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Read the full story below or on the ESPN Website<\/a>.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n LOS ANGELES —\u00a0Andrew Whitworth<\/a>\u00a0led the way for the community.<\/p>\n Then the left tackle led the way for\u00a0Todd Gurley II<\/a>\u00a0und die\u00a0Los Angeles Rams<\/a>\u00a0as they defeated the\u00a0Seattle Seahawks<\/a>\u00a036-31 on Sunday at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.<\/p>\n For the last several days, football \u2013 even for the Rams — became somewhat of an afterthought as tragedy and a natural disaster swept across the greater Los Angeles area.<\/p>\n \u201cHoping today provided a little bit of joy,\u201d\u00a0Jared Goff<\/a>\u00a0said after the game. \u201cAnd regularity.\u201d<\/p>\n Last Thursday, the Rams organization awoke to the news of a mass shooting at Borderline Bar and Grill, located just over four miles from the team\u2019s practice facility in Thousand Oaks and seven miles from their business headquarters in Agoura Hills.<\/p>\n A gunman killed 12 people, including Ventura County Sheriff Sgt. Ron Helus, who was on duty and rushed into the bar to save lives.<\/p>\n During a team meeting this week, Whitworth implored teammates to wrap their arms around the community. Then the 13th-year pro set the example.<\/p>\n Whitworth\u2019s game check from Sunday \u2013 about $60,000 \u2013\u00a0will be donated<\/a>\u00a0to the Ventura County Community Foundation\u2019s Conejo Valley Victims Fund, a fund to support the families of the victims.<\/p>\n \u201cI texted my wife that day and just said, \u2018We\u2019ve been blessed by this game and so many millions of things have been just amazing, that I\u2019m glad to be a part of,\u2019\u201d said Whitworth, who lives in Thousand Oaks with his wife and four children. \u201cThe least I can do is say, \u2018I can give away the financial reward of playing this game this week to try and just put my arms around, our love and appreciation for what people are going through and what they\u2019re feeling.\u201d<\/p>\n Then, on Thursday, the Rams took to the practice field Thursday afternoon, as smoke plumes began to fill the air.<\/p>\n By early Friday morning, wildfires raged across Ventura County and eventually spread to Los Angeles County, invading communities where many in the Rams’ organization live. Sean McVay was on a text-message chain with assistant coaches, including defensive coordinator Wade Phillips and defensive line coach Bill Johnson, who informed McVay that they were being evacuated from their homes.<\/p>\n At the latest count, at least 45 Rams employees, including about 20 players and coaches, are among the 250,000 that have been evacuated across the counties.<\/p>\n Included among the evacuations were Whitworth, Goff, right tackle\u00a0Rob Havenstein<\/a>, cornerback\u00a0Aqib Talib<\/a>, and general manager Les Snead. But so far, none of the Rams\u2019 homes are expected to be affected, though 170 homes have been destroyed by the fires.<\/p>\n \u201cWant to definitely say we\u2019re thinking about everyone involved in not only the fires,\u201d Goff said. \u201cBut the shooting that occurred and how close to home that hits for us.\u201d<\/p>\n As the fires worsened, and nearby Malibu was evacuated, McVay canceled practice Friday so that everyone in the organization could tend to their families.<\/p>\n Rams ownership and management assumed financial responsibility in covering expenses for employees, many of whom are young professionals and interns, who had to evacuate and relocate because of the wildfires.<\/p>\n McVay said the week proved to be a challenge as focus shifted to ensuring the safety of the organization, but that the change in the practice schedule did not affect the team Sunday against the Seahawks.<\/p>\n \u201cThey did a great job adjusting and adapting,\u201d McVay said. \u201cWe weren\u2019t going to allow that to be an excuse for us not being ready to go.\u201d<\/p>\n Against the Seahawks, Gurley scored in his 13th consecutive game, with Whitworth out front on the 17-yard touchdown run.<\/p>\n Goff passed for 318 yards, with touchdowns to tight ends\u00a0Gerald Everett<\/a>\u00a0und\u00a0Tyler Higbee<\/a>. It was Goff\u2019s first career game with multiple touchdown passes to tight ends, according to ESPN Stats & Information research.<\/p>\n Aaron Donald<\/a>\u00a0sacked\u00a0Russell Wilson<\/a>\u00a02.5 times to set a new franchise single-season defensive tackle sack record with 12.5 this season.<\/p>\n And as for Whitworth, McVay said the selflessness he consistently shows — on and off the field — is unrivaled.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s incredible,\u201d McVay said. \u201cI\u2019m better for being around somebody like him.\u201d<\/p>\n