Stafford spreads his wings as L.A. soars into break

He delivers to 10 receivers, with five touchdowns, in win to start their hiatus

- GARY KLEIN

DAVANTE ADAMS leaps above the Jaguars' Montaric Brown for a score at Wembley Stadium.

(IAN WALTON Associated Press)

Goodbye, London. Hello, bye week.

The Rams ended an extended road trip and welcomed some time off with a 35-7 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday at Wembley Stadium.

Matthew Stafford passed for five touchdowns — three to Davante Adams and one each to rookies Konata Mumpfield and Terrance Ferguson — and edge rushers Jared Verse and Byron Young led a mostly suffocating defense as the Rams improved their record to 5-2 heading into an off week.

"Man," coach Sean McVay said, "it will make for a much more enjoyable flight home."

A giddy one, even, if the Rams don’t conk out en masse during the 11-plus hours in the air.

In a light rain, and without injured star receiver Puka Nacua, McVay and Stafford poured into 10 different receivers during a victory that not only made the nine-day road trip worth it, but also showed the rest of the NFL that the Rams remain a legitimate Super Bowl contender.

Stafford, 37, is playing like he did in 2021, when the Rams won the Super Bowl. The defense is keeping opponents out of the end zone. And the troubled placekicking unit played without error.

For the first time since 2021, the Rams will go into their off week with a winning record.

In 2023, the Rams were 3-6 at the bye and then won seven of eight games to finish 10-7 and make the playoffs.

Last season, they were 1-4 at the bye and then won nine of 12 games to finish 10-7 and make the playoffs.