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September 13, 2015 at 5:11 pm #30333
znModeratorWith new faces, Seahawks defense lit up in 34-31 loss
Sheil Kapadia
ST. LOUIS — With new faces in the secondary, the Seattle Seahawks let a potential comeback victory slip out of their hands in a 34-31 loss to the St. Louis Rams.
The final play in overtime was an inside handoff to Marshawn Lynch, who was stuffed behind the line of scrimmage on fourth-and-2 to end the game.
But late in the fourth quarter, it was the defense that fell apart. Dion Bailey, playing in place of Kam Chancellor, was beaten by tight end Lance Kendricks on a 37-yard touchdown with 59 seconds left in regulation. Kendricks ran a go route on the outside, and Bailey slipped, leaving him wide open for the game-tying score.
In overtime, the Seahawks attempted an onside kick, but the Rams recovered, giving them the ball at the Seattle 49. Greg Zuerlein ended up kicking a 37-yard field goal on the ensuing drive.
The Seahawks had staged a furious comeback after trailing 24-13 late in the fourth quarter. With 4:39 left in the game, Cary Williams came on a corner blitz, stripped quarterback Nick Foles, scooped up the fumble and took it to the end zone to give the Seahawks a 31-24 lead. But Foles put together a 12-play, 84-yard drive to tie the game.
The defense gave up eight plays of 20 yards or more on the day. Foles went 18-for-27 for 297 yards and a touchdown. The Rams were without their top two running backs in Todd Gurley and Tre Mason. They were also missing starting wide receiver Brian Quick. But Foles averaged 11.0 yards attempt and moved the ball up and down the field.
The Seahawks now will go to Lambeau Field looking for their first win of the season.
September 13, 2015 at 5:22 pm #30338znModeratorLed by Nick Foles, resilient Rams fight their way to victory
Nick Wagoner
ST. LOUIS — For the better part of the past decade, when the St. Louis Rams faced some adversity in a game, they folded up their tents and called it a day.
Whether or not Sunday’s 34-31 win against the Seattle Seahawks is a sign of a new era remains to be seen but for one day, at least, the Rams refused to go quietly into the St. Louis evening.
Nick Foles was pressured all day, but stood tall in the end.
And it was quarterback Nick Foles who set the example for the team’s newfound resilience. Under pressure for most of the day – Seattle had two sacks, six quarterback hits and many more pressures – Foles continued to stand tall in the pocket and deliver when the Rams needed him.Never was that more true than overtime as Foles and the Rams took over at midfield following Seattle’s failed onside kick attempt. Foles promptly delivered a 22-yard strike to receiver Stedman Bailey for a gain of 22 to Seattle’s 25.
That set up the game-winning 37-yard field goal from kicker Greg Zuerlein and was just one of many examples of Foles’ toughness.
All of that came after Foles was hit from behind and coughed up a fumble that gave Seattle a 31-24 lead with less than five minutes to play. Foles hobbled off the field holding his right arm. He then promptly led an 84-yard drive, capped by a 37-yard strike to tight end Lance Kendricks for the game-tying touchdown.
By that point, Foles had already led two 80-yard scoring drives after the ball bounced the other way, one after Tyler Lockett’s 57-yard punt return for a touchdown and another after a mishandled snap led to a turnover to open the second half.
Foles finished with 297 yards on 18 of 27 passing with a touchdown and a rushing touchdown. But beyond the numbers, Foles provided Rams fans with two more things they’ve been craving from the quarterback position: toughness and a season-opening win against a hated division rival.
September 13, 2015 at 5:24 pm #30339znModeratorRams Post Thrilling 34-31 Win Over Seahawks
Myles Simmons
ST. LOUIS — It was a wild one to open the season, but at the end of it, the Rams came away with a 34-31 overtime victory over the Seahawks.
The Rams won the coin toss, but they deferred to the second half, giving the Seahawks the ball to commence the year. St. Louis’ defense kept Seattle in check, with 2014 Defensive Rookie of the Year Aaron Donald coming through with the unit’s first sack of the year.
Rushing up the middle, Donald used a power move to get into the backfield, then shed Seattle offensive guard J.R. Sweezy to get right in Wilson’s face for the sack.
But the home team was pinned back near its own goal line on the ensuing drive, and Johnny Hekker had to punt from his own end zone. While Hekker got off a decent kick, Seahawks rookie wide receiver Tyler Lockett returned the punt 58 yards to open the scoring. Lockett fielded the ball toward the middle of the field, and ran through an open hole and wasn’t touched on his way to the end zone, giving Seattle a 7-0 lead.
The Rams came right back from the touchdown in a big way, driving 80 yards down the field to tie the game with a Tavon Austin TD. Quarterback Nick Foles connected on all four of his passes on the drive, including a short one to Benny Cunningham on 3rd-and-15 the running back took 17 yards with some shifty moves for a key first down.
To cap off the possession, Austin ran it in from 16-yards out. Foles lined up in the pistol with Jared Cook beside him and Austin behind him. The offensive line flowed to the right, but Cook went left to seal the edge. Austin followed the tight end over to the left and went untouched into the end zone for a touchdown, tying the score at seven in the second quarter.
St. Louis got back on the board with points off a turnover. On 3rd-and-4 from Seattle’s 38, Johnson lined up over Seattle running back Marshawn Lynch, who was split out wide on the left side of the defense. At the snap, Lynch ran a comeback route, which Johnson read flawlessly and jumped. Fully extending himself to get the football, the cornerback came up with an interception to set up the offense at Seattle’s 26.
Greg Zuerlein would hit a 33-yard field goal to put the Rams on top, 10-7.
Seattle ended the first half with a field goal to tie the game at 10, and then used a turnover to put another three points on the board to open the second-half scoring.
But after that, St. Louis gained control with 14 quick points. The offense got going with an 18-yard pass from Foles to Kenny Britt, then moved further down the field with the help of a Seattle unnecessary roughness penalty. Foles kept the momentum rolling with a 9-yard scramble, and a play later hit Cook with a 30-yard pass to put St. Louis in the red zone.
On 1st-and-goal from Seattle’s 1-yard line, Foles showed his wheels again, faking a handoff to Cunningham and keeping it himself for an end-around touchdown. The score put the Rams back on top, 17-13.
It wouldn’t stay that way for long. Donald recorded his second sack on Seattle’s ensuing possession, making it 4th-and-12 from the visitor’s 18.
