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Matthew Stafford overcame a hip injury that left him limping at times Sunday to throw a 22-yard touchdown pass to record-breaking rookie Puka Nacua in overtime to give the Los Angeles Rams a 29-23 victory over the Indianapolis Colts.
The Rams (2-2) have won four straight in the series, three in a row in Indy — this one coming after they blew a 23-point lead in the final 21 minutes of regulation.
Stafford was 27 of 40 with 319 yards, one touchdown and one interception. But it was his grit that won this one.
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Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua celebrates after scoring a touchdown during overtime in an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
He was injured while being driven into the ground in the third quarter. Following an interception on the next play, he wore a heating wrap around his waist and when he returned to the game was limping noticeably. Twice, he slipped with nobody near him.
And yet, Stafford mustered enough to help the Rams avoid an embarrassing collapse. Nacua had nine receptions for 163 yards.
Indy (2-2) was trying to win its second straight overtime game behind rookie Anthony Richardson's remarkable rally. He threw a 35-yard TD pass to Mo Alie-Cox before scoring on a 1-yard run. Then he capped the performance with a 5-yard TD pass to Drew Ogletree and the tying 2-point conversion throw to Michael Pittman Jr. with 1:56 to go.
But he couldn't close out the rally in regulation and never got the ball in overtime.
The Rams scored on each of their first four drives, getting two TD runs from Kyren Willams and two field goals from Brett Maher to take a 20-0 halftime lead.
TITANS' DERRICK HENRY RUNS OVER BENGALS DEFENSE, THROWS TD PASS IN BIG WIN
ROOKIE SENSATIONS
Rams: Nacua, a fifth-round pick, has 39 catches for 501 yards. On Sunday, he surpassed Anquan Boldin (30) for the most receptions by an NFL player in his first four games. He also has the most yards by any NFL player in his first four games and became the first since Harlon Hill (Chicago Bears, 1954) with three 100-yard efforts in his first four games.
Colts: Richardson became the first quarterback in the Super Bowl era to score on a touchdown run in his first three career games. His fourth TD run made him only the fourth player — and the first quarterback — since 2000 with four rushing scores in his first three games, joining LaDainian Tomlinson (2001), Jahvid Best (2010) and Kareem Hunt (2017).
INJURY REPORT
Rams: Left tackle Alaric Jackson (hamstring) was inactive.
Colts: Neither left tackle Bernhard Raimann nor three-time Pro Bowl center Ryan Kelly cleared the concussion protocol, and linebacker Zaire Franklin left late in the third quarter with an injured back. The league's leading tackler did return. Receiver Alec Pierce left late in regulation to be evaluated for a concussion and cornerback Dallis Flowers (ankle) needed help to get off the field in overtime.
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UP NEXT
Rams: Begin a three-game homestand against defending NFC champion Philadelphia next Sunday.
Colts: Host division rival Tennessee next Sunday.
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