Matthew Stafford got off to a slow start against the Buccaneers on Sunday, completing just one of his first six passes. However, once he settled down and found a rhythm, he began to look like the sharp quarterback we saw in the first two games of the season.
Stafford completed 14 of his next 16 passes to close out the first half, tossing two touchdown passes to Tyler Higbee and Cooper Kupp before halftime. The first was a screen pass to Higbee, the third such play to the stud tight end of that drive.
It gave the Rams a 7-0 lead over Tampa Bay with 12:22 left in the second quarter, capping off a phenomenal 14-play, 95-yard drive by Los Angeles.
BIG RIG HIGS 😤@Ty_Higs19 with the game’s opening TD!! pic.twitter.com/X1obsYVCOz
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) September 26, 2021
The second was a perfectly designed play to Cooper Kupp, who got open thanks to a rub route by Robert Woods. It’s the fourth time Kupp and Stafford have connected for a touchdown this season.
COOOOP 🙌 @CooperKupp finds the endzone!! pic.twitter.com/H9ifKrRdx1
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) September 26, 2021
Stafford finished the first half with 148 yards and two touchdowns on 14-for-22 passing, and that’s with missing DeSean Jackson deep twice. It could’ve been a massive first 30 minutes for the Rams quarterback.
Los Angeles went into the break with a 14-7 lead over the Buccaneers.