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LOS ANGELES – Jared Goff was in a hurry, showing intense concentration amid the surrounding chaos, when the third-year quarter suddenly made a split-second decision that changed the course of his evening.
Driving through the windy, smoke-clogged streets of his neighborhood, near the Los Angeles Rams temporary training center last Friday night, Goff spotted a large pile of burning branches and stopped his car. Like many of his teammates and other members of the organization, Goff had evacuated his home late Thursday night, as two fires had spread from the hills of Ventura County to the shores of Malibu. He hoped to get some things back before returning to the area. downtown Los Angeles hotel in which he had temporarily moved.
When Goff and his close friend since childhood, Robbie Terheyden, came out to take a look at the mini-fire, a couple of 14-year-old boys carrying buckets of water made a double take. There was Goff, one of the NFL's most prominent quarterbacks, ready to lend a hand as a first volunteer stakeholder.
And as if the scene that had taken place right outside the entrance to the Kardashian Estate, one of the most famous residencies of reality TV, was not surreal enough: Goff's proud father, Jerry, was watching behind, for 20 years: a firefighter for a city in northern California just south of San Francisco. As Jared explained on Sunday night: "Realistically, the area around (branches) was burned and there was a very small chance that it could spread to the big tree that was just in He knew it, so he let us manage I realized we were probably too cautious, but I do not finish until the job is done. "
On Sunday at L.A. Coliseum, Goff and the Rams (9-1) did the job against a persistent rival of the division, remaining in a 36-31 victory over the Seattle Seahawks. And after his last dazzling performance in a full season, Goff did not want to dramatize his brush with public safety. After all, the area – and particularly the area near the Rams' headquarters – was turned upside down by a deadly week that included a massive shooting in a Mille Oaks bar on Wednesday night that left 13 dead and the massive wreckage caused by the Fire still uncontrolled. Forest fires.
The quarterback admitted, however, that the events had shaken his teammates and almost all members of one of the best teams in the NFL, which gave the impression that Sunday's triumph against his rival NFC West was a feat.
"Being able to do what we did today was really nice, especially under the circumstances," Goff told NFL.com after the match. "With all the fires and the madness, and the horrible shooting that took place the day before in our facilities, a lot of things happen, we want to be a group capable of providing regularity, refuge and joy, even if It's just for a few hours – it's good that we can do it today. "
After a 45-35 loss to the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, the Rams had a week of emotional rebound that made them strong and bonded. While they were gearing up for Monday's showdown in Mexico City with the 9-1 Kansas City Chiefs, which will be preceded by a week of training in Colorado Springs to allow them to acclimatize to the Altitude, Goff and his teammates gave excellent grades. to the collective management of the franchise of a disruptive and disarming process.
"It was a week for the ages," said Rams cornerback Marcus Peters. "I was at home on Thursday night and I saw the fire arrive, scared like a mother ——, and I ran out without even catching anything. We did that, but you, the organization took care of us, making sure we did not have to worry and that it allowed us to play ball and not stress ourselves for it, and you saw how we reacted – we did not even practice on Friday, and we came here and managed our business like professionals. "
Veteran striker Andrew Whitworth, who donated his entire game, about $ 60,000, to support the relief and recovery efforts of the families of the 12 victims of Wednesday's shooting at the Borderline Bar and Grill, Thousand Oaks: "From top to bottom this organization was amazing, the majority of the guys were uprooted from their home very quickly between 2 and 3 am (early Friday morning) and basically told us: 'Relax. Do not worry about it and your families safe, and we'll take care of the rest. "This created a state of mind in which guys thought," We do not have to worry about ourselves. Just get ready to play and think about how we can help the community. "
Friday morning 's drama included numerous interventions on a group text including Rams' coaching staff, defense coordinator, Wade Phillips, sending a message stating that he was in the process of writing. to be evacuated from his home. By the time Sean McVay woke up to work Friday at 4 am, several of his assistants had sent similar texts and the sophomore head coach made a quick decision.
"Sean was incredible," said assistant coach / linebacker Joe Barry. "He immediately canceled the training on Friday and basically said:" It's more important. Everyone cares for your family and does everything you have to do. "
Later on Friday, owner Stan Kroenke, the owner, sent an email to all members of the Rams organization. The latter essentially asked his employees to do everything in their power to take care of their families, promising them imminent repayments.
"You want people to know that they have some stability for their family – that children are safe, that dogs are safe and that all the important things are in place," Kroenke said after the match . "We tried to do the best job possible in the circumstances, and everyone responded well, so that players can focus as they did today, that says a lot."
The Seahawks (4-6), who narrowly lost to the Rams in Seattle in early October, lost no time in provoking much tension among their hosts and the 72,755 spectators at the Coliseum. Fueled by a powerful 273-yard offense (including 92 by the highly dangerous Wilson Russell Wilson quarterback), Seattle took the lead 7-0, 14-7 in the first period and took the lead 21-20 with 4:20 to do in the match. the third quarter on Wilson's 23-yard pass to receiver Tyler Lockett.
In the end, Goff (28, 39,318 yards, two touchdowns, no interception) and half-star Todd Gurley (16 runs, 120 yards, one touchdown, three catches, 40 yards) gave the Rams enough punch to allow them to carry – although they lost wide receiver Cooper Kupp, victim of a serious left knee injury, while defensive tackle All-Universe Aaron Donald (2.5 sacks, five quarterback dispatches and a ruined match) and that his teammates defended Wilson to 35 yards of last-minute return win goals.
"For us, let's stay together and take it off," Donald said, "that meant a lot."
For Goff, who can now look forward to an exciting duel Monday night with his Chiefs counterpart, the sensational second-year Patrick Mahomes, there would be no post-game celebration.
"I have stayed in three different places the last three nights, and (Monday) we are going to Colorado," Goff said before taking a shower. "I would like to take some business if I can, and hope that I will be able to go home now."
About 20 minutes later, Goff left the Coliseum, headed for the highway and headed for his home. This time, he saw nothing burning on the reader, but, once again, he was forced to call audibly.
"I can not go home," he says later, via SMS. "Too smoky."
While sleeping in his hotel room Sunday night, one thing was perfectly clear: even in times of stress, these Rams will not be derailed.
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