When the LA Rams traveled to face the Chicago Bears in Week 4, the team was riding high coming off their win against the San Francisco 49ers. It was the team's first win of the season, but second consecutive win against the 49ers. And the team was feeling very good about itself and its chances.
The Rams would lose that game by a score of 24-18. The team actually jumped out to a 6-0 lead to open the game, but failing to get touchdowns in the Red Zone, turnovers, and a special performance from Bears' punter Tory Taylor was too much for the injury-riddled Rams to overcome.
Taylor's performance made such an impressive impact in the game that he was named the NFL Special Teams Player of the Week for Week 4. All the while, LA Rams own punter Ethan Evans quietly took notes and mentally prepared himself for his chance to make such a significant and positive impact on his team.
It seems like forever since the Rams had reason to laud praise on a special team player. But that long overdue matter is finding resolution in Week 8. You see, Ethan Evans was not just a punter in the Thursday Night Football game. He was a strategic and significant contributor to the victory. Just check out this perfectly placed coffin kick by the second-year punter:
It was that punt that pinned the Minnesota Vikings deep in their territory with time running out at just 1:46 remaining on the game clock. Pinned deep and with no time outs, the Vikings offense had no choice but to pass. And that set up the fearsome pass rush to take aim and record its first safety of 2024.
Ethan Evans has been a solid special teams contributor for the team. But in 2023, he was all about a boooming punt that went on and on. In 2024, he is about hang time, ball placement, coffin kicks, and mastering the art or strategically placing the football.
Without Evans, Week 8 would almost certainly have been a far more difficult contest. But as is the case with many young players, he improves each week. As it now stands, he would not surprise me in the least by earning the honors of NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for Week 8. After all, he's already got my vote.
