Tyler Higbee had been waiting nearly a year for this moment, and when it finally came, he wasn’t about to let anything or anyone stop him. The Los Angeles Rams’ tight end made his long-awaited season debut after tearing both his ACL and MCL in his right knee last January. And as the Rams faced the New York Jets, with the score tied early in the fourth quarter, Higbee knew this was his chance.
Catching a short pass from quarterback Matthew Stafford, Higbee made a remarkable play that would seal the game for his team. He exploded down the sideline, barreling through would-be tacklers, and dove over the goal line for an 11-yard touchdown. That moment would become the winning score in the Rams’ 19-9 victory. "I didn’t know I was going to have to jump," said Higbee. "I met a lot of guys at the pylon and I lowered my shoulder trying to get in there. Then I saw a little opening and thought I’d take it."
As he leaped for the end zone, Higbee said it felt a bit like a scene out of Space Jam with Michael Jordan, as he stretched his arm out, determined to get the ball in. And, of course, he did. That touchdown, more than just a moment of athleticism, marked a triumphant return for Higbee after a long and difficult recovery. “In the air, it felt a little bit like ‘Space Jam’ Michael Jordan with his arm out there. This has got to get in,” he added, with a grin.
It wasn’t just the touchdown that made the play special—it was the timing. As the Rams were in a battle with the Jets, it was Higbee’s score that gave them the lead early in the fourth quarter, and it was the catalyst for the Rams' fourth consecutive win. After a rocky start to the season, the Rams were finally beginning to find their rhythm, and this victory, particularly with temperatures at a chilly 23 degrees at kickoff, helped them maintain their position at the top of the NFC West.
Head coach Sean McVay acknowledged the strange nature of the game, especially with both teams having extended possessions throughout the contest. The Rams' defense had been under pressure for much of the game, struggling to contain Aaron Rodgers and the Jets' offense. But, in a defining moment, the defense stepped up in a big way.
With the game tied at 9 after Joshua Karty’s 38-yard field goal, Kam Curl blitzed Rodgers, sacking him and forcing a fumble. The ball fell perfectly into the hands of Jared Verse, who was in the right place at the right time. "As I was falling, it landed right on top of me,” Verse explained. "One of those things: right place at the right time." That turnover set up the Rams at the Jets’ 21-yard line, and it took just three plays for Stafford to find Higbee for the game-winning touchdown.
Stafford, who has had his own ups and downs this season, couldn’t hide his excitement about Higbee’s performance. "Just happy for him to get out there and play," Stafford said. "And to be able to cap it off with a touchdown with a great effort at the end, it was awesome.” For Higbee, it was the culmination of a long recovery process. "I almost passed out," he admitted with a smile, recalling the intense emotions of the moment. "It was very humbling.”
But it wasn’t just Higbee’s touchdown that sealed the deal for the Rams. After the Jets failed to respond, Karty nailed a 45-yard field goal to put the Rams up by two scores, 19-9, with just over five minutes remaining. The Jets' offense, led by Rodgers, couldn’t muster a final comeback. A 48-yard field goal attempt by Anders Carlson with just under two minutes left missed wide right, and another chance for the Jets to regain possession slipped away when Jordan Whittington recovered a muffed punt return by Xavier Gipson. With that, the Rams could finally breathe easy, knowing they had secured another win.
For the Rams, it wasn’t just about the big plays at the end. Stafford, who struggled at times in the first half, finished the game 14-of-19 for 110 yards. His early performance was rocky, going just 6-of-10 for 46 yards with an interception. Kyren Williams also played a major role, rushing for 122 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries. The running back’s steady performance helped the Rams control the tempo and ultimately grind out the victory.
For Rodgers and the Jets, the game was a frustrating one. Despite a promising start, the offense stalled in the second half. Rodgers finished 28-of-42 for 256 yards and a touchdown to his favorite target, Davante Adams. That touchdown, which came on a beautiful play-action fake where Rodgers rolled out and hit Adams for an 11-yard score, gave the Jets a 6-0 lead at the end of the first quarter. But the Jets’ offense, after its fast start, seemed to lose rhythm, and the team couldn’t capitalize on their opportunities. The Jets ended the game 2-of-5 on fourth down, a stat that spoke to their inability to convert when it mattered.
The Rams had their own challenges early in the game, including an interception thrown by Stafford on the Rams' second drive. Tony Adams picked off Stafford, ending a career-best streak of five consecutive games without a turnover for the Rams quarterback. However, the Jets couldn’t take advantage of the turnover, as they failed on a critical fourth-and-1 attempt when Breece Hall was stopped for no gain. The Rams took full advantage of the short field and capitalized with a 2-yard touchdown run by Williams, although the extra point was missed. With the score tied at 6, it was anyone's game heading into the second half.
Throughout the game, injuries played a significant role. The Jets were without key players, including defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, who was a late scratch after testing his hamstring before the game. Cornerback Sauce Gardner also didn’t return after halftime due to a hamstring injury, and safety Tony Adams was hobbled by an ankle injury in the third quarter. To make matters worse, rookie left tackle Olu Fashanu was hurt late in the game, requiring crutches after suffering a left foot injury.
Despite all the challenges, the Rams' defense, led by players like Kam Curl and Jared Verse, showed resilience. The key fumble recovery and sack of Rodgers turned the momentum in favor of Los Angeles. The Rams had a slow start to the season, but after this victory, they proved they were a force to be reckoned with as they remained in playoff contention and atop the NFC West.
As for Higbee, the touchdown was a statement—both for the team and for his own journey back to the field. After an arduous rehabilitation process, that 11-yard leap into the end zone was more than just a play on the field. It was a moment of redemption. For the Rams, it was the exclamation point on another thrilling victory, and for Higbee, it was the start of a new chapter in his career.
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