INGLEWOOD, Calif. -- -- Sean McVay's excitement over the potential to play alongside Matthew Stafford at the Los Angeles Rams finally got his best on Sunday.
The Rams held a 14-7 lead against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the start of the third quarter when they faced third and -10 at LA 25. McVay dialed the right play that would be the deciding moment in the Rams' 34-24. Victory over the defending Super Bowl champions.
McVay demands a pass for Deason Jackson on the go route. Jackson easily ran from cornerback Carlton Davis III, caught it in the Buccaneers 30 and then made his way through the final 10 yards and into the tunnel. He was eventually greeted by the prolific Rams coach, who ran from the sidelines to celebrate his team going up two touchdowns.
"I think my hamstrings are already sore. I probably pulled them both," McVay joked. "I was in the moment and having fun, it was fun watching these guys do their job and there were so many reasons to be excited for our team today."
Tampa Bay coach Bruce Arian said that Jackson wide open due to completely closed coverage and a lack of communication in the secondary.
Stafford, who said he wanted to come to Los Angeles to play in the big games, passed for 343 yards and four touchdowns as he overcame Tom Brady and the Buccaneers (2–1), who had a 10-game regular season. And the streak to win the playoffs was broken
"We're in his face once, he finds a man uncovered at the bottom of the field and leads him to him. Others, they see him, but they can't get it. He gets them, so He's a special player," Arian said of Stafford.
The Rams lead 3-0 for the third time in McVay's five seasons. The Super Bowl, which they reached in the 2018 season, will be played at their palatial Hollywood Park home.
Defensive tackle Aaron Donald was asked if he thought the Rams were one of the favorites to get there: "Definitely".
"Everyone is always having fun together. And the last time we had a team like this, we went to the Super Bowl," said Donald, who made three tackles and scored his first career sack against Brady.
Stafford was off-target on five of his first six attempts before getting into a groove as the Rams scored on their next six drives.
"I think Sean has done a great job of giving us a game plan that really keeps the defense on their toes," said Stafford, who completed 27 of 38 passes. "I mean, we threw the ball down today, we threw the screen, we threw it over the top, we ran the ball, we played—action, we did everything. So when he's got us going like this, So you know, it's fun to go out there and execute them."
Brady, who completed 41 of 55 passes for 432 yards and two touchdowns (one passing, one rushing), joined Drew Brees as the only quarterback to throw for more than 80,000 yards.
Mike Evans finished with eight receptions for 106 yards for the Bucks (2-1).
"We started slow, so whenever you do that you fight back all day, and I think we played a good team that didn't turn the ball," Brady said.
Stafford went 8 for 74 yards on a 14-play, 95-yard drive with Tyler Higby's 6-yard TD reception off on a quick pass to give the Rams a 7-0 lead in the second quarter .
Tampa Bay tied it on the ensuing drive when Chris Godwin jet sweeps 2 yards around the right end, but the game didn't last long either.
The Rams took a 14-7 lead at halftime when Cooper Kupp caught a 2-yard TD with 54 seconds to spare. It was the first of two for Kupp, who took nine catches for 96 yards.
After Jackson scored, Brady got the Buccaneers to within 21–14 on the 1-yard keeper, but the Rams made it out of reach with 10 straight points. Stafford threw his fourth TD, 10 yards to Kupp, and Matt Gay added a 48-yard field goal.
After the teams scored a field goal, Tampa Bay added a touchdown with 1:10 remaining, when Giovanni Bernard scored on the reception from 7 yards.
DEEP THREAT
Jackson, who finished with three catches for 120 yards, has nine career touchdown receptions for at least 75 yards, which tied him with Hall of Famer Lance Alworth the most in NFL history, according to Elias.
STUCK IN NEUTRAL?
Tampa Bay's running game was again non-existent with 35 yards remaining. Leading the Brady Books with 14 yards was Rush.
Sonny Mitchell, who was acquired from New England during the preseason, made his debut in Los Angeles and made 20 carries for 67 yards. Mitchell started with Darrell Henderson Jr., who was inactive due to a rib injury.
INJURIES
Tampa Bay cornerback Jamel Dean suffered a knee injury during the first quarter and did not return. Tight end Rob Gronkowski took a shot in the ribs during the third quarter and was out for a series before returning.
Los Angeles linebacker Justin Hollins suffered a chest injury during the fourth quarter and did not return.
UP NEXT
The Buccaneers are in New England next Sunday night as Brady returns to Foxborough, Massachusetts for one of the most eagerly anticipated matchups of the season.
The Rams host Arizona in an NFC West matchup of unbeaten teams the following Sunday.