It wasn’t pretty, but the Los Angeles Rams grinded their way to a hard-fought 14-9 victory over the Houston Texans in Week 1. Neither team could get much going on the offensive side of the ball, but the Rams managed to do enough to open the new season with a victory, and after the game, head coach Sean McVay shouted out one of the team’s unsung heroes from the game.
Late in the fourth quarter, the Texans were driving down the field in search of a potential go-ahead touchdown, but their progress came to a halt thanks to linebacker Nate Landman, who forced a fumble from running back Dare Ogunbowale. Afterwards, McVay heaped praise on Landman for making a game-saving play at the best possible time.
Sean McVay Gushes Over Nate Landman
Landman broke into the league as an undrafted free agent with the Atlanta Falcons in 2022, and he ended up becoming a starter for them in his second season. Over the offseason, Landman signed a one-year contract with the Rams, and he ended up winning one of their starting inside linebacker jobs out of training camp.
Working alongside Omar Speights, Landman played a big role in limiting the Texans to just three field goals on the day. His 10 tackles tied Kam Curl for most on the team, and he also registered a QB hit on C.J. Stroud. Most importantly, though, he forced a fumble that helped L.A. seal the game, with Braden Fiske quickly pouncing on it to give the Rams possession of the football that they would not relinquish.
An unheralded part of the Rams’ defense, Landman likely wasn’t the guy that many folks believed would be the one making game-saving plays for his team in Week 1. His fierce playstyle has quickly put his name on the map in Los Angeles, though, and McVay offered high praise for him as the team closed the book on their matchup with the Texans.
“We always talk about practice, performance, and preparation equaling game reality. That’s what this guy has done,” McVay said when speaking to reporters on Sunday. “He has gotten more punchouts than anybody, he has just a great feel for it. He’s so intentional, and I think it’s rubbed off on the rest of the group. He got it at a critical time … He closed the game out in a big way for us today.”
Rams Turn Their Attention Towards Week 2 Matchup vs. Titans
GettyLA Rams HC Sean McVay
While Landman didn’t individually win this game for the Rams, he certainly played a big role in helping them escape their battle against a tough Texans team with a win. Considering how the team is still figuring some things out since it’s only Week 1 of the season, that’s all you can ask for, as it’s better to have a 1-0 record than a 0-1 record heading into Week 2.
Los Angeles will now turn its attention to Week 2, where it will take on the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Cam Ward, and the Tennessee Titans. Similar to Houston, Tennessee failed to score a touchdown in Week 1, settling for four field goals against a tough Denver Broncos defense. The Rams will be looking to keep them out of the end zone for the second straight week, with kickoff for this game being scheduled for 1 p.m. ET on Sunday.
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