A clinic in coaching: Rams’ detail and discipline define London rout

By Jack Brentnall

On paper, the Los Angeles Rams had every excuse to stumble. They became the first team ever to arrive in London the day before kickoff, crossing an ocean for an early start in front of a neutral crowd. They were without their star wide receiver Puka Nacua, who led the NFL in targets heading into Week 7. And they hadn’t played an international game since 2019 – back in the Jared Goff and Todd Gurley era.

The Jacksonville Jaguars, by contrast, were the London regulars – comfortable with the travel, familiar with the schedule, and supposedly the team better built for the trip.

But by halftime at Wembley Stadium, the contrast was unmistakable. The Rams were clean, composed, and relentlessly efficient. The Jaguars were messy, indecisive, and undisciplined. Los Angeles didn’t win 35–7 because they had more stars. They won because they were better prepared, better coached, and better at the small details that decide games long before the highlight plays.

Two very different 4–2 teams

Both teams entered Week 7 at 4–2, each in the thick of tight divisional races — the Jaguars chasing the Colts in the AFC South, and the Rams part of a three-way tie with the 49ers and Seahawks in the NFC West.

For Los Angeles, the challenge was how they would respond without their main offensive star. Without Puka Nacua, the offense had to adapt its rhythm and redistribute targets. The result was a model of efficiency and balance. 10 players caught passes, with seven of them having at least three.

Jacksonville, by contrast, had all of their stars on the field, but the execution never matched the potential. Their young receivers struggled at the catch point, with several drops and poor production in contested situations, hindering their ability to sustain drives.

Ruthless Rams efficiency

This wasn’t a fireworks show. It was a clinic in efficiency. McVay’s offense spread the ball around, using tight ends, backs, and depth receivers to keep the Jaguars guessing. Matthew Stafford didn’t take a sack all game despite facing a talented Jacksonville front. Every time the pocket tightened, he found an answer.

Three of his five touchdown passes went to Davante Adams, whose chemistry with Stafford continues to sharpen, but many of the Rams’ key contributors were unheralded names: Colby Parkinson led the team in receiving yards, while rookies Konata Mumpfield and Terrance Ferguson both caught touchdowns. On defense it was the likes of linebacker Nate Landman and safety Quentin Lake delivering impact plays at crucial moments. It was the hallmark of a system that makes the most of everyone in it.

On the other sideline, Jacksonville’s offense was defined by waste. The Jaguars reached the Rams’ 40-yard line six times. Those possessions produced four turnovers on downs, a missed field goal, and a single late touchdown, by which point the game was long since over. Drives died not because of impossible situations but because of sloppy execution and poor decisions.

Fourth downs and the coaching divide

For all the Rams’ composure, both offenses shared one issue: third-down struggles. Los Angeles went 2 of 10, Jacksonville 3 of 15. But when the game reached the moments that truly mattered – fourth down and the red zone – the difference was night and day.

The Rams were perfect in those spots, converting both of their fourth-down attempts and scoring touchdowns on all four red-zone trips. The Jaguars, by contrast, went 2 of 6 on fourth down and 0 of 2 in the red zone.

The most telling sequence came midway through the second quarter. Trailing 14–0 and facing 4th and 2 at the Rams’ 32, first-year head coach Liam Coen opted for a 50-yard field goal – a conservative choice that signaled a lack of trust in his offense, made even more questionable by the steady rain throughout the game. The kick missed, and Los Angeles immediately responded with another touchdown drive, a swing that effectively buried the contest before halftime.

But that moment encapsulated a larger issue. Jacksonville’s fourth-down play-calling felt indecisive – caught between analytics-driven aggression and conservative instincts. The execution reflected that uncertainty. The Rams, by contrast, operated with clarity and conviction, knowing exactly when to push and how to finish.

Experience matters, of course. McVay is in his ninth season and has built a culture of composure. Coen, in his first, is still forging his identity as a head coach. That learning curve is expected, but if Jacksonville wants to stay in the AFC wildcard race, the improvement must come quickly.

Difference in defensive discipline

The Rams’ defense deserves its fair share of praise for the win. The secondary’s ability to operate as a unit greater than the sum of its parts has been a theme of the season so far and showed up again here.

Despite lacking a single star corner or safety, Los Angeles has consistently performed at an elite level – through eight weeks they are second in the NFL in EPA allowed per dropback. Against Jacksonville, that collective discipline was evident: coverage was sticky, communication crisp, and big-play opportunities for Trevor Lawrence rare.

Discipline extended beyond coverage. Penalty counts reinforced the difference in focus and execution. The Rams were flagged just five times for 45 yards, while the Jaguars committed 13 penalties for 119 yards. Those infractions repeatedly extended Rams drives and compounded Jacksonville’s struggles, highlighting how composure and fundamentals can swing field position and momentum.

Execution over potential

This game highlighted the difference that preparation, discipline, and experience can make. The Rams executed as a cohesive unit, overcoming the absence of their star receiver and challenging conditions with clarity and poise. Their offense delivered when it mattered, and their defense operated with a collective efficiency that limited big plays and kept the Jaguars off balance.

Jacksonville, by contrast, showed flashes of talent but struggled to convert potential into consistent production. Drops, contested catches, indecisive fourth-down calls, and penalties compounded to keep them from sustaining drives or staying competitive in key moments.

More than just a victory, the game underscored why the Rams are one of the best teams in the NFC. Their ability to adjust, execute, and dominate despite less-than-ideal circumstances – on the road, missing a star, in adverse conditions – is a testament to the coaching, preparation, and fundamentals that define this team. At Wembley, Los Angeles didn’t just win – they demonstrated what makes them a perennial contender.

JACK BRENTNALL

HEAD OF NFL DRAFT CONTENT

Previously the founder of The Jet Sweep, Jack joined The Touchdown as head of Draft Content in 2024. A Scouting Academy alumnus, Jack has been Covering the NFL Draft since 2020. Follow him on Twitter @Jack_Brentnall.

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