The Los Angeles Rams got a standout performance from their defense on Sunday, which was not matched by Jared Goff and the offense. They held the Steelers to just 17 points, but seven of those were scored by Pittsburgh’s defense on a fumble return.
The Steelers finished the game with only 273 yards of offense and 15 first downs, getting the benefit of short fields as the Rams turned the ball over four times. Los Angeles’ defense did everything it could to win the game, but the offense simply didn’t pull its weight.
This was a rare type of loss for the Rams, too. It’s just the first time in franchise history that they didn’t win a game in which they had a safety and defensive touchdown. The stat was uncovered by Pro Football Journal on Twitter.
Rams could lose for 1st time when having a def TD and a safety@LATimesklein @LindseyThiry @Rich_Hammond @LATimesfarmer #LARvsPIT #SteelersNation #LARams #Rams #Steelers pic.twitter.com/iuocvFNZnE
— 𝐏𝐫𝐨 𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐉𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐥🏈 (@NFL_Journal) November 11, 2019
Looking at Pro Football Reference, this loss becomes even more startling. The Rams were 13-0 in such games prior to Sunday, the best record in league history. Overall, teams with a safety and defensive touchdown in the same game were 144-47, good for a winning percentage of .754.
The last time the Rams had a safety and defensive score in the same game was in 2017 against the Colts, a blowout 46-9 win. They also did it in an overtime win over the 49ers in 2012, and again in a 36-0 win in 2003.
Prior to Sunday, only three such games resulted in wins of seven or fewer points. The Rams won every other game by at least 15 points.
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