Puka Nacua, Myles Garrett lead Rams to 20-13 win over Commanders

LANDOVER, Md. (AP) — There's still room for growth from the star-studded Rams, but they're starting to show again why they were a preseason Super Bowl favorite.

Puka Nacua caught 14 passes from Matthew Stafford for 150 yards and a touchdown, Myles Garrett had three sacks and a forced fumble in his return, and Los Angeles held on for its third consecutive victory, 20-13 over the Washington Commanders on Sunday.

The Rams (5-4) moved over .500 for the first time this season.

“I thought our guys did a great job of being able to find a way,” coach Sean McVay said. “There was a lot of opportunities that we missed offensively to make plays, extend drives, but they did enough. I love the way that Matthew responded after the turnover where he leads us down the field — had a bunch of gutsy conversions.”

Stafford threw for 219 yards with an interception on 26-of-43 passing. Nacua, seemingly open all afternoon, was the target on 19 of those attempts.

“He was awesome,” McVay said. “That’s one of the things that we want to be able to show as coaches, is show confidence to come right back to you. He made a bunch of plays. We needed all 14 of those catches.”

Nacua made a leaping, contested catch in the corner of the end zone for a 7-yard touchdown that broke a 13-all tie early in the fourth quarter.

“It's been something that we've been calling on our offense, to be able to execute on those critical downs,” Nacua said. “Obviously, still putting the defense out there at the end in that fourth quarter is something that we want to try to avoid, but when we're getting points in the red zone, it feels a lot better. Something that we can continue to improve upon.”

Garrett gave a lift to the Rams' defense in his first action since Los Angeles' season-opening loss to the 49ers in Australia. The All-Pro defensive end had missed seven games with a knee injury.

Jayden Daniels threw for 274 yards, but the Commanders (2-6-1) couldn't generate enough offense to keep up with the Rams. Absent Treylon Burks, and with top wideout Terry McLaurin out for the season, the Commanders' passing game was inconsistent.

Two Washington drives in the final minutes ended without points, including a lateral play as time expired.

“Frustrating game,” coach Dan Quinn said. “Once again, we have not nailed our complementary football and I'll keep saying it until we do. We're halfway through the season, and that all has to click. After stops, I don't think we capitalized.”

After a sluggish first half, the Rams' offense began to move the ball more consistently. Nacua was a large part of that resurgence.

The Commanders took a 10-6 lead into halftime with a defensive stand to force a Rams field goal as time expired. Van Jefferson caught a 7-yard touchdown pass from Daniels early in the second quarter for the only touchdown of the first half.

Garrett and the Rams' defense locked down after that. Despite being down two cornerbacks, the Rams forced either a punt or a turnover on five straight Commanders drives. Washington ended that scoreless stretch thanks to Nick Cross' interception of Stafford; the Commanders gained only 9 yards on four plays and kicked a field goal.

That was Washington's only score in the final 44 minutes.

Garrett, acquired from Cleveland in the offseason, had a strip-sack of Daniels — his first sack as a Ram — late in the first half to set up Brandon McManus' short field goal. That followed a fumble by Nacua that gave Washington the ball.

The Commanders are running out of time to salvage their season. They face the NFC East-leading New York Giants on Thursday night.

“All that said, it's a short week,” Quinn said. “It's our division leader on the road. And we've got to go. We have to play all three phases together. Seen too much of it where it's part of it, not the whole thing. It has to get right — it has to. We're too far along to not have it all working together.”

Rams: Guard Steve Avila left with a hamstring injury and did not return.

Commanders: Guard Lucas Patrick was ruled out with a concussion. Cornerback Amik Robertson was injured midway through the fourth quarter and did not return.

Rams: At Arizona next Sunday.

Commanders: Visit the Giants in a near-must-win game.

See AP’s full NFL coverage here

Los Angeles Rams running back Blake Corum, center, flips while being tackled by Washington Commanders safety Quan Martin (20) during the second half of an NFL football game in Landover, Md., Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Los Angeles Rams defensive end Myles Garrett (95) reacts after sacking Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) during the second half of an NFL football game in Landover, Md., Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua reacts after winning an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders in Landover, Md., Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Los Angeles Rams defensive end Myles Garrett celebrates after a sack during the second half of an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders in Landover, Md., Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (12) celebrates with tight end Colby Parkinson (84) after a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders in Landover, Md., Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald (99) greets defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders in Landover, Md., Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels throws during the first half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams in Landover, Md., Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) throws during the first half of an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders in Landover, Md., Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua celebrates after a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders in Landover, Md., Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Barcelona midfielder Fermín López delivered in a big match again, helping the Spanish league leader to come from behind in a 2-1 win at Atletico Madrid on Sunday.

In the Premier League, Manchester United gave another erratic performance which was capped by a stunning late comeback.

