The 2017 Los Angeles Rams season is the franchise's 80th season in the National Football League, the 81st overall, the 51st in the Greater Los Angeles Area and the first under new head coach Sean McVay as well as a new coaching staff. The Rams have improved on their 4-12 record from last season, and are aiming to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2004 when they were in St. Louis.
The team played a game in London, England at Twickenham Stadium against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 7 as one of the NFL London Games. For the second consecutive year, the Rams started out in first place in the NFC West with a 3-1 record. The Rams also scored 107 points in the first three games of the season, the second highest in franchise history and a league leader. The Rams also have won 6 of their last 7 games for a 7-2 record (their best start since 2001).
Video 2017 Los Angeles Rams season
Offseason
Coaching changes
On January 20: The Rams hired Sean McVay as the team's new head coach. Interim head coach John Fassel had replaced Jeff Fisher following Fisher's firing in Week 12 of 2016.
On January 21: The Rams hired Wade Phillips as the team's newest defensive coordinator.
On January 22: The Rams hired Matt LaFleur as the newest offensive coordinator.
Uniform changes
The Rams underwent a moderate uniform change, removing New Century Gold from their helmets and pants while leaving their jerseys unchanged. The Rams allowed their fans to decide on which pants stripes and facemask color they wanted the team to use via polls on their social media pages, with a single navy striped pants and white facemask winning.
Draft
Notes
- The Rams traded their 2017 first-round selection (No. 5 overall), a 2017 third-round compensatory selection (No. 100 overall), along with their 2016 first-, two second- and third-round selections to the Tennessee Titans in exchange for the Titans' 2016 first-, fourth- and sixth round selections.
- The Rams were awarded an additional compensatory selection -- No. 141 overall.
Undrafted free agents
Maps 2017 Los Angeles Rams season
Staff
Current roster
Schedule
Preseason
The Rams' preliminary preseason schedule was announced on April 10.
Regular season
The Rams' regular season schedule was announced on April 20.
Notes
- Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
- Networks and times from Weeks 11-17 are subject to change as a result of flexible scheduling.
Game summaries
Week 1: vs. Indianapolis Colts
The Rams started their season at home against the Colts. The Rams started their season 1-0 with a blowout win over the Colts 46-9 and Sean McVay starts his head coaching career as the youngest coach to win in his professional debut.
Week 2: vs. Washington Redskins
Week 3: at San Francisco 49ers
In one of the closest games of the 2017 NFL season and Thursday Night Football, The Rams were their all Gold Rush uniforms. The Rams and 49ers put points making this a close game but it was the Rams that won 41-39. Sean McVay earns his second head coach career win and quarterback Jared Goff made a career high three touchdowns. Todd Gurley scores for 2 TDS and Sammy Watkins had a career high 6 receptions. Tight-end Tyler Higbee also had a career-high 4 receptions.
The Rams improved to 2-1.
Week 4: at Dallas Cowboys
In what turned out to be one of the biggest upsets in the 2017 season, the Los Angeles Rams turned a 16-24 deficit into a 35-30 win over the Dallas Cowboys. With this victory, the Rams improved to 3-1 and for the second consecutive week the team led the NFC West.
Week 5: vs. Seattle Seahawks
Week 6: at Jacksonville Jaguars
The game started off explosive with receiver Pharoh Cooper getting a return touchdown in seconds of the opening game giving Cooper's first career touchdown. The Jaguars responded by having running back Leonard Fournette rush for the touchdown followed by another through quarterback Blake Bortles to a receiver giving the Jaguars a 10-14 lead over the Rams, however the lead wouldn't last as Jared Goff would hit tight end Gerald Everett in his first career touchdown, giving their team a 17-14. which would be further extended by a blocked punt by linebacker Cory Littleton and picked up by running back Malcolm Brown to the Rams third touchdown with a 24-14 lead. In the second quarter and for the rest of the game, both the Rams and Jaguars defenses dominated with their offenses doing little but the former team was shutting down the Jaguars offense and even had Leonard Fournette injured, on a drive Blake Bortles had accidentally fumbled the ball which was recovered by center Cam Robinson but later Mercedes Lewis had the ball tipped and led to an interception by cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman but the Rams were unable to capitalize on it, the Jaguars then made another field goal that cut the Rams lead to 24-17. On one drive, Robert Woods dropped a pass that was later ruled a fumble and a recovery by the Jaguars defense. The Rams later extended their lead to 27-17 with Greg Zuerlein making his second field goal of the game, the Jaguars then tried to make a late field goal in the final seconds of the game only to miss with the Rams winning the game.