With Lockett already taking one to the house, Austin did him one better. The West Virginia product fielded a deep punt, and scampered 75 yards down the left sideline to pay dirt. Janoris Jenkins and Bradley Marquez gave him some good blocks to spring him.
Defensive end Robert Quinn had his first sack of the day in the first half, and put up another early in the fourth for St. Louis’ fifth QB takedown of the day. But Seattle would get the best of the drive, with Wilson connecting with tight end Jimmy Graham for a 7-yard touchdown. The Seahawks would make their two-point conversion attempt, cutting the Rams’ lead to 24-21.
While the Rams initially responded well to the score, an Isaiah Pead fumble in Seattle territory gave the visitors the ball back at their own 25.
Seattle made it to the red zone, but that’s where the Rams defense held stout. The unit forced an incompletion on 3rd-and-4 at the St. Louis 17 to induce a field goal.
With the game tied at 24, Seattle forced another turnover to get back on top. On the first play of the drive at the home team’s 20, the Seahawks blitzed cornerback Cary Williams who blindsided Foles. The quarterback lost the ball on the sack, which Williams picked up and ran to the end zone. The touchdown gave Seattle a 31-24 lead.
But this one wasn’t over quite yet. The offense responded as it had throughout the game, with Foles coming up with a couple strong to lead the Rams down the field to tie the game. On 3rd-and-15 from the St. Louis 37, the quarterback evaded the rush and fired a pass to Britt, which the wide receiver caught for 21 yards and a first down.
Two plays later on 3rd-and-5, tight end Lance Kendricks ran a streak down the left sideline. His defender fell to the ground, and Foles hit his open receiver for a 37-yard touchdown to tie the game.
Seattle got the ball back with 53 seconds, but the Rams defense prevented Wilson from getting anything going. Eugene Sims recorded St. Louis’ sixth sack of the game on 2nd-and-8 from the Seahawks’ 37. The defensive lineman was injured on the play, inducing the Rams to use a timeout with one second on the clock. But Wilson took a knee to send the game to overtime.
St. Louis won the OT coin toss, but Seattle tried a little trickery to start off the extra period. With the Rams in their base kick return formation, kicker Steven Hauschka kicked one short to the left side, trying to catch the home team napping. But wide receiver Bradley Marquez was ready, and caught the kick at midfield.
With another strong throw from Foles, the Rams got in position for their game-winning field goal. The quarterback dropped a stellar throw over the head of Richard Sherman and into the hands of Stedman Bailey to put the Rams on the Seahawks’ 25. Zuerlein nailed his 37-yard attempt to give the Rams a 34-31 lead.
On the ensuing drive, Seattle gave Lynch the ball on 4th-and-2 and he was stopped by Donald and Michael Brockers in the backfield to give the Rams the W.
September 13, 2015 at 5:24 pm #30341
rflParticipantI was watching the NFL Channel highlights and I chuckled.
Think of it. The first game AFTER the infamous call that ended the SUper Bowl, and they face 4 & 2 in OT.
THERE IS NO WAY IN BLEEDING HELL THAT PETE CARROLL COULD GET AWAY WITH CALLING A PASS!
He HAD to give it to Lynch, who’s been whinging all off season about not getting it on the goal line.
Gotta be the easiest, most predictable big play for Williams to call all season!
By virtue of the absurd ...
September 13, 2015 at 5:38 pm #30350
MackeyserModeratorWas thinking the same thing…
But, man did our guys win the LOS!!! Brockers and Donald greated him two whole yards behind the LOS.
Damn.
We’re going to need an expert capologist because…damn. We have some exceptional young players on our team… Donald alone is gonna cost more than Marcel Dareus…
Sports is the crucible of human virtue. The distillate remains are human vice.
September 13, 2015 at 5:40 pm #30353
AgamemnonParticipanthttp://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000529371/article/marshawn-lynch-stuffed-as-rams-stun-seahawks-in-ot
Marshawn Lynch stuffed as Rams stun Seahawks in OTBy Gregg Rosenthal
Around The NFL Editor
Published: Sept. 13, 2015 at 05:04 p.m.
Updated: Sept. 13, 2015 at 05:19 p.m.This time the Seahawks ran in a crucial short-yardage situation. They still lost 34-31 in overtime to the St. Louis Rams in another great game between the NFC West rivals. Here’s what we learned:
1. The conversation in Seattle this week will be about offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell’s decision to run Marshawn Lynch on fourth-and-one in overtime with the Seahawks trailing by three. It was the sensible call, even if it would have shown true guts to throw a slant pass like the Super Bowl. Rams defensive linemen Michael Brockers and Aaron Donald disrupted the play in the backfield, getting Lynch to the ground and earning the Rams’ third win in their last four tries in St. Louis against Pete Carroll.
Every game, all season2. It was fitting that Donald was part of the game-winning play. He was the best player on the field by far Sunday, one of many Rams defensive linemen to dominate their one-on-one matchups. Donald finished with eight tackles, three QB hits, three tackles for loss, and two sacks. Robert Quinn also had a big game in a great defensive effort. The Rams offense and special teams essentially spotted the Seahawks 20 points. The Rams defense still found a way to win the game.
3. Nick Foles’ first game as Rams starter was a big success. He led the team on a game-tying touchdown drive to end regulation, including a great third-and-15 throw on the run. Foles was efficient throwing the ball for 297 yards on 27 attempts, although he lost two fumbles, including a corner blitz that was returned for a touchdown. Scoring 34 points against Seattle without Tre Mason, Todd Gurley, or starting receiver Brian Quick is amazing.
4. This game had a little bit of everything. Tyler Lockett and Tavon Austin both had punt return touchdowns. The Seahawks scored 18 points in an eight-minute span in the fourth quarter to take the lead. By the time Pete Carroll appeared to go for an onside kick to start overtime, we weren’t even that surprised. The attempt failed, setting up a short field for the Rams’ go ahead field goal. Carroll went on to say after the game the ball was supposed to be kicked normally down field. If that’s true, it was one of the worst kickoffs in NFL history.
5. Jimmy Graham didn’t fix the Seahawks offense by himself. They went to him repeatedly in the red zone, and he wound up with a touchdown and 52 yards on six catches.
6. Russell Wilson was under constant pressure all day. Sometimes he was part of the problem, failing to recognize where blitzes were coming from. His poor decision to rush the ball on third down in overtime directly preceded Lynch’s failed fourth down try. Wilson could have hung in the pocket longer and looked for an open receiver, but chose to run instead.
