This season, reliable Super Bowl favorites have been hard to come by. Every good team has flaws that have cost them games. We saw that play out again Sunday.
The Los Angeles Rams might be the exception.
The Rams' case as the best team in the NFL was strengthened Sunday night. They improved to 9-2 after an easy win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Rams were ahead 21-0 early in the second quarter against a Tampa Bay team that is still likely to win the NFC South. Tampa Bay looked nothing like a potential division winner on Sunday night, mostly because the Rams were far superior.
There are only three teams left with just two losses: Rams, Broncos and Patriots. TheEagles blew a 21-point lead against the Cowboys, which was fantastic news for the Rams. They have a direct path to the No. 1 seed in the NFC. And the Rams look worthy of it.
[Get more Rams news: L.A. team feed]
Matthew Stafford is making a great case to win his first MVP award. The players around him are excelling. L.A.'s defense makes plays every week. The Rams haven't been perfect. But nobody else in the NFL has been definitively better.
Rams make it a blowout by halftime
On a day with plenty of drama around the NFL, the Rams made sure a Sunday night audience could go to sleep early.
It was clear before the first quarter was over how the game would go. The Rams jumped all over the Buccaneers. Davante Adams, one of the best red-zone receivers in NFL history, got a 1-yard touchdown to start the scoring. The defense got involved after that.
Buccaneers tight end Cade Otton was juggling a pass to him and he seemed to bring it in as he went to his knees, but cornerback Cobie Durant ripped the ball out of his hands. Officials ruled Otton didn't have full control, so it was an interception and Durant took it 50 yards for a touchdown. The blowout had started.
COBIE DURANT PICK SIX 🔥‼️The Rams are on top of the Bucs, 14–0 in the 1st quarter 👀(via@RamsNFL)pic.twitter.com/zSdJfcmsGu
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports)November 24, 2025
Colby Parkinson caught a 5-yard touchdown, then Adams got a second touchdown from 24 yards out. That continued a torrid stretch for Stafford, who is making a great case for MVP. The Rams led 31-7 at halftime. The Buccaneers are good enough to win the NFC South this season, but they weren't coming back from that deficit. And theirnight got worse with Baker Mayfield bowing out with an injury.
Buccaneers have a bad night
On the final play of the first half, the Buccaneers got aggressive and tried to throw a Hail Mary on fourth-and-24. On the pass Mayfield went down in pain, holding his left shoulder. Mayfield hurt his shoulder earlier in the game while taking a hit on a scramble. Mayfield was replaced by Teddy Bridgewater to start the second half. Mayfield was in a sling on the sideline in the second half.
The outcome of Sunday night's game had realistically been decided by the time Bridgewater got in anyway.
The Rams don't have a true weakness this season. They do well enough running the ball, and the passing game with Stafford, Adams and Puka Nacua has been remarkably efficient. Stafford hasn't thrown an interception since the third game of the season. He had 210 yards and three touchdowns in the first half Sunday.
The Rams honored the great Aaron Donald on Sunday night, and the defense has reloaded quickly since his retirement after the 2023 season. They are deep up front. That provides a foundation for a playmaking unit under coordinator Chris Shula, who could get head coaching interviews in the offseason. Mayfield had just 41 passing yards in the first half before departing due to his injury.
The Rams are still going to have to contend with the Seattle Seahawks, another strong team with few weaknesses, in the NFC West. But there's nothing holding the Rams back from winning a second Super Bowl under head coach Sean McVay. That potential was evident Sunday night.
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Up next: MNF
Week 12 will wrap up on Monday night with a matchup between the Carolina Panthers and San Francisco 49ers.
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Matthew Stafford final stats
Matthew Stafford threw three touchdowns tonight, two of which were to Davante Adams.
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Final: Rams 34, Buccaneers 7
The Los Angeles Rams dominated this one from start to finish. They've now won six straight and sit at 9-2 on the season. That's the best record in the NFC, and matches the second-best record in the NFL in general.
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Nothing going there for the Bucs offense either, so they'll punt it away too with 5:26 left. Matthew Stafford and the Rams can just about end this game here.
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Three straight runs from the Rams, and they've opted to punt on fourth-and-inches. Teddy Bridgewater will come back out with 7:12 left, but this one is about over.
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Rams with another 4th down stop
The Bucs got into the red zone, but Verse just dominated his way into the backfield and sacked Teddy Bridgewater deep on fourth down to force another turnove. The Rams will take back over, in full control here.
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Rams add 3 more
This game has really slowed down after that hot first half, but the Rams are still way out in front. Mevis just sank a 52-yarder with ease, so they're up 34-7 now with 13:35 left in the contest.
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End of 3: Rams 31, Buccaneers 7
The Rams almost got hit with a false start penalty there, but time had expired just before the flinch on the offensive line.
So to the fourth quarter we go with the Rams up big.
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The Bucs couldn't convert on fourth down, so it's a quick three-and-out. The Rams will take over again with 2:14 left in the third.
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Baker Mayfield is out
Baker Mayfield's night is officially done.
Baker Mayfield has been downgraded to OUT for the remainder of today's game (left shoulder). https://t.co/S6zNrQNOa3
Matthew Stafford completely missed Puka Nacua there, and looked livid in the backfield as they walked off ahead of fourth down.
Teddy Bridgewater and the Bucs will come back out now, though they'll have to start inside their own 10.
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Teddy Bridgewater converted once on fourth down on his opening drive, but the Rams brought him down on their last attempt there to force another turnover. They'll take over now with 7:38 left in the third.
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Bucs get the 4th down stop
That's a perfect start for Tampa. The Bucs just stopped the Rams after pressuring Matthew Stafford on fourth and short, so they'll take over near midfield.
But it's Teddy Bridgewater out now at quarterback. Let's see what he can do.
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Baker Mayfield doubtful
Well, Baker Mayfield is now listed as doubtful to return in the second half with a left shoulder injury.
#Bucs QB Baker Mayfield, who hit the turf in pain right before the half, is doubtful to return with a left shoulder injury.
The Rams have the ball now, so we'll see what happens when the Bucs offense takes over.
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Second half is off and running
The Rams have received the kick, and the third quarter is underway. We'll see if they keep this up.
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Stafford vs. Mayfield
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Baker Mayfield looks hurt
He stopped in the medical tent there briefly, but Baker Mayfield looked like he was in a lot of pain after that last play in the second. He was holding his left arm awkwardly and grimacing as he walked off the field.
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Halftime: Rams 31, Bucs 7
The Rams shut down Baker Mayfield and the Bucs there yet again — they even got an interception on the final play as time expired — and they're in total control of this one at the break. They'll get the ball back after halftime, too.
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Matthew Stafford made three quick passes there, but the Rams couldn't convert a first down. They'll settle for a field goal.
It's 31-7 now with about a minute left before halftime.
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Rams get the 4th down stop!
The Bucs just went for it on fourth and two, but Shepard couldn't haul it in. So the Rams will take over in great field position with about 90 seconds until halftime.
They can really push their lead here before the break.
