‘Just like we drew it up’: Baker Mayfield a quick learner in thrilling Rams debut

Sean McVay didn’t waste any time.

Verify that: The Rams coach allowed greater than 12 minutes to run out earlier than he couldn’t management himself any longer.

The analysis of recent quarterback Baker Mayfield wanted to start.

Overlook that Mayfield arrived solely 48 hours earlier.

Mayfield got here on instead of starter John Wolford for the second collection of Thursday evening’s sport towards the Las Vegas Raiders. And on his first snap, he accomplished a 21-yard move.

But it surely was the end that followers will keep in mind.

Mayfield engineered two fourth-quarter scoring drives, capping his debut with a landing move to Van Jefferson with 10 seconds left for a 17-16 victory earlier than a Raiders-heavy crowd of 74,738 at SoFi Stadium, which for one evening anyway was Baker’s Discipline.

“I don’t know in the event you may write it any higher than that,” Mayfield mentioned.

The Rams couldn’t have felt higher. They ended a six-game shedding streak and improved their document to 4-9.

“You neglect what profitable’s like,” McVay mentioned, “and it positive is enjoyable.”

The evening was all about Mayfield, and whether or not the No. 1 decide within the 2018 NFL draft generally is a viable choice as Matthew Stafford’s backup subsequent season — and maybe past.

The preliminary learn: Completely.

“No matter occurs from right here on out, I received nothing however respect for Baker Mayfield,” receiver Ben Skowronek mentioned. “To have a man are available like that, work his tail off for 48 hours, be taught the sport plan, be taught our names…. He’s the kind of competitor you wish to play with.”

Mayfield was large within the clutch and confirmed the kind of arm energy and launch that McVay adores. He accomplished 22 of 35 passes for 230 yards, together with the landing to Jefferson.

Not a nasty Rams debut for a much-maligned participant who was traded by the Cleveland Browns in July and waived this week by the Carolina Panthers.

“Hats off to Baker,” heart Brian Allen mentioned. “We have been educating him cadences in the course of performs. Time to get on the market and see what occurs. And it occurred.”

Quipped McVay: “Identical to we drew it up.”

McVay mentioned he was impressed by Mayfield’s management, resilience and composure.

“And what a fast examine,” McVay mentioned. “He simply received right here 5 minutes in the past.”

Mayfield, who has performed for quite a few coordinators, mentioned McVay and Rams assistants and gamers helped him with a “crash course” in greedy the offense.

“I used to not essentially complain about the truth that I had that many various offensive programs and having to be taught that, nevertheless it got here in useful when having to be taught a crash course and with the ability to relate sure issues,” he mentioned.

The Rams now have some further time to organize for his or her Dec. 19 sport at Inexperienced Bay, the primary of 4 remaining video games towards the Packers, Denver Broncos, Chargers and Seattle Seahawks.

And 4 extra probabilities for Mayfield to make his case.

“It’s been a troublesome 12 months, to be trustworthy,” Mayfield mentioned. “A great way to kick-start this journey.”

McVay had mentioned on Wednesday that it could be “unprecedented” for a quarterback to play with so little preparation with a brand new crew.

Properly, these are unprecedented instances for McVay and the defending Tremendous Bowl-champion Rams, who’ve nose-dived with a Tremendous Bowl hangover.

Stafford, 34, is on injured reserve due to spinal wire contusion and is anticipated to be out for the remainder of the season.

Rams quarterback Baker Mayfield is congratulated by Raiders linebacker Curtis Bolton after main the Rams to a 17-16 comeback victory.

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Instances)

Wolford was questionable for Thursday’s sport due to a neck harm.

So, the Rams claimed Mayfield, who had not performed since Nov. 20. However McVay was clearly intent on discovering out if he may repair him.

When gamers got here out for early warmups about 90 minutes earlier than kickoff, Wolford was not on the sphere. Mayfield, in shorts, a blue Rams sweatshirt and black headband, took all of the snaps as third-string Bryce Perkins seemed on.

Mayfield briefly met on the sphere with tv announcers Al Michaels and Kirk Herbstreit in one thing akin to a last-minute manufacturing assembly to make up for the one he may need completed the day earlier than.

However when the Rams got here out in uniform for normal warmups, Wolford took snaps with the starters.

The Raiders scored on the primary possession for a 7-0 lead, and when the Rams received the ball and went three and out, Wolford’s evening was over.

Mayfield, sporting No. 17, got here on the following collection and fired a 21-yard completion to Jefferson on his first play. The drive ended with a 55-yard subject objective by Matt Homosexual.

Mayfield had the Rams on the transfer within the subsequent collection, finishing 22-yard passes to Tutu Atwell and Skowronek earlier than working again Cam Akers killed the drive by shedding a fumble.

Josh Jacobs rushed for a landing and Daniel Carlson’s two subject objectives gave the Raiders a 13-3 halftime lead.

A lot of the second half didn’t go nicely for Mayfield and the Rams. He was sacked a number of instances and penalties stifled a drive that compelled Homosexual to aim a 61-yard field-goal that went large left.

Late within the third quarter, nevertheless, Mayfield directed a 17-play, 75-yard scoring drive that ended with Akers’ brief landing run that pulled the Rams to inside 16-10 with simply greater than three minutes left.

The Rams received the ball again at their two-yard line with 1:45 left, and Mayfield’s 32-yard move to Skowronek keyed a drive that ended with Mayfield’s 23-yard scoring move to Jefferson.

“Simply exhibits the kind of man that he’s,” Jefferson mentioned of Mayfield, including, “He’s a troublesome man. I’m glad he’s right here.”

The Rams protection saved giving Mayfield probabilities by limiting the Raiders to subject objectives or creating turnovers. Linebacker Ernest Jones intercepted a move in the long run zone close to the tip of the second quarter. And Taylor Rapp clinched the victory with an interception.

Linebacker Bobby Wagner had a game-high 14 tackles — and marveled at Mayfield.

“The protection gave [the offense] us an opportunity to come back on the sphere and make these performs,” Wagner mentioned. “He got here on and did a tremendous job.

“It was nice to observe.”

McVay thought in order nicely.

“To say that I anticipated this,” he mentioned, “I imply it actually exceeded our expectations.”