INDIANAPOLIS — The Rams flirted with a historic collapse on Sunday, watching the Indianapolis Colts erase their 23-point lead into a matter of 19 minutes of game clock. Then given two drives to win the game with under two minutes left, the Rams managed a single first down.
But the third time turned out to be the charm, as quarterback Matthew Stafford found Puka Nacua for a 22-yard overtime touchdown to escape Lucas Oil Stadium with a 29-23 win.
It was the first career touchdown for Nacua, and could not have come at a better time, as the Rams were on the verge of tying the franchise’s record for the largest blown lead.
At first, the Rams looked unstoppable, with fate on their side. Nacua caught the first pass of the game only after it was tipped by a defender and then the receiver himself. Stafford had to scramble on third down and failed to convert, but happily took a late-hit penalty to keep the drive alive and set up Kyren Williams’ first touchdown.
The next drive followed largely the same script. A 26-yard pass to Nacua, Van Jefferson with the sideline grab to convert on fourth down, a Williams touchdown run, his sixth score of the season.
But the Rams seemed content with the status quo. Facing third-and-20 on the next drive, Stafford handed off to Williams and Brett Maher kicked a field goal. In the two-minute drive at the end of the half, the Rams opted to huddle up after each play and let 22 seconds run off the clock on third down to kick a field goal with four seconds left.
Those decisions would come back to haunt the Rams, because although the defense started strong with its first first-half shutout since 2021, the Colts eventually got moving. Seventy-five yards on one drive, 57 on another, and 83 to tie it with three touchdowns. Meanwhile, Stafford hurt his leg in the second half, hobbling around the field, including throughout the final game-winning drive in overtime.