A rebound win for Bennett and Rams

Inglewood, CA (News4usOnline) – There were a couple of takeaways from the Los Angeles Rams defeating the Los Angeles Chargers in a preseason game played at SoFi Stadium. 

They’re all positives. First, the continued growth and maturation of quarterback Stetson Bennett IV has been something special to watch. 

After struggling in his rookie season, Bennett, now playing in his sophomore campaign, has looked in command of the offense and the team itself throughout the preseason. 

That was no more evident than on the last drive that the Rams forged together to come away with an exciting 23-22 win against their crosstown rivals. 

“I think we’re back to playing football more so than whatever it might be,” Bennett shared after the game. “You know what I’m saying? I think that’s a lot of… when you first get here, at least for me, and when I say here, I mean the NFL or a new league, it was the same going from high school to college and then college to the NFL. It’s just like I don’t know, whatever might be. But it’s football and I think that’s the best explanation I can give.”

Bennett threw an interception in the series before the game-winning drive that he engineered. The pick appeared to be a giant setback for Bennett and would likely cost the Rams a victory. However, the Rams’ defense forced the Chargers to flip the ball back to them.  

Bennett pulled it together and led the Rams on the game-winning drive, capped off by his 8-yard touchdown pass to rookie Tru Edwards with seconds remaining in the game. 

“They made a great play,” Bennett said. “It was hard to see. It was a really good play. Then we [need] to go win a football game and our defense did a great job of giving us that second opportunity after we didn’t convert on the first one. So, just play the next play.”

To have an opportunity to cash in on a game-winning chance, Bennett and the Rams had to convert a last-gasp fourth-down effort. With a dash of desperation, Bennett hit Brennan Presley, another rookie wideout, down the middle of the field to set up Edwards’ heroics.  

That drive taught Bennett one lesson. 

“Oh man, that it’s not over until it is. Just keep going and keep swinging,” Bennett remarked. 

Aubrey Pleasant, the associate head coach for the Rams, talked about what stood out to him the most about Bennett during that point in the game.  

“The response. You’re going to hear me say response a couple times in this press conference. It’s very important when you give up the interception the way you do in that situation and then you come back and you just respond,” Pleasant said. 

 “That’s what life’s about and that’s what we want to see specifically from a quarterback who’s high stakes and anytime they gamble in that situation it can be difficult. But he wasn’t and he was trying to be aggressive. It was very important that we acknowledge that. I just really understand his cool, calm demeanor. We’ve all seen him win a couple national championships in college and you see some of that thread work with his confidence and his belief in his teammates and the same that they have in him,” he added. 

For the game, Bennett completed 28 of 40 passes for 324 yards and three touchdowns. It was an impressive performance from the second-year player. But Bennett was not alone in the standout department for the Rams. He was able to share the winning spotlight because of the play of his wide receivers. 

An undrafted free agent, Presley led the way with six catches for 102 yards. In all, 10 receivers caught passes from Bennett. 

“[They’re] playing really well. They were fighting,” Bennett said. “There are two fourth down conversions on two different drives, maybe on the same one… I’m pretty tired right now (laughter). But yeah, just fighting it for me. Playing great.” 

Pleasant liked what he saw overall from his offense. 

“Yeah, they did an unbelievable job,” he remarked. “I think in this game I’ve learned… my first opportunity in the NFL was with the offensive line and running backs and I really understand how important it’s for the game to start up front. Even when they broke the huddle, they took the field with a charge. They aggressively attacked the line of scrimmage, and they protected and they gave us some opportunities.”