With that victory, the Rams record improved to 4-2, once again sitting atop first place in the NFC West.
Week 7: vs. Arizona Cardinals
NFL International Series
This game turned out to be a shutout/blowout victory for the Los Angeles Rams in their second NFL International Series game at Twickenham Stadium against the Arizona Cardinals, Jared Goff threw for 235 yards and had 1 touchdown with only 1 interception, Todd Gurley had his fourth-100 yard game with 106 yards, 4.8 average, 4 receptions, and 1 touchdown, Cooper Kupp had 4 receptions, 51 yards, 12.8 average, and an 18-yard touchdown, and Greg Zuerlein completed 4 field goals. The Rams defense shut down Adrian Peterson for the game and prevented any points scored by the Cardinals offense as they had multiple drives which resulted in punts, a missed field goal, and 2 interceptions by the Rams defense (Lamarcus Joyner and Mark Barron respectively), the Cardinals failed to score any points throughout the game. Carson Palmer was injured and did not come back for the rest of the game and Drew Stanton had to start for the rest of the game, Both Palmer and Stanton were sacked once by the Rams defense (Aaron Donald and Ethan Westbrooks respectively) and had at least one interception, Stanton fumbled the ball which was recovered by a Cardinals center for 4th down. The Cardinals defense allowed the Rams offense to gain 425 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 4 field goals on 6 of their possessions. This game was also the Cardinals first blowout loss since 2012 (a 58-0 loss against the Seattle Seahawks) and was the Rams first shutout victory since 2014 (when they had two wins over the Oakland Raiders and the Washington Redskins both ending in shutout).
With the win, the Rams advance into the bye at 5-2 for the first time 2003 sitting firmly atop the NFC West first place. They also improved on their record from last season.
Week 9: at New York Giants
In the Meadowlands of East Rutherford, New Jersey, the Rams put a dominating performance against the New York Giants handing them their worst loss of the season (since 1964 against the Cleveland Browns). Jared Goff had one of his best games, throwing for 311 yards and 4 touchdowns, Todd Gurley having 2 touchdowns while Robert Woods having a career high 4 touchdowns. Tight end Tyler Higbee and wide receiver Sammy Watkins having at least 1 touchdown. The Rams defense also forced 3 turnovers on the Giants offense 2 of which were strip-sacks and 1 was an interception by Trumaine Johnson in each case it resulted in the Rams scoring (2 touchdowns, 1 field goal conversion). The Rams special teams also contributed to the game by extending their team's lead and a blocked punt by Cory Littleton setting up a touchdown by the offense.
With this stunningly impressive performance against the Giants, the Rams advanced to 6-2 with a first place lead in the NFC West.
Week 10: vs. Houston Texans
Although it was a relatively slow game in the first half for both the Rams and Texans, the second half was a stark contrast as the Rams were able to get 2 touchdowns from Robert Woods (one of which was a 94-yard pass from Goff the third-longest touchdown pass in Rams history) and 1 from Sammy Watkins. Jared Goff had a career-high 355 yards and 3 touchdowns (surpassing the total from his team's 51-17 blowout win over the New York Giants). Meanwhile the Rams defense caused 4 turnovers on the Texans 2 of which were strip sack recoveries from Connor Barwin and Samson Ebukam while the other 2 were interceptions (one was by cornerback Blake Countess). The game ended in a Rams victory with a 33-7 score and the fourth-straight win.
With that win, the Rams moved to 7-2 for their best start in a season since 2001.
Week 11: at Minnesota Vikings
Standings
Division
Conference
Awards and honors
References
External links
- Official website
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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