7. Life doesn’t get any easier for the defending NFC champions. Seattle heads to Green Bay next week.
AgamemnonSeptember 13, 2015 at 5:49 pm #30359znModeratorRams thrill their diehards by edging Seahawks
• By Jeff GordonSeattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, right, is sacked for a 4-yard loss by St. Louis Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald during the third quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 13, 2015, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam)
Everybody who avoided the Edward Jones Dome on Sunday afternoon missed an incredible spectacle.
If this season is the Rams’ farewell tour in St. Louis, it began memorably. The Rams rallied in the final minute to force the Seattle Seahawks into overtime, then edged them 34-31.
“Tremendous effort,” Rams coach Jeff Fisher said. “We didn’t play particularly well, we did things that cost you games, but we overcame them.”
The game ended, appropriately, when the Rams defensive front poured through the Seattle offensive line one last time to make the OT-ending stop on Marshawn Lynch on fourth down.
Those Rams fans who did attend roared in approval, drowning out the Seahawk loyalists who gobbled up many of the tickets.
Defensive linemen Aaron Donald, Robert Quinn, Michael Brockers, Eugene Sims and Co. had a great day, despite the high score. The Seahawks scored on a touchdown punt return and a touchdown fumble return during this frantic game.
Quarterback Nick Foles countered with a stirring regular Rams debut, completing 18 of 27 passes for 297 yards, one passing touchdown and one rushing TD.
He was dealing with the absence of top running backs Todd Gurley (knee) and Tre Mason (hamstring) and key receiver Brian Quick (shoulder). He also worked around the inexperience of his offensive line, which led to some mishaps — such as a shotgun snap off of his chest while he was signaling play adjustments.
Foles marched the Rams for the last-minute touchdown that forced the game into overtime, locating unattended tight Lance Kendricks for the 37-yard score. Then his overtime strike to Stedman Bailey set up Greg Zuerlein’s decisive field goal.
That short scoring drive came after daring Seahawks coach Pete Carroll ordered an onside kick to open the overtime. The Rams recovered it and then convinced the officials not to order a re-kick. (Long story, no need to go into here.)
It was that kind of contest. A pair of massive Rams turnovers in the late going to complicate their challenge. First running back Isaiah Pead fumbled the ball with the Rams up 24-21 and in range for at least a field goal.
Then, with the game tied 24-24, blitzing Seahawks cornerback Cary Williams steamrolled Foles with a blind side sack as the quarterback cocked his arm to throw.
The ball flew loose, allowing Williams to scoop it up and Seattle to take a late 31-24 lead the Rams had to overcome.
Oh, and the game started on a bad note, too. Seahawks punt returner Tyler Lockett to race 57 yards for the game’s first touchdown. Johnny Hekker launched a missile from the back of his end zone and Lockett had room to rumble.
After that blunder, though, the Rams controlled most of the remaining half. Their 80-yard touchdown drive was most impressive, with tight end Jared Cook running free and running back Benny Cunningham gaining impressive post-catch yardage.
As a nod to former offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, the Rams closed that drive with Tavon Austin’s 16-yard run from the running back position. He easily got around the sealed left tackle to race untouched into the end zone.
See, that play really can work!
Thus inspired, the Rams defense teed off on the Seahawks. A dubious personal foul penalty extended the ensuing Seattle drive, but cornerback Trumaine Johnson ended it with a spectacular lunging interception.
That set up a Zuerlein field goal that gave the Rams a 10-7 lead.
Alas, the Seahawks were able to scramble back and tie the game 10-10 before the half, with quarterback Russell Wilson doing what Russell Wilson does — hitting some quick throws and extending other plays with his nimble feet.
The Rams did well to toughen up in the red zone and hold Seattle to a field goal.
Disaster struck the Rams again early in the second half when a broken play resulted in center Tim Barnes hitting Foles in the chest with a shotgun snap while Nick was looking away and signaling adjustments.
Seattle recovered the loose ball and marched downfield for the go-ahead field goal. A great tackle by safety T.J. McDonald — taking down big Jimmy Graham in the open field — forced Seattle to settle for three points.
But the Rams responded with an impressive touchdown drive. Foles advanced the ball with this arm and his feet, eventually reaching the end zone himself on a bootleg run.
The Rams defense fed off that score with a quick stop, with safety Mark Barron forcing Wilson to throw away a pass and Donald forcing Wilson to the ground with another sack.
On the ensuing punt, Austin raced 74-yards to push the Rams toward a 24-13 lead. Remarkably, none of his teammates negated the big play with a mindless blocking-in-the-back penalty.
The Seahawks challenged the play, hoping the officials could locate video evidence that Austin stepped out bounds. Such a review the past several years would have resulted in the play being overturned, but this time it held.
Is this an omen? Have the Rams’ fortunes finally reversed? Maybe, just maybe, they have.
The Seahawks came right back at the Rams with Wilson doing damage with his feet and his arm. The Rams some success blitzing in this game and they did a good job containing tight end Jimmy Graham on a variety of plays.
Seattle cut the Rams lead to 24-21 when Wilson connected with Graham in the left corner of the end zone to defeat a Rams blitz, then Lynch plowed into the end zone for a two-point conversion.
Cunningham responded immediately with a 42-yard catch-and-run play. And Foles kept the Rams moving with his desperate shovel pass to Cunningham to narrowly escape a sack.
But Seattle turned Pead’s ensuing fumble into a game-tying field goal — and it could have been worse but for Marcus Roberson’s pass defense in the left corner of the end zone.
Williams’ strip sack/TD fumble recovery put Seattle up 31-24, but Foles led the Rams back. He kept the last-gasp drive alive with a nice scramble completion to Kenny Britt and he finished it off by locating Kendricks.
What a game. Those who boycotted the festivities due to owner Stan Kroenke’s actions missed quite a show.
September 13, 2015 at 5:49 pm #30360AgamemnonParticipantSeahawks' kick to start OT was not a called onside kick. It was supposed to bloop downfield. Hauschka mis-hit it, took responsibility.
— Sheil Kapadia (@SheilKapadia) September 13, 2015
From Seattle press conference, coach Pete Carroll said the onside kick to start overtime was supposed to be a 30-yard squib kick.
— Jim Thomas (@jthom1) September 13, 2015
Eugene Sims told me he'll need an MRI to check out knee injury.
— Jim Thomas (@jthom1) September 13, 2015
Rams front four saw that Marshawn Lynch was only one yard behind Wilson on 4th-down play; a pretty good "tell" that run was coming.
