FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Matthew Stafford showcased an impressive performance with 295 yards and four touchdown passes, including a remarkable 69-yard connection to Cooper Kupp early in the second half, propelling the Los Angeles Rams to a 28-22 victory over the New England Patriots on Sunday.
The game started competitively, with New England down by just 14-10 at halftime after a missed 26-yard field goal attempt by Rams kicker Joshua Karty that hit the right upright. Following halftime, Los Angeles received the kickoff, and on their second play, Stafford found Kupp near midfield. Patriots cornerback Jonathan Jones leapt to intercept the pass but missed, allowing Kupp to sprint untouched into the end zone.
The Patriots responded by advancing into Rams territory, achieving a first-and-goal situation from the Rams’ 5-yard line. However, they were forced to settle for a field goal. In contrast, on the Rams’ subsequent drive, Stafford connected with Colby Parkinson in the corner of the end zone, extending the lead to 28-13.
New England faced challenges during two separate attempts to narrow the gap, hindered by a missed extra point and a false start on a fourth-and-1 situation. With just 2:14 remaining and one timeout left, the Patriots started their final drive from their own 10-yard line, but Kamren Kinchens intercepted a pass intended for Drake Maye, sealing the game for the Rams.
The Rams saw standout performances from Puka Nacua, who caught seven passes for 123 yards and one touchdown, and Kupp, who secured six receptions for 106 yards along with two touchdown catches. This victory marked Los Angeles’ third win in their last four games, improving their record to 5-5 since welcoming back Kupp and Nacua in Week 8. Kyren Williams contributed with 86 rushing yards, while Michael Hoecht’s blocked extra-point attempt kept the game from becoming a one-score match after the Patriots closed the gap to 28-19 early in the fourth quarter.
On the other side, Maye accrued 282 passing yards along with two touchdowns — one of which was caught by offensive lineman Vederian Lowe. The Patriots, now at 3-8, struggled to achieve back-to-back victories this season. The rookie quarterback also experienced a setback when he surrendered a strip-sack at his own 12-yard line, which led to a 12-yard touchdown pass from Stafford to Nacua on the next play, giving the Rams a 14-7 lead that they maintained throughout the game.
The Patriots now find themselves at 1-3 at home, a disappointing record considering their struggles last season at Gillette Stadium.
Injury notes included Nacua requiring evaluation after landing hard on the ground during his second-quarter touchdown but he returned to play shortly after. For the Patriots, cornerback Marcus Jones briefly left the game in the first quarter but came back. Meanwhile, linebacker Curtis Jacobs was injured during the kickoff following a Patriots field goal, resulting in him being unable to return to the game due to a head injury.
Looking ahead, the Rams are set to host the Philadelphia Eagles next Sunday, while the Patriots will be heading to Miami for their next matchup.