When the Los Angeles Rams faced off against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on December 22, 2024, the box score suggested one story while the scoreboard told another. Final tally: Rams 19, Jets 9 in a frigid Week 16 matchup that proved once again why football isn’t played on spreadsheets.
The stats said Jets. The scoreboard said Rams. So what happened?
Table of Contents
The Basics: Misleading Numbers
| Team Statistic | Los Angeles Rams | New York Jets |
|---|---|---|
| Total Yards | 242 | 321 |
| Time of Possession | 27:55 | 32:05 |
| First Downs | 17 | 17 |
| Third Down Conv. | 5/10 (50%) | 5/13 (38.5%) |
| Fourth Down Conv. | N/A | 2/5 (40%) |
| Turnovers | 1 | 2 |
Any football coach will tell you controlling the clock and outgaining your opponent by nearly 80 yards should translate to victory. So how did the Jets lose by 10?
The hidden game-changer: 16 of the Rams’ 19 points came from drives starting in Jets territory.
Football isn’t about piling up yards between the 20s. It’s about capitalizing on short fields, winning the field position battle, and pouncing when the other team blinks. A detailed breakdown of the official game stats from Pro Football Reference confirms this pattern throughout the contest.
QB Breakdown: Volume vs. Efficiency
Stafford: Quality Over Quantity
| Stafford Stats | Values |
|---|---|
| Completions/Attempts | 14/19 (73.7%) |
| Passing Yards | 110 |
| Touchdowns | 1 |
| Interceptions | 1 |
| Passer Rating | 83.2 |
| Sacks Taken | 0 |
Stafford wasn’t asked to air it out in the brutal 23°F conditions. Instead, he connected on nearly 74% of his passes and notched his 20th TD of the season at the perfect moment, hitting Higbee for the go-ahead score that proved to be the difference.
Look past the 110 yards. The veteran signal-caller went turnover-free in the second half when it mattered most and, crucially, never hit the turf thanks to stellar protection.
Rodgers: All Yards, No Cigar
| Rodgers Stats | Values |
|---|---|
| Completions/Attempts | 28/42 (66.7%) |
| Passing Yards | 256 |
| Touchdowns | 1 |
| Interceptions | 0 |
| Passer Rating | 91.0 |
| Sacks | 1 (resulted in fumble) |
On paper, Rodgers outdueled Stafford. The veteran connected for his 499th career touchdown pass to Davante Adams, tying Dan Marino and Mark Clayton for the third-most TD connections by a QB-WR duo in NFL history (82), according to ESPN’s detailed game coverage.
But football games pivot on crucial moments, and Rodgers’ fourth-quarter fumble was the turning point. As he told reporters afterward, “The rhythm disappeared” after their impressive opening drive.
Ground Game: The Williams Show
| Team Rushing | Los Angeles Rams | New York Jets |
|---|---|---|
| Total Rushing Yards | 132 | 75 |
| Yards Per Carry | 4.3 | 3.8 |
Kyren Williams: Bell Cow Performance
| Williams Stats | Values |
|---|---|
| Rushing Attempts | 23 |
| Rushing Yards | 122 |
| Yards Per Carry | 5.3 |
| Touchdowns | 1 |
| Long Run | 13 yards |
| Receptions | 1 |
| Receiving Yards | 7 |
Williams’ fourth 100+ yard game of 2024 provided the offensive foundation for the Rams. Consistently gashing the Jets defense for 5.3 yards per pop, he allowed LA to control tempo, sustain drives, and set up manageable third downs.
This balanced attack kept the Jets defense guessing all afternoon despite Stafford’s modest passing numbers.
Jets Ground Struggles
| Hall Stats | Values |
|---|---|
| Rushing Attempts | 14 |
| Rushing Yards | 52 |
| Yards Per Carry | 3.7 |
| Receptions | 5 |
| Receiving Yards | 38 |
The Jets never got their ground game rolling, forcing Rodgers to shoulder too much of the offensive load. Hall was bottled up all afternoon, averaging just 3.7 per carry.
The backbreaker came when interim coach Jeff Ulbrich rolled the dice on fourth-and-1 from the Jets’ own 33, and Hall was stuffed for no gain. Three plays later, the Rams were in the end zone.
Pass Catchers: Efficiency vs. Empty Calories
Rams Receivers: Maximizing Opportunities
| Rams Receivers | Receptions | Targets | Yards | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Puka Nacua | 8 | 9 | 56 | 0 |
| Cooper Kupp | 3 | 3 | 24 | 0 |
| Tyler Higbee | 1 | 2 | 11 | 1 |
| Tutu Atwell | 1 | N/A | 12 | 0 |
| Kyren Williams | 1 | N/A | 7 | 0 |
No monster stat lines for Rams pass catchers, but each reception moved the chains at crucial moments. The game-changer came when Higbee, making his 2024 debut after knee surgery, hauled in an 11-yard TD for his only catch of the day.
LA’s passing attack wasn’t about highlight-reel bombs. It focused on high-percentage throws (5.8 yards per attempt) that complemented the run game and converted in the red zone when it mattered.