— Jim Thomas (@jthom1) September 13, 2015
AgamemnonSeptember 13, 2015 at 6:02 pm #30365
ZooeyModeratorNo way was that a missed kick. That was an intentional onsides kick. Carroll is losing it. He is obviously still chafing from the SB call, and is telling an obvious lie to avoid another criticism for play-calling.
Good. Finally something is inside Carroll’s head. May he call plays in fear all season long.
September 13, 2015 at 6:05 pm #30367znModeratorNo way was that a missed kick. That was an intentional onsides kick. Carroll is losing it. He is obviously still chafing from the SB call, and is telling an obvious lie to avoid another criticism for play-calling.
Good. Finally something is inside Carroll’s head. May he call plays in fear all season long.
I think it was a real miss, because the intent was a squib kick. The kicker blew it. I can see that explanation.
September 13, 2015 at 6:11 pm #30372
canadaramParticipantThat final play looked closer to 4th-and-1 than it did to 4th-and-2.
September 13, 2015 at 6:17 pm #30373ZooeyModeratorNo way.
The kick was deliberately soft, and his follow through goes in the direction the ball floated. It isn’t a miss.
If he was trying to squib the thing, his leg would have gone more or less straight down field, and would have had more force.
And why would he do that anyway? The guy was getting touchbacks all day, and it isn’t Tavon returning kicks. He tried an onside kick.
Watch it a hundred times.
September 13, 2015 at 6:22 pm #30375AgamemnonParticipantOkay, Pete Carroll's explanation of onside kick makes sense: http://t.co/CDHSWzy7as pic.twitter.com/7vFesyQYZC
— SB Nation (@SBNation) September 13, 2015
I think Zooey is right. Is this a fight to the death?
Maybe there was a miss communication?
AgamemnonSeptember 13, 2015 at 6:32 pm #30380znModeratorSeptember 13, 2015 at 6:35 pm #30384ZooeyModeratorI recommend that everyone rally behind my interpretation because – if nothing else – it is the better story.
In zn’s version, we have a simple boo boo.
In my version, we have Carroll clearly starting to crack under the strain. My story is better.
September 13, 2015 at 7:00 pm #30391AgamemnonParticipantOn injury front, Fisher said DE Eugene Sims has "a little knee thing we've got to look at but that doesn't look too awfully bad."
— Nick Wagoner (@nwagoner) September 13, 2015
CB Trumaine Johnson has a concussion and will have to go through protocol this week. Chase Reynolds (knee) also needs further exams.
— Nick Wagoner (@nwagoner) September 13, 2015
AgamemnonSeptember 13, 2015 at 9:29 pm #30432znModeratorRams show Seahawks NFC West will be slugfest this season
James Parziale
FOX Sports
New year, same problems for the Seattle Seahawks.
The Seahawks needed a yard to keep ther game against the St. Louis Rams going in overtime on Sunday, and this time, even though they gave the ball to Marshawn Lynch, they got stuffed.
It’s a joke that writes itself.
The Rams, by outlasting the Seahawks 34-31 in overtime in Week 1, also just gave everyone the blueprint for how to stop the defending NFC champs: attack that decimated offensive line and hit Russell Wilson. Oh, and go after the guy who is replacing Kam Chancellor.
To make matters worse, it looks like the Rams are angry.
Not everyone has a front as ferocious as the Rams, but they harassed Wilson all day. The latter did have one big run for a first down inside the red zone that set up Jimmy Graham’s first touchdown catch in a Seattle uniform on third down.
However, this game never really should have come to that. It was all going so swimmingly for the Rams.The Rams were up 24-13 in the third quarter. The upset was in sight.
Then all kinds of shenanigans brook loose. Three second-half turnovers by the Rams let the Seahawks off the hook.In addition, the Seahawks missed their all-world holdout safety Chancellor. His replacement, Dion Bailey, got burned for a game-tying touchdown with under a minute left in regulation.
The quirkiness continued with the Seahawks attempting an onside kick to start overtime, and despite the refs flipping their calls around about a possible fair-catch, the Rams got amazing field position that led to the go-ahead field goal and the eventual victory.
Everyone has said the Rams have been a quarterback away from competing in the NFC West. And Nick Foles’ regular-season debut on Sunday proved just that.
September 14, 2015 at 12:18 am #30448znModeratorInspired by 9/11 hero and led by Nick Foles, resilient Rams come up with win
Nick Wagoner
ST. LOUIS — Nick Foles vividly remembers playing against St. Louis last year because of the fight he saw in the Rams, who rebounded from a 27-point deficit only to fall six points short to Foles’ Philadelphia Eagles.
“I remember when we played them when I was in Philadelphia, I had the utmost respect,” said Foles, who was traded to the Rams in March. “They played with a lot of heart and fought until the end.”
They were resilient then. They showed that resilience again Sunday, taking a 34-31 overtime victory over the Seattle Seahawks in the season opener.
That “resilience” became the team’s word of the weekend was no accident. On Saturday night, Rams coach Jeff Fisher invited Will Jimeno, the New York Port Authority police officer who survived 13 hours under World Trade Center rubble, to speak to his team.
Jimeno promised the team a win and delivered a message that emphasized the ability to bounce back in the face of adversity. Evidently, nobody took those words to heart more than Foles.
Time and again Sunday, when something bad happened to the Rams, it was Foles who was waiting on the sideline, offering a word of encouragement then promptly going on to the field to back it up.
“When things aren’t going right, he knows how to get everybody on the same page and just ready to go and go down there and score,” tight end Lance Kendricks said of Foles, who was making his first regular-season start as the Rams’ quarterback.
Whether Sunday’s victory is a sign of a new era in Rams football remains to be seen. But for one day, at least, the Rams refused to go quietly into the St. Louis evening. And Foles looked like the player they’ve needed, someone who could turn the four one-possession losses of a year ago into victories and quickly forget when something goes wrong.
Under pressure for most of the day — Seattle had two sacks, seven quarterback hits and many more pressures — Foles continued to stand tall in the pocket and deliver when the Rams needed him.
After taking over at midfield following Seattle’s failed squib-kick attempt in overtime, Foles delivered a 22-yard strike to receiver Stedman Bailey for a gain of 22 to Seattle’s 25. That set up the game-winning, 37-yard field goal from Greg Zuerlein and was the finishing touch on a day in which every time the Rams got knocked down, they wasted no time getting back up.
Late in the fourth quarter, with the score tied at 24, Seattle cornerback Cary Williams hit Foles from behind, forcing a fumble and recovering it for a touchdown and a 7-point lead. As Foles hobbled off the field holding his right arm, it appeared the Rams finally had met their end.
