Stetson Bennett absolutely needed a good showing on Saturday to lock in his spot as the Los Angeles Rams’ backup quarterback, and he totally delivered. Look, maybe Bennett was always locked in regardless of what happened through those three preseason games. But after rookie Ty Simpson looked super solid (dare I say, even better) last week, the chatter was wild. We heard endless talk about Simpson jumping him, saw blogs questioning if Bennett should even be traded, and general doubt swirling about his status as an NFL player. But man, there was one throw in that preseason matchup against the New Orleans Saints that made it crystal clear why Bennett belongs on an NFL roster for the long haul.
That One Play That Silenced the Doubters
Originally, this film review was supposed to be all about rookie receiver C.J. Daniels, who somehow snagged eight receptions in that blowout win. But after rewatching the game? Honestly, there weren’t a ton of “wow” plays from Daniels to break down easily without the coaching film. But this throw from Bennett? Dude, it jumped off the screen on rewatch every bit as much as it did live. Shout out to the CBS LA crew for even giving us an end zone view of it. J.B. Long on the local broadcast called it out immediately, nailing it perfectly: this was a perfectly layered throw from Bennett. He absolutely diced the Saints’ zone coverage, dropping that ball on a line right between two defenders. You gotta watch Tyler Scott break at the top of his route; the timing was clutch. It’s not gonna be in the “most astounding anticipatory throws ever” highlight reel, but Bennett still got that ball out to the right spot without Scott having to camp out and wait for it. That’s NFL quality, right there.
Power, Touch, and Perfect Protection
Now, his footwork wasn’t exactly textbook, but for this specific play, it almost helped. You could see the sheer torque Bennett put behind that throw, finding the exact sweet spot between power and touch to get the ball to Scott right on time. We also have to talk about that protection. It was stellar, plain and simple. Bennett got bumped super softly just after he released the ball, but honestly, you couldn’t ask for a cleaner pocket, no matter the opponent’s caliber. The receiver on the left and the tight end on the right executed their assignments perfectly, and the rest of the line totally neutralized the Saints’ pass rush. Sure, it’s always easier to pass from a clean pocket than a messy one, but let’s not hold that against the quarterback here. You want to see good protection and strong execution, not a total meltdown under pressure. When you’re used to watching guys like Matthew Stafford or other elite QBs like Mahomes, Allen, Jackson, Burrow, Prescott, or Love, this isn’t some other-worldly throw. Those guys make this play look routine. But that’s not the point. The point is, Bennett can make that play, and that’s exactly why he can stick around.
What’s next for Bennett? After a throw like that, he’s definitely made his case. The question now is how he keeps building on that foundation to solidify his spot and maybe even push for more in the future. He showed he’s got the arm and the smarts to make the plays that count.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Turf Show Times.
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