If you were looking for a high-flying offensive clinic when you checked the Jets vs Rams score back on December 22, 2024, you probably walked away feeling a little confused. On paper, seeing Matthew Stafford and Aaron Rodgers share a field usually suggests a scoreboard lighting up like a Christmas tree. Instead, what we got at MetLife Stadium was a gritty, freezing defensive struggle that ended in a 19-9 victory for the Los Angeles Rams.
It was weird. Honestly, the final score doesn't even tell the whole story of how lopsided—yet strangely close—this game felt. The Jets actually outgained the Rams. They had more first downs. They held the ball for nearly five minutes longer than Los Angeles. But in the NFL, yards are just a vanity metric if you can't stop turning the ball over in your own territory.
The Breakdown of the Jets vs Rams Score
The game started with a massive spark for the home crowd. Aaron Rodgers marched the Jets down the field on a staggering 14-play, 99-yard drive. It was vintage. He capped it off with an 11-yard touchdown pass to Davante Adams. That play was actually historical—it was Rodgers' 499th career touchdown pass and his 82nd to Adams. They tied Dan Marino and Mark Clayton for the third-most touchdowns by any QB-WR duo ever.
But then the wheels kinda fell off for New York.
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The Jets went up 6-0 (Anders Carlson missed the extra point, which felt like an omen). After that, the scoring dried up for the Green and White. While the Jets defense actually played quite well, holding the Rams to just 242 total yards, the Los Angeles coaching staff was smarter about the short field.
How the Points Stacked Up
- First Quarter: Jets 6, Rams 0. A dominant 99-yard drive that made everyone think Rodgers was back to his MVP self.
- Second Quarter: Rams 6, Jets 3. Kyren Williams punched in a 2-yard run after a short field, and Carlson added a 21-yard field goal for the Jets to keep a narrow 9-6 lead at the half.
- Third Quarter: Total stalemate. 0-0. Both teams just traded punts and frustration in the cold East Rutherford air.
- Fourth Quarter: Rams 13, Jets 0. This is where it got ugly. A Josh Karty field goal tied it, followed by a Tyler Higbee touchdown and another Karty field goal to ice it.
Why the Jets Lost Despite Having More Yards
You've gotta look at the field position. It's the only way the Jets vs Rams score makes sense. The Rams scored 16 of their 19 points on drives that started in "plus territory"—meaning they started on the Jets' side of the 50-yard line.
Aaron Rodgers was sacked and stripped by Kam Curl, a play that rookie sensation Jared Verse recovered at the Jets' 21-yard line. That specific turnover led directly to the Tyler Higbee touchdown that put the Rams ahead for good. When you give Matthew Stafford the ball at the 21-yard line, you're essentially handing him points.
Interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich took some heat for his fourth-down decisions too. The Jets went 2-for-5 on fourth downs. One specifically stood out: a fourth-and-1 where Breece Hall was stuffed for no gain. Ulbrich said later he wanted to stay aggressive because the offense was moving the ball well, but those empty possessions are exactly why the score stayed in the single digits for New York.
Key Individual Stats from the Matchup
- Aaron Rodgers (NYJ): 28/42, 256 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT.
- Matthew Stafford (LAR): 14/19, 110 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT.
- Kyren Williams (LAR): 23 carries, 122 yards, 1 TD.
- Davante Adams (NYJ): 7 catches, 68 yards, 1 TD.
Notice something? Stafford only threw for 110 yards. In a modern NFL game, that's almost unheard of for a winning quarterback. But Kyren Williams was the engine. He ground out 122 yards on the ground, keeping the chains moving and the clock running. He basically bullied a Jets front that was missing Quinnen Williams (hamstring).
The Aftermath and What It Meant
The win moved the Rams to 9-6, keeping them firmly in the playoff hunt in the NFC West. For the Jets, the loss dropped them to 4-11, another "what if" game in a season full of them. The injuries were the salt in the wound. Sauce Gardner aggravated a hamstring injury, and rookie tackle Olu Fashanu left with a foot injury.
Basically, the Jets vs Rams score reflected a team that knew how to win (the Rams) vs. a team that forgot how to finish (the Jets). Los Angeles didn't need to be flashy. They just needed to be efficient.
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If you’re looking back at this game for betting trends or historical context, remember that the "Under" was the safest bet in the world that day. The total yardage was there for New York, but the execution inside the red zone was non-existent.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
- Watch the Short Field: When analyzing future matchups between these two, look at turnover margins. The Rams' ability to capitalize on a short field was the entire game.
- Rushing Efficiency Matters: Even when a QB like Stafford has a "bad" statistical day, a 100+ yard rusher like Kyren Williams can nullify a great pass defense.
- Red Zone Woes: The Jets' inability to convert 4th downs in the red zone is a recurring theme. If you're scouting the Jets, their "Red Zone TD Percentage" is the most important stat to track.
To see how these teams are trending now, you should check the latest injury reports and offensive line rankings, as those were the quiet factors that actually decided this 19-9 outcome.