Foles’ response? An 84-yard drive capped by a 37-yard pass to Kendricks for the game-tying touchdown.
By that point, Foles already had led two 80-yard scoring drives after the ball bounced the other way, one after Tyler Lockett’s 57-yard punt return for a touchdown and another after a mishandled snap led to a turnover to open the second half.
“I think he breathes [resilience],” tight end Jared Cook said. “After [the mishandled snap] he came up to us and was like, ‘We’re going to keep pushing. We are not going to let that define us. We are not going to let that stop us.’ And that’s what we did.”
“That was my mentality as a little kid, something my parents instilled in me, just to fight to the end no matter what because you want to leave it all on the field,” said Foles, who finished with 297 yards on 18-of-27 passing with a touchdown and a rushing score. “You don’t want to go back in the locker room and say, ‘I wish I could have.’ You want to say, ‘I gave it everything I have.’ Our guys gave it everything they had tonight.
“We finished.”
In the process, Foles’ gutsy debut offered something even more important for a team that hasn’t enjoyed a winning record since 2003 or a playoff berth since 2004. It was reason for hope.
September 14, 2015 at 12:27 am #30450znModeratorRams are hard to predict for Seahawks
Jim Thomas
As defensive tackle Michael Brockers and his fellow Rams view it, Seattle’s Russell Wilson is a better quarterback than predictor.
It was Wilson, after all, who tweeted on Saturday: 1-0. #GoHawks
Did the Rams notice that tweet?
“Absolutely,” offensive guard Rodger Saffold said.
Did it fire up the Rams?
“Absolutely,” Saffold replied. “We kind of took that as a shot.”
And as Saffold noted, “He had a 50 percent chance of being right. He just ended up being wrong.”
Thanks to a 37-yard field goal by Greg Zuerlein, followed by a fourth-down stand by the St. Louis defense, Wilson’s record as a prognosticator in 2015 fell to, uh, 0-1.
In their first overtime game to start a season since 2001, the Rams outlasted the two-time defending NFC champions 34-31 Sunday at the Edward Jones Dome.
The Rams talked about the tweet before the game, mainly amongst themselves. It might not have helped Brockers and fellow defensive tackle Aaron Donald stop Marshawn Lynch on fourth down in overtime for the win. Then again, it didn’t hurt.
“He’s a great quarterback,” defensive end Chris Long said. “But he’s not like a Chris Berman — like the Swami — he’s not like that. He’s not a great predictor.”
Brockers was a little more blunt in his tweet assessment:
“The victory is a lot more sweeter kinda shoving that back in his mouth,” Brockers said. “You see that, and you’re like, ‘OK, not gonna tweet back. We’re not gonna say anything. We’re just gonna let the football speak for itself.’ I think that’s what we did today.”
Maybe so, but late in regulation, it looked like Wilson was going to be a gridiron Nostradamus.
Cornerback Cary Williams, a new member of Seattle’s Legion of Boom, came in unblocked on a blindside blitz, knocked the ball out before Rams quarterback Nick Foles could release it, scooped up the fumble and ran 8 yards into the end zone for a score.
That play capped an 18-0 run by Seattle that turned a 24-13 Rams lead into a 31-24 Seahawks advantage with 4:39 to play.
We’ve seen this one before. Right? Cue up the “Same old sorry (bleep) Rams” chorus.
Not this time. Tight end Lance Kendricks, who had only one catch for 5 yards in the first 59 minutes of regulation, got behind Seahawks safety Dion Bailey for a 37-yard TD catch with 53 seconds remaining to send the game into overtime tied 31-all.
“(Bailey) just kind of sat on it,” Kendricks said, football jargon meaning Bailey was expecting a short pass. “I don’t think he thought I was gonna run a ‘go’ route. I just ran by him; I think he tried to grab me and just fell.”
Kendricks wasn’t necessarily the No. 1 option on that play. He said the Rams simply try to look for favorable matchups in such situations. Quarterback Nick Foles saw the shorter, inexperienced Bailey on Kendricks and gave it a shot.
Then Seattle coach Pete Carroll outsmarted himself again to start overtime. Roundly criticized after throwing a pass (which was intercepted) instead of running Marshawn Lynch from the 1 in last season’s Super Bowl loss to New England, Carroll tried an onside kick to open overtime. Never mind that he has the league’s reigning leader in scoring defense and total defense.
Actually, as Carroll explained afterward, it was supposed to be about a 30-yard pooch kickoff, not a traditional onside kick. In any event, Rams wide receiver Bradley Marquez, a former baseball outfielder in the Mets’ organization, scooped up the short pop fly from Seahawks place-kicker Steven Hauschka, giving the Rams’ possession.
“We just didn’t execute there,” Carroll said. “That is not what was supposed to happen. … We were kicking the ball way down the field.”
At least that was supposed to be the plan. The Rams took over on the Seattle 49, and a first down and some change later, Zuerlein kicked his fifth game-winning field goal as a Ram.
By league rule, unless the first possession of overtime results in a touchdown, the other team gets at least one possession. So the Rams weren’t quite out of the woods.
Seattle was maybe 10 yards shy from reasonable field-goal range after taking the ensuing kickoff and faced a fourth-and-1 from the St. Louis 42 with just over 9 minutes to go in overtime.
“It’s fourth down,” Brockers said. “Who they gonna go to?”
Ghostbusters?
No, Lynch.
“I think they kind of know what happens when you don’t give Lynch the ball,” Brockers said, referring to last season’s Super Bowl. “We knew it was going to him.”
Brockers had blown a gap assignment earlier in the game, leading to a successful Seattle play. He told his defensive coaches to trust him, to make that same alignment-assignment call again. Brockers did, in fact, get another chance on the fourth-down play and did his job this time, and then some.
He rocked Lynch in the backfield, then got some help from Donald for a 1-yard loss to end the game.
“Michael Brockers knocked him back, and I was able to jump on him and clean it up,” said Donald, who also had two of the Rams’ six sacks.
The upset victory left coach Jeff Fisher speechless. Well, almost.
“I don’t know what to say,” Fisher said. “That was great. It was a tremendous effort. … We didn’t play particularly well. We did the things that cost you games: the penalties, the turnovers, those kinds of things. But we overcame them, which is pretty good considering we’re the youngest team in the league again.”
Actually, the Rams had only four penalties for 30 yards, which is nothing for them. But they did lose three fumbles and finished minus-2 in the all-important takeaway-giveaway category. Usually you don’t win when you’re minus-2.
