EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Matthew Stafford threw a go-ahead 11-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Higbee early in the fourth quarter after an Aaron Rodgers turnover and the Los Angeles Rams defeated the New York Jets 19-9 on Sunday Fourth win in a row.

The Rams (9-6), who have won five of six, maintained their place atop the NFC West standings with the victory after a slow start against the Jets (4-11) on a chilly 23-degree (minus 23-degree) day ). -5 degrees Celsius) at kick-off.

But the Los Angeles defense, which struggled most of the game against Rodgers and New York’s offense, made a crucial play.

With the game tied early in the fourth quarter, Kam Curl sacked Rodgers on a blitz and forced a fumble, which Jared Verse recovered at the Jets’ 21st.

Three plays later, Stafford found Higbee, making his season debut after missing the first 14 games with a knee injury, for an 11-yard touchdown to make it 16-9.

Rodgers limped off the field a bit after the strip sack and briefly went to the injury tent, but returned on the Jets’ next series.

Joshua Karty’s 45-yard field goal gave the Rams a two-point lead, 19-9, with 5:17 left.

The Jets couldn’t muster a comeback attempt. Anders Carlson’s 48-yard attempt with 1:57 left went wide. New York had another chance to get the ball, but Jordan Whittington recovered Xavier Gipson’s muffed punt return, giving the Rams the win.

Stafford was 6 of 10 for 46 yards and an interception in the first half and finished the game 14 of 19 for 110 yards. Kyren Williams ran for 122 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries.

Rodgers was 28 of 42 for 256 yards and a touchdown to Davante Adams in the loss that overshadowed a promising start for New York.

After Jacob Hummel wiped out Ethan Evans’ punt on the Rams’ first drive at the Jets 1, Rodgers and New York’s offense quickly got rolling.

With the help of five first downs, including an 8-yard completion to Adams on fourth-and-2 from the 20, the Jets got to the Rams 11. Rodgers made a nice play-action fake, rolled right and found Adams behind Part of the end zone for a touchdown that gave New York a 6-0 lead with 23 seconds left in the first quarter.

Carlson was wide left on the extra point, his second miss of the season.

It was the second straight game the Jets scored in their opening game, having failed to do so previously this season. The 99-yard scoring drive was New York’s first since 2016, when it also came against the Rams. It was the Jets’ fifth 99-yard TD drive since 1963.

It was also Rodgers’ 499th TD pass of the regular season and the 82nd time he and Adams combined for a score, including the playoffs, tying Miami’s Dan Marino and Mark Clayton for the third-most in NFL history .

Tony Adams intercepted Stafford on the Rams’ next drive, ending the Rams quarterback’s career-best five games without a turnover. But the Jets turned the ball over on downs when interim coach Jeff Ulbrich opted to go for it on fourth-and-1, but Breece Hall was stopped for no gain, giving Los Angeles the ball at New York’s 33.

The Rams took advantage of the short field as Williams went up the middle for a 2-yard TD run, but Joshua Karty hit the right upright and the teams were tied with 6:22 left in the second quarter.

Carlson’s 21-yard field goal late in the first half gave the Jets a 9-6 lead. Karty’s 38-yarder early in the fourth quarter tied the score.

Injuries

Jets DL Quinnen Williams tested his injured hamstring a few hours before the game but suffered a scratch. … CB Sauce Gardner sat out the second half with a hamstring injury. … Tony Adams injured his ankle in the third quarter. … Rookie LT Olu Fashanu injured his left foot midway through the fourth quarter and was carted off the sideline to the locker room.

Next

Rams: Host NFC West rival Arizona Cardinals next Saturday night.

Jets: Travel to Buffalo next Sunday to take on the AFC East rival Bills.

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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL