Matthew Stafford finds Tutu Atwell on an 88-yard TD as Rams rally to beat Colts 27–20 — Adonai Mitchell’s late fumble and penalties loom largest. Full recap, stats & fallout.
Colts vs Rams — the one-sentence lead
Matthew Stafford’s 88-yard touchdown to Tutu Atwell in the final two minutes completed a stunning Los Angeles comeback and handed the Indianapolis Colts a 27–20 loss that will be remembered for Adonai Mitchell’s goal-line fumble and a string of costly Colts penalties.
Why this game mattered (short version)
This Week 4 showdown in Inglewood was a heavyweight-feel meeting despite early-season timing:
- It was a matchup of momentum: Colts were 3–0 and trying to prove their early surge wasn’t a mirage; the Rams needed the win to keep pace in the NFC West picture.
- The game delivered the kind of late-game swing that shapes narratives — big plays, late turnovers and a long-distance TD that will be replayed for days.
- For the Colts it exposes execution issues (penalties, ball security); for the Rams it showed Stafford’s clutch arm and Puka Nacua’s emergence as a matchup nightmare.
Those takeaways matter for playoff projections, roster decisions, and how each team’s press cycle unfolds this week.
Final score & headline boxscore facts (the essentials)
- Final: Los Angeles Rams 27, Indianapolis Colts 20.
- Rams boxscore highlights: Matthew Stafford — 29/41, 375 yards, 3 TDs; Puka Nacua — 13 receptions, 170 yards; Tutu Atwell — 88-yard game-winning TD under 2 minutes left.
- Colts boxscore highlights: Daniel Jones — 24/33, 262 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs; Jonathan Taylor — 76 rushing yards (key ground piece); Adonai Mitchell — big plays erased by a fumble at the goal line and a late penalty that wiped out a potential TD.
- Turning metric: Colts committed 11 penalties for 88 yards (reporting) and Mitchell’s fumble that became a touchback flipped expected points massively.
How the game unfolded — quarter-by-quarter narrative and turning points
First quarter — tactical feel, early field goals
The game opened as a feeling-out contest. Both teams traded possessions, settled into their structures, and exchanged early field goals. The Rams’ offense tested the Colts’ defensive fronts with a mix of short passing and Chris Rodriguez type runs, while Indianapolis leaned on Jonathan Taylor to establish ground control. The scoreboard remained tight and the crowd at SoFi was in early-season, playoff-level anticipation.
Second quarter — Tyler Warren TD and Colts answers
The Rams struck with Tyler Warren’s short rushing TD, and the Colts answered through a mixture of efficient Daniel Jones drives and Jonathan Taylor work. The Colts took at least one halftime lead — their game plan of mixing tempo and forcing the Rams into long drives seemed to be working. But small errors — penalties and missed blocking assignments — were starting to show up on drive charts.
Third quarter — defensive chess, missed opportunities
The half tightened into a defensive slog; both teams had opportunities but neither could fully exploit mistakes until late. The Colts flashed big play ability — Adonai Mitchell had a long touch that should have been a TD but was erased by misfortune later — while the Rams relied increasingly on Stafford to push tempo.
Fourth quarter — chaos, Mitchell’s fumble, Stafford’s rally
The fourth quarter produced a sequence that will be on highlight reels: Adonai Mitchell appeared to take a 76-yard touchdown to the house but fumbled before crossing the goal line, resulting in a touchback and a massive momentum reversal. That sequence — plus a subsequent Colts penalty that wiped out a late Taylor TD — left Indianapolis stunned and set the stage for Matthew Stafford’s final rally: a 9-yard fourth-down touchdown to Puka Nacua to tie the game, then the game-winning 88-yard strike to Tutu Atwell with under two minutes left. The Rams’ comeback, punctuated by Stafford’s late-game timing, sealed the 27–20 victory.