Usually you don’t win when you give up 18 consecutive points in less than a quarter, and 10 points in a span of seven seconds in the fourth quarter.
As Rams defensive end William Hayes put it: “This is one that a couple years ago we would’ve lost. Last couple years we would’ve lost. But we’re just believing in each other right now.
“Nick Foles, he’s the difference-maker right now. He’s got everybody in this locker room believing. We’re gonna have adversity, but he was telling me, ‘I’ll win some games.’”
Now, that’s a prediction.
INJURY UPDATE
Against Seattle, the Rams lost cornerback Trumaine Johnson to a concussion, and Sims and special teams ace Chase Reynolds to knee injuries. Sims is scheduled for an MRI exam Monday. Running back Tre Mason tested his sore hamstring during warmups but was placed on the inactive list. Also inactive were RB Todd Gurley, LB Daren Bates, WR Brian Quick, QB Sean Mannion and offensive linemen Andrew Donnal and Darrell Williams.
September 14, 2015 at 12:43 am #30452znModeratorSpecial teams rally after slow start vs. Seahawks
Joe Lyons
Sunday’s season opener against the Seahawks didn’t start all that well for the Rams’ special teams as Tyler Lockett, a rookie from Kansas State, returned the Rams’ first punt of the season 57 yards to help Seattle go up 7-0.
But the Rams’ special-teamers shook it off and improved throughout the game, playing a major role in the team’s 34-31 overtime win over the two-time defending NFC champs.
“We were ticked,” reserve safety Maurice Alexander said. “But rather than getting down on ourselves, I feel like it made us that much hungrier to go out and make a play the next time.”
Long-snapper Jake McQuaide agreed: “You gotta have a short memory. We knew (Lockett) was a good player and we prepared for him, but on that one, he just got away. I’m not sure what happened to everybody else — I’ll know more after we look at the tape — but I know I got killed. Just a terrible rep. It didn’t cost us the game, thank God, so it becomes one of those things you try to learn from. You learn from it and then you let it go, making sure you’re ready for your next snap.”
Later in the game, with 4½ minutes to play in the third quarter, the Rams’ Tavon Austin returned a punt 75 yards down the Seattle sideline for a touchdown. On the play, rookie Bradley Marquez and Alexander, a Eureka High product, delivered key downfield blocks.
For Austin, who tied the game at 7-7 on a 16-yard run on the first play of the second quarter, the punt return for touchdown was the third of his career. At that point, the Rams were up 24-13.
Seattle came roaring back, scoring twice in a seven-second span to take a 31-24 with just over 4½ minutes left.
But the Rams rallied to force overtime, getting a 37-yard scoring pass from Nick Foles to Lance Kendricks and a Greg Zuerlein kick with 53 seconds left in regulation.
To start overtime, the Seahawks’ Steven Hauschka attempted an onside kick. In his postgame news conference, Seattle head coach Pete Carroll said it was supposed to be a squib kick.
“We were kicking the ball to a certain area of the field and we didn’t hit it right,” the coach said.
On the play, Hauschka chipped the ball high and toward Marquez, who called for a fair-catch, made the play and then held on for dear life.
“The things that go on in those piles, it’s crazy,” said Marquez, an undrafted rookie free agent from Texas Tech and a former New York Mets farmhand who played pro baseball during the summers of 2012 and 2013. “I called fair-catch, mainly on instinct and thinking maybe I’d get some protection. From there, it was just a matter of doing whatever I could to make sure I was coming out of the pile with the football.”
There was some confusion at first, but after review, the recovery by Marquez was upheld.
“Originally, one of the officials said the ball had been kicked into the ground,” referee Jeff Triplette told pool reporter Jim Thomas of the Post-Dispatch. “Subsequent to that, another official whose responsibility it was to rule on that, came in and said, ‘No, the ball was kicked into the air.’ So therefore I went with the official who had the primary responsibility.”
If the ball had, in fact, gone off the ground first, the fair-catch call by Marquez would have been invalid, the Rams would’ve been penalized 5 yards and Seattle would’ve kicked again.
“I’m just happy that I could make a play to help the team,” Marquez said. “Before the kick, we alerted each other to be ready, just in case. Coach had us prepared (for the onside kick).”
Marquez, a wide receiver, has earned the respect of his special-teams cohorts.
“He’s a soldier, one of those young guys who’s just extremely focused,” said Alexander, a second-year pro.
Pointing out that the Rams played Sunday without special-teams co-captain Daren Bates (knee) and lost another key special-team leader, Chase Reynolds, to a knee injury early in the game, McQuaide said Marquez has been a key addition.
“He’s a dude who’s been making plays like that every single day since he got here,” the fifth-year pro said. “He just really seems to be locked in like that for every rep, in every drill. ‘Coach Bones’ (special teams coordinator John Fassel) has a knack for finding a guy like that every year, a guy who understands how important special teams are and who really seems to take advantage of his opportunities.”
The big play by Marquez, followed by a 22-yard pass from Foles to Stedman Bailey, helped set up Zuerlein’s 37-yard field goal, which turned into the game-winning margin when the Rams’ defense stopped the Seahawks near midfield to end the contest.
“The PAT in the last minute (of regulation) was a tougher kick; with the new rules, those aren’t gimmes anymore,” Zuerlein said. “Knowing the kind of defense we have, I felt pretty confident that the kick in OT would give us a pretty good shot at the win. Any time you win in the NFL, it’s a big deal. But it’s always nice to get that first one because of all the hard work you’ve done in the offseason. Hopefully this is something we can build on.”
September 14, 2015 at 8:13 am #30464znModeratorThe Rams’ Best Win Under Jeff Fisher
Posted by: Bernie Miklasz
http://www.101sports.com/2015/09/13/the-rams-best-win-under-jeff-fisher/
The Rams pushed back for the final time, with defensive tackles Michael Brockers and Aaron Donald refusing to be utilized as cleat wipes by the intimidating Seattle beast known as Marshawn Lynch.
The young Rams took Lynch down hard with Sunday’s game on the line, an assignment that’s unimaginably difficult for those that never had to tackle a wildebeest with their bare hands. But they got it done, quickly and cleanly, the capture made without having to call for backup.
With Brockers and Donald all but stuffing Lynch in a Seattle travel trunk for the lengthy flight back to the Pacific Northwest, and their forceful fourth-down stop locking down a ridiculously entertaining and tense 34-31 overtime victory that seemingly squirmed away, the Rams officially clinched one of their best wins in a long time.