Jets Receivers: Stats Without Payoff
| Jets Receivers | Receptions | Targets | Yards | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Davante Adams | 7 | 13 | 68 | 1 |
| Garrett Wilson | 6 | 7 | 54 | 0 |
| Tyler Conklin | 5 | 7 | 59 | 0 |
| Breece Hall | 5 | N/A | 38 | 0 |
| Allen Lazard | 2 | N/A | 20 | 0 |
Jets receivers collectively put up 239 yards but couldn’t cash in after their opening drive. With the Jets leading 9-6 and driving, Rodgers couldn’t connect with Adams on fourth down from the Rams’ 14-yard line, a missed opportunity that loomed large as the game progressed.
Game-Changing Defensive Plays
Kam Curl: The Play That Changed Everything
| Curl Defensive Stats | Values |
|---|---|
| Total Tackles | 5 (1 solo, 4 assisted) |
| Sacks | 1.0 |
| Forced Fumbles | 1 |
With the score knotted at 9-9 in the fourth quarter, Curl blitzed off the edge and strip-sacked Rodgers at the Jets’ 21-yard line. Rookie Jared Verse pounced on the loose ball, and three plays later, the Rams had the lead for good.
One play. Seven points. Ball game.
Tony Adams: Early Promise, Later Pain
| Adams Defensive Stats | Values |
|---|---|
| Total Tackles | 5 (2 solo, 3 assisted) |
| Interceptions | 1 |
| Passes Defended | 1 |
Adams gave the Jets early momentum by picking off Stafford in the second quarter, ending the Rams QB’s five-game streak without a turnover. But the Jets offense couldn’t capitalize, and Adams later exited with an ankle injury, a significant blow to New York’s secondary.
The Third Phase: Special Teams Swings
| Kicking Stats | FG Made/Attempts | FG Long | XP Made/Attempts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joshua Karty (Rams) | 2/2 | 45 yards | 1/2 |
| Anders Carlson (Jets) | 1/2 | 21 yards | 0/1 |
Both kickers missed extra points early, but Karty delivered when it counted, nailing field goals of 38 and 45 yards. The latter extended the Rams lead to a two-score game with 5:17 remaining.
Carlson’s missed 49-yarder with 1:57 left effectively ended any comeback hopes, but the final nail came when Xavier Gipson muffed a punt with 1:44 remaining. Rams recovered, game over.
Key Sequences That Decided The Outcome
1. Jets’ 99-yard opening masterpiece The Jets put together their first 99-yard TD drive on an opening possession since 2016 (coincidentally, also against the Rams). The 14-play march consumed 8:22 but ended with a missed extra point, keeping the score at 6-0. As noted on the Jets’ official team site, this was only the fifth 99-yard touchdown drive for the Jets since 1963.
2. Short field, big payoff After stopping Hall on fourth-and-1, the Rams needed just three plays to go 33 yards for a touchdown, showcasing their quick-strike capability.
3. The strip-sack With the score tied 9-9, Curl’s strip-sack at the Jets’ 21-yard line led directly to Higbee’s TD, completely flipping the game’s momentum.
4. The muffed punt Down by 10 with 1:44 left, Gipson’s muffed punt extinguished even the faintest comeback hopes.
Scoring Summary
| Quarter | Time | Team | Detail | LAR | NYJ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0:23 | NYJ | Adams 11 yd pass from Rodgers (Carlson kick failed) | 0 | 6 |
| 2 | 6:22 | LAR | Williams 2 yd rush (Karty kick failed) | 6 | 6 |
| 2 | 0:00 | NYJ | Carlson 21 yd field goal | 6 | 9 |
| 4 | 12:44 | LAR | Karty 38 yd field goal | 9 | 9 |
| 4 | 10:11 | LAR | Higbee 11 yd pass from Stafford (Karty kick) | 16 | 9 |
| 4 | 5:17 | LAR | Karty 45 yd field goal | 19 | 9 |
The Rams erupted for all 13 of their second-half points in a decisive 7:27 stretch of the fourth quarter, turning a tight contest into a comfortable win. Fox Sports’ play-by-play breakdown shows how quickly momentum shifted late in the game.
What It Means For Both Teams
For the Rams (9-6), this win kept them atop the NFC West and showcased their ability to grind out tough road victories in adverse conditions. Sean McVay’s squad doesn’t need gaudy offensive stats to win; they just need to capitalize on opponent mistakes and make plays when they matter most, crucial traits for playoff-bound teams.
For the Jets (4-11), it’s another frustrating chapter in a disappointing season. They continue to move the ball effectively between the 20s but struggle with red-zone execution and game-changing mistakes at the worst possible times.
Statistical Oddities
- The Jets didn’t punt once all game, with every drive ending in a score, turnover, or half
- The Rams scored on all three drives that began in Jets territory
- Stafford’s 73.7% completion rate towered above his season average
- Rodgers and Adams tied Dan Marino and Mark Clayton for the third-most TD connections (82) by a QB-WR duo in NFL history
- Both teams struggled in the brutal 23°F conditions, which likely impacted ball security and offensive execution
FAQs About Los Angeles Rams vs New York Jets Match Player Stats
Who was the standout performer in the Rams vs Jets game?
Did Rodgers or Stafford have the better game?
What stat most explains the final score?
Which defensive play had the biggest impact?
How did special teams affect the outcome?
The Los Angeles Rams vs New York Jets matchup proved the old football axiom: the scoreboard is the only stat that matters. The Jets may have won the statistical battle on December 22, but the Rams won where it counts, converting opportunities into points when the game hung in the balance.
