee wanted it when he got the chance. He dove from the five-yard line and scored his first touchdown in over a year.

There were probably moments when Higbee didn’t believe a return to the field, let alone a touchdown, was possible. It’s the kind of story that couldn’t be written better. It’s hard not to get emotional and happy for Higbee in this moment. He may not be the player he was before the injury, but it’s clear he means a lot to the Rams’ offense.

9. The Rams continue to show they can win ugly

Of the Rams’ nine wins this season, it’s difficult to find a straight win. Outside of the Bills game, the offense hasn’t put together a complete game yet, and yet this is a team that just keeps winning. Stafford made another fourth-quarter comeback this season, tying him with Matt Ryan for the fourth-best performance of all time. It was the fourth time in 2024 that Stafford came from behind in the fourth quarter. For reference, Stafford had three fourth-quarter comebacks during the 2021 season.

With the win at MetLife, the Rams also won their fifth road game in a row. It’s the first time they’ve done that since 2001, when they went to the Super Bowl. This Rams team is hard to define – they win in unconventional ways and nothing comes easy. Whether it ends on Super Bowl Sunday or in the playoffs, it’s been an enjoyable journey.

10. McVay pulls off another winning season against all odds

Sunday’s win moves the Rams to 9-6 and gives McVay his seventh winning season in eight years. The Rams started the year 1-4 and not many would have expected them to be one win away from the NFC West crown and control of the NFC’s third seed with two weeks to go. This is a Rams team that has bounced back from 3-6 last year and still looks more impressive this year.

While the Rams are in control, the season is far from over. The Rams close out the season with back-to-back division games and need at least one win to clinch the NFC West title. At this point there is no guarantee. The Rams still have their work cut out for them and that starts with a short week against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 17.