I put the question on Twitter following the game:
“Question for the floor: given opponent, the blown lead, the comeback, the 4th-down stop, etc: biggest Rams’ win since … ???”
Many different answers came back my way … including Super Bowl 34. (I’m all for excitement and in favor of overreacting, but let’s not get carried away my friends.)
Others responded with the last postseason game won by the Rams _ their 27-20 OT victory at Seattle in a 2004 NFC wild card game. (A strong candidate.)
An intriguing answer from the audience: the best victory since the late Georgia Frontiere owned the Rams. (She passed away following the 2008 season.)
ramsseahawksAaron Donald and Michael Brockers wrap up Marshawn Lynch for the final play of Sunday’s game to seal the win for St. Louis.
There were mentions of last year’s regular-season home win over the Seahawks … last season’s upset at San Francisco … the 2013 season-opening victory (at home) over Arizona … the 2012 win (home) vs. Seattle … and the assorted triumphs over superior opponents such as Denver, New Orleans, and Indianapolis since Jeff Fisher became head coach in 2012.
Overlooked (at least in my opinion) was the 15th game of the 2010 season. Rookie QB Sam Bradford and the young Rams had lost two consecutive games but still had a chance to steal the NFC West in a mediocre year for the division.
But to reach a Game 16 showdown in Seattle for the NFC West title, the 6-8 Rams had to defeat the 49ers at the Edward Jones Dome in Game 15.
Losing 14-12 at the half, the Rams rallied for a 25-17 conquest. Bradford was brilliant, completing 28 of 37 passes for 292 yards and a passer rating of 107.0. His 3-yard touchdown pass to Laurent Robinson put the Rams up by eight points (22-14) and booked the important trip to Seattle.
Alas the unsettled and shaky Rams, were unprepared for prime time. They stumbled through the nationally televised Sunday-night game on NBC, losing a 16-6 snooze-fest to a Seattle team that was forced to start career backup up Charlie Whitehurst in place of the injured Matt Hasslebeck. Despite a 7-9 record, the Seahawks moved onto the NFC playoffs, shocking New Orleans in a stunning 41-36 upset before losing at Chicago in the next round.
The Rams finished 7-9 (losing the tie-breaker to Seattle) and went home. The Rams and their fans were fired up; the improvement under Bradford and the encouraging 7-9 season was viewed as a bridge to a promising future. The bridge abruptly collapsed in 2011, with the injury-torn Rams losing 14 of 16 games.
GM Billy Devaney and head coach Steve Spagnuolo were fired by owner Stan Kroenke, who brought in Fisher and GM Les Snead to rebuild a sad-sack mess of a team that had just completed the most wretched five-season stretch (15-65) by a franchise in NFL history.
The Rams had to start all over again, a process that’s taken longer than expected _ extending the franchise’s streak of non-winning seasons to 11 frustrating years.
I believe Sunday’s thriller over the Seahawks was the best moment of Fisher’s term, a fantastic way to begin his fourth season, and the top win for the franchise since that Game 15 uprising over the 49ers in 2010.
Here’s why:
1. It was the first game of the season _ and already time for the Rams to make an emphatic statement about who they were, and what they planned to do in the new campaign. What would it be: the same old sorry Rams, or a young team on the rise and ready to make good on all of the broken promises of the past?
2. The Rams were playing the two-time defending NFC Champion Seahawks, a more vulnerable but still formidable opponent that came within one horrific goal-line interception of winning a second consecutive Super Bowl to cap the 2014 season.
3. The Rams entered with a heralded defense that had been stocked with premium draft picks trained and developed into a fighting machine by Fisher, defensive coordinator Gregg Williams and the staff. A nasty defense is still the most reliable way to overcome a team’s flaws _ especially a team with legitimate concerns on the offensive side. If this defense couldn’t stand up to the Seahawks, then what? It wouldn’t bode well for the early part of the schedule. This defense had to be ready to make a stand.
nick foles-2Foles went 18-27 for 297 yards in Sunday’s win.
4. The Rams were rolling out their new quarterback, Nick Foles, who came over in the surprising offseason trade with Philadelphia. They were also debuting a reordered offensive line that started two rookies (RT Rob Havenstein, LG Jamon Brown), an inexperienced center (Tim Barnes), and second-year LT Greg Robinson.
5. The Rams were down to their third and fourth running backs, Benny Cunningham and Isaiah Pead. No. 1 draft choice Todd Gurley and the speedy Tre Mason were down with injuries. Another back, Trey Watts, was serving the first of a four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s substance-abuse policy. So this offense took significant personnel concerns into a match against Seattle, which had allowed the fewest points in the league (15.2 per game) while going 36-12 in the regular season between 2012 and 2014.
(OK, the Seahawks played Sunday without the knocks usually struck by their safety, Kam Chancellor, who is holding out in a contract tantrum.
(His absence was a factor, but to it’s weak to use that as an excuse for Sunday’s loss to the Rams. Seattle still packs plenty of punch defensively, even with Chancellor missing.)
6. The Rams had a 24-13 lead late in the third quarter, only to be overtaken and left dazed by an 18-point Seattle torrent that put the proud visitors up 31-24 late in the fourth quarter. We’d seen this movie many times. The Rams jump out, lift the crowd _ only to fade and fail to finish the job. Here we go again, right? Well, no.
7. An announced crowd of just over 51,000 was in the big warehouse to see if the Rams would give them a reason to believe instead of letting them down again. The crowd was larger than anticipated. And the fans were into it: emotional, loud, and fully engaged.
8. Oh yeah, the multi-billionaire owner, tracking the scent of enormous profit that awaits him, is desperate to move the franchise to Los Angeles after the season. And this could have been the last home-opener of the final season of NFL football in St. Louis _ final as in forever. This wasn’t an ordinary game; it was perhaps the beginning of the end.
9. That said, all hope isn’t lost; there’s still a chance of Kroenke being forced to stay beyond 2015. Given the depressing climate, it was imperative for the Rams to charge to a fast start in 2015 … to create energy and optimism and a buzz-worthy product for an abused fan base that’s weary and disenchanted after getting slapped down by chronic losing and punched in the gut by the worst owner among the four major professional sports leagues in North America.