Spanish league matches were marked by tributes for Tenerife forward Jesús de Miguel, who died after a second division game on Monday.

In Italy, Napoli’s lackluster form continued in a 1-1 draw at home with Lazio that consolidated the visiting team’s Serie A lead.

The 23-year-old Fermín stood out in a match between the best attack and the best defense in La Liga.

Atletico, which had conceded just eight goals heading into the game, dominated early and took the lead with Giuliano Simeone’s goal. Barcelona struggled to find a way past the packed Atletico’s defense until Fermín leveled with a precise, left-footed curler before the interval.

He completed the turnaround in the 66th minute after Lamine Yamal set him up inside the box behind the back of the defense.

The win kept Barcelona at the top, three points ahead of Real Madrid. Atletico is in third place, five points behind Barcelona.

Earlier, referee César Soto Grado stopped Real Betis’ La Liga match at Elche in the ninth minute for fans, players, team staff and officials to pay tribute to De Miguel, who died after an on-field collision during Tenerife’s match on Monday.

There were similar tributes in the ninth minute of all Spanish league games this weekend – De Miguel wore the No. 9 – while his death was also mourned in pre-game tributes.

Late goals from Rodrigo Riquelme and Marc Bartra gave Betis a 2-0 win to consolidate fourth place.

Lazio forward Davide Frattesi fired in his team's opener in the 28th minute after Tijjani Noslin on the left played him in against the lethargic-looking Napoli defense.

The home supporters made their ire known but watched as the team clawed itself level through Alfonso Pedraza’s own-goal after the break. The goal staved off a third straight defeat for Napoli. But coach Massimiliano Allegri will remain under pressure with just four wins and three draws from 11 Serie A games so far.

Lazio – which remained unbeaten alongside crosstown rival Roma two points behind – stayed top with a one-point lead over Inter Milan, which defeated Como 2-0. Pio Esposito put his team ahead and Marcus Thuram doubled the lead in the 19th minute. The loss put an end to Como's six-match winning streak across all competitions.

Juventus drew 2-2 with Fiorentina in the Derby d’Italia and Christian Pulisic scored in AC Milan's 2-1 win at Genoa. Nikola Krstović's goal was enough for Atalanta to beat Monza 1-0 away.

After staging a dramatic comeback to beat Roma 3-2 midweek, Manchester United rallied from two goals down to secure a 4-4 draw against Aston Villa at Old Trafford.

United conceded two goals in less than four minutes at the start of the game, fought back to level before halftime, then conceded two more goals before Joshua Zirkzee and Patrick Dorgu found the net in stoppage time to salvage a point. The Red Devils are in the relegation zone before the international break, with just one win from 10 games.

Elsewhere, Chelsea lost 1-0 at Sunderland to leave coach Xabi Alonso under increasing pressure, and Liverpool won 3-1 at Crystal Palace.

Patrik Schick sealed a 2-1 “little Rhine derby” win for Bayer Leverkusen in Cologne with a late strike before Cologne star Said El Mala made it exciting again in stoppage time.

The win will bring relief for Leverkusen coach Carles Martínez after two straight defeats at home. High-flying Freiburg beat struggling Union Berlin 2-0

Nathan Ngoy scored the winner for Lille to beat Rennes 2-1 away and keep some pressure on French league leader Paris Saint-Germain. Lille is two points behind the defending champion after 10 rounds.

Striker Keyliane Abdallah got the winner for Marseille in a 2-1 win at Lens as Marseille moved up to fourth place, five points behind PSG.

Monaco dropped points in added time, drawing 1-1 at Le Mans.

See AP’s full soccer coverage here

Barcelona's Fermín Lopez shoots by Atletico Madrid's David Hancko during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Barcelona in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Jose Breton)

Barcelona's Fermín Lopez reacts after scoring second goal during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Barcelona in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Jose Breton)

Manchester United's head coach Michael Carrick applauds supporters after the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Aston Villa in Manchester, England, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Ian Hodgson)

Napoli's Rasmus Hojlund, left, and Lazio's Oliver Provstgaard in action during the Serie A soccer match between Napoli and Lazio in Naples, Italy, Sunday Nov. 8, 2026. (Alessandro Garofalo/LaPresse via AP)

Lazio's Davide Frattesi, center, celebrates scoring during the Serie A soccer match between Napoli and Lazio in Naples, Italy, Sunday Nov. 8, 2026. (Alessandro Garofalo/LaPresse via AP)

Lazio's Davide Frattesi, and Napoli's Mathias Olivera in action during the Serie A soccer match between Napoli and Lazio in Naples, Italy, Sunday Nov. 8, 2026. (Alessandro Garofalo/LaPresse via AP)

Napoli's Scott McTominay, second left, scores during the Serie A soccer match between Napoli and Lazio in Naples, Italy, Sunday Nov. 8, 2026. (Alessandro Garofalo/LaPresse via AP)