Baker Mayfield throws game-winning landing throughout Rams debut vs. Raiders on ‘Thursday Night time Soccer’

Baker Mayfield had an inkling that the Rams would request his providers after he was launched by Carolina earlier this week. Mayfield was so sure that Los Angeles would signal him that he truly booked a flight for Los Angeles earlier than he had formally cleared waivers. 

In a efficiency befitting a Hollywood script, Mayfield led the Rams to an epic 17-16 victory on Thursday evening after throwing the game-winning landing cross to Van Jefferson with 10 seconds left. The rating capped off a 98-yard drive that noticed Mayfield full a number of large passes whereas serving to the Rams snap their six-game dropping streak. 

“That is up there,” Mayfield advised Amazon’s postgame crew when requested to match Thursday evening’s win to different notable moments in his profession. “Initially, I used to be offended about having to undergo so many teaching modifications and study so many new issues, however it certain helped proper there. … They put some good performs on the market and put me in a superb place to win.” 

It took three working performs and one possession for Sean McVay to make the change from John Wolford to Mayfield. Mayfield entered the sport with 2:21 left within the first quarter and the Rams trailing 10-0.

“I knew I wasn’t going to start out,” Mayfield. “Actually, we had been simply seeing how John was going to really feel, simply how that was going to go and simply going to play it out. I used to be going to be prepared it doesn’t matter what.” 

Mayfield went 22 of 35 for 230 yards in his Rams debut. Trailing 16-3 late, Mayfield engineered a 17-play drive that ended with Cam Akers‘ 1-yard landing run. After the Rams protection compelled a fast punt, Mayfield’s 32-yard completion to Ben Skowronek on Los Angeles’ last drive helped arrange his game-winning cross to Jefferson. 

“To be sincere with you, I used to be utterly shocked they lined up in press protection with 15 seconds left,” Mayfield mentioned of his game-winning landing cross. “I actually thought they will attempt to come out and play zone however they only stayed with it. Their weak facet security stayed down. Van’s an ideal go ball runner. He received off the road and did a superb job.” 

On his first play as a Ram, the previous Browns and Panthers quarterback zipped a 21-yard completion to Jefferson. Mayfield then had a 6-yard run that helped arrange Matt Gay’s 55-yard subject purpose. 

“For him to get right here and simply do he simply did, it simply exhibits how decided and how much a man he’s. I am glad he is right here,” Jefferson advised Amazon’s Kaylee Hartung. “He simply got here in and labored out. He is solely been right here for a day. … When he got here in we knew he was going to execute.” 

Mayfield and the Rams offense did not do a lot within the second or third quarters, however turned it on within the fourth quarter. He had appreciable success throwing the ball to Skowronek and Tutu Atwell. Skowronek caught seven passes for 89 yards. Atwell caught 5 passes for 50 yards after catching simply six passes in the course of the season’s first three months. 

Mayfield signed with the Rams a day after he was launched by the Panthers. Mayfield, who signed with Carolina this previous offseason, misplaced his beginning spot after sustaining an harm in Week 5. His final begin in Carolina occurred throughout a Week 11 loss to the Browns, the crew he spent the primary 4 years of his profession with. 

“I feel the most important factor I’ve discovered is do not let the on the sphere play have an effect on who you’re day in and day trip,” Mayfield mentioned when requested concerning the greatest factor he is discovered throughout his profession up thus far. “Be the identical man to your teammates, and that is been the most important factor this yr that I feel I’ve tried to only deal with general. Simply attempt to assist out the place I can, not letting all that different stuff have an effect on me and roll with the punches. Be who I’m and form of be that chief. 

“I like soccer. I like enjoying this recreation and love enjoying and competing. Simply go take pleasure in it.” 

Mayfield did that after which some on Thursday evening, and it resulted in a memorable end that helped his new crew stave off playoff elimination. 

“It speaks to the tradition of the locker room,” Mayfield mentioned of the Rams’ general efficiency on Thursday evening. “Them coming in right here and nonetheless attempting to compete, though the document speaks for itself. Simply welcoming me in, competing and preventing to the very end. That claims every little thing it is advisable find out about this place.”