Player spotlights — who made the difference
Matthew Stafford — the comeback architect
Stafford’s stat line (29/41, 375 yards, 3 TDs) reads like vintage Stafford: clutch accuracy on deep shots, pocket composure and the experience to finish late. Two late TDs in the final 3:20 — including the 88-yard Atwell bomb — underline Stafford’s continued ability to deliver under pressure. Postgame Rams coverage praised his veteran leadership on back-to-back clutch drives.
Why it matters: Stafford’s performance keeps the Rams’ passing game near the top of the league in explosive plays and gives Sean McVay a clear late-game advantage when the offense needs a two-minute masterpiece.
Puka Nacua — the every-down monster
Nacua’s 13 receptions for 170 yards (career day) created mismatches all afternoon. He was the dependable chain mover and the fourth-quarter target that moved the chains into field-goal and red-zone range — the 9-yard fourth-down TD to tie the game exemplified his reliability.
Why it matters: In a league increasingly valuing slot precision and volume, Nacua’s gaudy reception totals already make him a weekly focal point for defensive game plans that opponents must consider.
Adonai Mitchell — the agonizing subplot
Rookie wideout Adonai (AD) Mitchell flashed game-breaking speed and playmaking but also will be remembered for two costly miscues: a 76-yard fumble at the goal line that became a touchback and a holding penalty that wiped out a potential 53-yard Taylor TD late in the game (per local reports). Mitchell publicly took accountability after the game; meanwhile, analysts pointed to ball security and situational awareness as immediate coaching priorities.
Why it matters: Rookies will make mistakes; the question is developmental trajectory. Colts coaches must coach and support Mitchell while balancing game outcomes and fan reaction. This single high-profile error will likely be a major talking point all week.
Daniel Jones & Jonathan Taylor — solid, but not enough
Daniel Jones delivered a steady 24/33, 262-yard outing with a touchdown, and Jonathan Taylor provided 76 rushing yards that kept the Colts balanced. But Jones’ two interceptions (both costly) and the team’s penalties stunted drives that could’ve iced the game before Stafford’s rally.
Coaching & tactical analysis — decisions that shaped the game
Rams (Sean McVay’s offense & staff)
- Aggressive two-minute / late-game execution: McVay dialed up downfield shots when needed, trusting Stafford’s arm and Nacua’s catching radius. The coaching staff’s choice to push tempo in the final minutes paid off.
- Personnel rotations: Tutu Atwell’s speed was leveraged as a deep threat — and that role paid off in the final 88-yard TD. McVay’s creative use of motion and mismatches forced Colts defensive adjustments that came too late.
Colts (Shane Steichen / offensive staff)
- Early game plan worked, late execution faltered: Steichen’s game plan of balance and using Taylor was effective for most of the game, but game management, penalties and special-teams errors are what ultimately cost the Colts.
- Rookie oversight & coaching response: Mitchell’s mistakes are as much coaching story as player story; the staff must balance development with outcome-driven decisions in future weeks. Steichen’s postgame comments emphasized accountability and learning.
What coaches will review: Late-game situational practice (ball security, goal-line carry mechanics, and penalty avoidance), plus pass protection schemes because forcing Stafford into time-consuming drive delays was a winning plan before the final collapse.
Turning points & five plays that decided the game
- Adonai Mitchell’s 76-yard fumble at the goal line — what looked like a Colts touchdown became a touchback and flipped a huge swing in expected points. (AP News)
- Colts penalty that wiped out a 53-yard Taylor TD — a late holding call erased a would-be go-ahead score and was a killer.
- Stafford→Nacua 4th-down TD to tie — demonstration of Rams’ refusal to accept defeat and Nacua’s clutch reliability.
- Tutu Atwell 88-yard game-winner — an all-time clutch play that ended the Colts’ late push.
- Colts’ penalties & special-teams slips — the set of mental errors across the game magnified into a loss — coaches will call this the discipline game to fix.
[Note: Images are collected from Instagram]
Injury notes & roster implications
Immediate postgame reports did not highlight season-ending injuries for star players, but the game’s physical nature and the Colts’ turnover/penalty profile will prompt close monitoring in practice reports.
