INGLEWOOD, Calif. – The Los Angeles Rams and Tennessee Titans entered their meetings Sunday evening at SoFi Stadium after weeks that brought them dramatically different fortunes.
The Titans – one of the top teams in the AFC – learned on Monday that leading rusher Derrick Henry had suffered a Jones fracture and would be out indefinitely. The Rams – one of the premier NFC squads – on Monday pulled off a blockbuster trade that gave them pass rusher Von Miller, who should improve their chances of contending for a Super Bowl bid.
But the events of the week factored little into Sunday’s contest between the two. An authoritative defensive performance from the Titans both eased pressure on their own offense and neutralized the potent attack of the Rams. Miller wound up not playing while nursing a sprained ankle. Even if he did, he wouldn’t have solved L.A.’s uncharacteristic problems in the area of pass protection.
The Titans prevailed 28-16 despite pedestrian offensive numbers (194 total yards and 16 first downs) and improved to 7-2 on the season.
The Rams, whose 16 points represented a season low and whose five sacks allowed marked a season-high, fell to 7-2. Another unsightly number for L.A.: 12 penalties for 115 yards – another season high.
The Titans entered the game with questions about their ability to withstand the long-term loss of workhorse running back and NFL MVP candidate Henry, who through eight games led the league with 937 rushing yards and 10…
