The Rams didn’t sack Sam Darnold, but the pass rush absolutely had an impact on the game

The Los Angeles Rams have one of the best pass rushes in the NFL but if you look at the box score from Sunday’s game against the Seattle Seahawks, you may not get that impression. The Rams didn’t sack Sam Darnold a single time in their 21-19 win, only landing three total hits on the quarterback – one each by Byron Young, Kamren Kinchens and Jared Verse.

But that’s where stats can be misleading – or, “for losers,” as Sean McVay said after the game.

He was asked about the Rams’ lack of sacks against the Seahawks and responded by praising the group up front for the job they did disrupting Sam Darnold, helping create four turnovers.

“They were effective, and that’s why I say stats are for losers,” he said. “They affected and influenced the game in a huge way. Obviously, Sam is a great quarterback but he was getting off his spot. I thought a lot of the pressure that we did get is what led to some of the decisions where some of our guys made great plays to be able to get those four interceptions throughout the course of the day. Really proud of that group. I think that defensive staff, Chris Shula, defensive coaches, can’t say enough of the job (they did). We were excellent in the red zone. Really proud of that group, but I thought our front had a big impact on that game, even if the sacks didn’t necessarily show up.”

Darnold never looked comfortable in the pocket despite throwing for 279 yards and completing 29 of 44 passes. He was forced to throw on the move often and was pushed off his spot by pressure generated up front, whether it was off the edge with Verse and Young or up the middle with Kobie Turner, Poona Ford and Braden Fiske.

The Rams set out to disrupt Darnold’s timing in this game, knowing he excels when he’s hitting his back foot and getting the ball out quickly to his first read, and they accomplished the goal by forcing four interceptions and holding the Seahawks to only 19 points.

Sacks are misleading because Los Angeles’ pass rush still had a major impact on this game.