- Colts: Expect the team to evaluate any minor contact injuries from the game and watch Mitchell’s status emotionally and in practice reps; no official season-ending update as of initial reports.
- Rams: No major injuries reported in early packets; Stafford’s late playing time and heavy throwing volume will factor into short-term rest plans.
Full injury designations and official MRI updates will appear on team injury reports mid-week. Use Colts.com and Rams.com for official confirmation.
Advanced stats & analytics snapshot
- Explosive plays: Rams led with several high-value plays — Stafford’s deep shots to Nacua and the Atwell touchdown push their big-play metrics. Embed ESPN’s play-chart to show expected points added (EPA) spikes at those moments.
- Turnover differential: Colts ended up with the decisive turnover (Mitchell fumble) and two interceptions in crucial windows; turnovers explain the Win Probability swing more than raw yardage.
- Penalty impact: Reported 11 penalties for 88 yards (Colts) cost sustained drives and erased critical scoring — a negative expected points outcome across multiple drives.
When publishing, embed ESPN’s boxscore and a win-probability chart — they visualize how the game swung after every major event. (ESPN.com)
Postgame reaction & social media pulse
Social timelines exploded with replay clips of Mitchell’s fumble, the overturned Taylor TD (penalty), and Stafford’s Atwell connection. Colts fans reacted with anger and heartbreak; Rams supporters celebrated Stafford’s veteran magic and Nacua’s breakout day. Analysts on national shows debated whether the Colts are still a top-tier unit or a young team vulnerable to slippage, and whether the Rams’ offense will keep producing late comebacks. (SI)
BACK IN THE WIN COLUMN! pic.twitter.com/c1I5FSh4XX
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) September 28, 2025
What the result means for both teams
Colts (3–1) — immediate implications
- Tough learning moment: A 3–1 record is still strong, but execution lapses create doubt on whether the Colts can close tight games. The coaching staff will emphasize discipline in practice and ball security. (Indianapolis Star)
- Player development front and center: Adonai Mitchell remains a project with exciting traits but must clean up situational play if he’s to be a reliable starter down the stretch. (Stampede Blue)
Rams (3–1) — immediate implications
- Momentum & identity: McVay’s crew again proved it can win in late-game fashion; Stafford’s arm and Nacua’s arrival make the Rams a dangerous passing attack.
- Defensive questions remain: The Rams still allowed yardage and sustained drives; their defense must tighten to avoid relying on late offense in tighter slates.
Where to watch & broadcast info (how fans tuned in)
- Live TV / Streaming: Week 4’s Rams vs Colts game aired on FOX (national Sunday window). For live broadcasts, networks (FOX, CBS, NBC) hold NFL rights in windows; check local listings or network apps for replays. (FoxSports preview listed kickoff at 4:05 p.m. ET for Week 4.) (FOX Sports)
- Replays & highlights: ESPN, NFL.com and each team’s official YouTube channel posted highlight packages and condensed games within minutes of final whistle. The Rams’ official site has an extended recap and coach soundbites. (Los Angeles Rams)
If you missed it live, NFL+ and ESPN+ often host condensed game packages and extended highlights for subscribers. (SiriusXM)
FAQs fans search for
Q: What was the final Colts vs Rams score?
A: Rams 27, Colts 20. (ESPN.com)
Q: Who caught the 88-yard TD?
A: Tutu Atwell — an 88-yard touchdown from Matthew Stafford with under two minutes left. (Reuters)
Q: What happened to Adonai Mitchell?
A: Mitchell fumbled just before crossing the goal line on what would have been a 76-yard TD; he also had a late penalty that wiped out a potential Taylor touchdown. He apologized postgame and accepted accountability. (AP News)
Q: Where can I watch highlights?
A: ESPN, NFL.com, Rams.com and Colts.com host official highlights and condensed replays. Search “Rams vs Colts 2025 highlights” on YouTube for official clips. (ESPN.com)