10. A bad loss _ a dispiriting setback _ would further demoralize the market, result in an increased number of empty seats, and play right into Kroenke’s hands. ESK is trying to make the case that St. Louis won’t support football. To that we say: what football? Are we talking about 16 winning records in 48 NFL seasons here (Cardinals and Rams?) Are we talking about a team that has given the fans the worst overall NFC record and worst home record since 2005? Are we talking about supporting an owner that’s been plotting to flee and collect California gold? An owner that hasn’t spoken to the fans since Jan. of 2012 _ and who refuses to have a conversation with the St. Louis leadership that’s trying to build him a second new stadium in fewer than 25 years?
The Rams couldn’t stink up the place on this opening day.
They just couldn’t.
I don’t know who needed this this victory more: the Rams coaches and players who work so hard to turn this program around _ or the fans that have been asked to look past an intolerable pile of garbage and put their hard-earned dollars in Kroenke’s pocket.
Instead of the usual Sunday bloody Sunday, the smiling and chanting faithful left the Edward Jones in an upbeat mood. You give these folks a respectable team and an owner who shows any sign of caring, and they’ll be there for you.
And while it would be foolish to take one wonderful day _ an afternoon that showed what things could really be like here _ and assume that subsequent Sundays will be just as happy, this was at least a start. It was 3 hours and 30 minutes of football that provided long overdue relief from the beatings absorbed by the team, and eased the mental torment endured by the fans.
Foles made a couple of mistakes, but he gave the Rams a fearless and defiant performance that backed what Snead, Fisher and the players have been saying about him for months: finally, this team has a talented leader at the quarterback. Foles isn’t home free; he still has much to prove over the next 15 games. But in his STL debut, Foles’ timing was perfect. When the Rams were in trouble, when the momentum was going against the home side, Foles was money. He came up with repeated responses to save the day.
The young offensive line needs work, but these kids battled like mad men and offered glimpses of power, scenes of determination, and held up at times when many feared an imminent collapse. Foles was sacked twice _ one a strip-fumble returned for a Seattle touchdown. But Foles’ O-line protected him better than the security offered by a Seattle offensive line that allowed six sacks of QB Russell Wilson.
In addition to dumping Wilson six times, the Rams defense picked him off once, did a reasonably effective job of corralling Lynch, and limited Seattle’s offense to one touchdown from scrimmage. Wilson averaged 6.14 yards per passing attempt, his lowest among seven career starts against St. Louis. And on third down, Wilson completed only three of seven passes (with a TD and an INT) for a passer rating of 50.3. The Seahawks converted only eight of 19 third-down plays.
(As for the aforementioned Aaron Donald, who had two sacks, five tackles and four assists … goodness, you’d better bring a battalion if you hope to block this wildcat.)
ramsseahwaksTavon Austin celebrates with Janoris Jenkins following Austin’s 75 yard punt return for a TD.
Cunningham pushed for as many rushing yards as he could against a stout Seattle front seven. The total on the stat sheet _ 16 carries for 45 yards _ wasn’t impressive. But Cunningham ran the rock better than the numbers show. Moreover, Cunningham was an asset as a receiver, catching four passes for 77 yards and breaking tackles to pick up a couple of key first downs. You want a stat that presents a more accurate picture? Here you go. Total yards from scrimmage: Cunningham 122, Lynch 104.
New Rams offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti proved that he can put wide receiver Tavon Austin to good use. (A nifty 16-yard run for the Rams’ first TD.)
And Tavon’s talent illuminated the Dome during his 75-yard punt return for a touchdown. West Baltimore was in the house.
The Rams weren’t perfect. Hell, no. Their squandering of a 24-13 lead summoned a familiar sense of dread. But these guys were tough, they maxed out in their competitiveness, and they refused to flash any sign of surrender. Not for one moment.
“We were able to finish,” said defensive end Robert Quinn who had two sacks. “It wasn’t pretty, but at the end of the day, we got the ‘W’ and that’s what we look for. We know we can always get better at things. As long as we keep winning and we still improve, the sky is the limit. It’s a great way to start a season. That’s a great Seahawks team and we’ll take it from here.”
St. Louis needed this.
The unfairly maligned fans needed this.
The Rams needed this.
Kroenke didn’t need this _ which made the triumph that much sweeter.
Yes. This was the biggest win of Fisher’s time here. And now you just have to hope there’s more to come.
September 14, 2015 at 8:15 am #30465znModeratorIn His St. Louis Debut, Nick Foles was Money
Bernie Miklasz
http://www.101sports.com/2015/09/14/in-his-st-louis-debut-nick-foles-was-money/
There were a few unfortunate moments, a couple of fumbles, one a result of a sack-strip-fumble returned for a defensive touchdown by the always rebellious Seattle Seahawks. But Rams quarterback Nick Foles wouldn’t stay down. Not with his play. Not with his emotions. And not with the scoreboard staring at him, with the Rams losing and in trouble in the season’s first game.
Making his first start as the Rams QB following the fascinating and highly scrutinized offseason trade with Philadelphia, in which he swapped places with Sam Bradford, Foles immediately came through with a winning performance in the Rams’ madhouse 34-31 overtime win over the Seattle Seahawks.
If Bradford stays healthy and keeps his vulnerable left knee intact, he’ll have an excellent opportunity to succeed in Philly. The talent, the coach (Chip Kelly) and a creative offense should works in Bradford’s favor.
The Foles forecast was more uncertain.
Why did he transfer twice, and play for three different college programs?
Why did Foles light up the sky with preposterously good passing statistics in 2013, only to descend into the ranks of the average in 2014?
If Foles was such a sure thing _ a winner, a leader and a franchise QB _ then why was Kelly in such a hurry to send him to the Midwest in exchange for a medical-redshirt quarterback who hasn’t played a regular-season NFL game since Oct. 20 of 2013?
The questions are legit, but won’t be untangled for a while. Not until the Rams know, conclusively, what they have in Foles.
Bradford, the object of heavy preseason hype, will get his chance to show what he has on Monday night when the Eagles open the season at Atlanta.
On Sunday at The Edward Jones Dome, Foles had the first crack at impressing his new district and did not disappoint. By now you know the basics. The Rams won. Just when the day seemed lost, with Seattle up 31-24, Foles rallied his team with an inspirational drive to a late fourth-quarter touchdown that booked extra time. Given a head start by the Seahawks’ interesting choice to open the OT with a daring but successful onside kick, Foles guided the Rams into field-goal range and the winning points.
Foles completed 18 of 27 passes (67 percent) for 292 yards, a touchdown, and a shiny 115.8 passer rating.
Since the Rams moved to St. Louis in 1995, only one quarterback had a higher passer rating in his first start at home: Marc Bulger, who had a 134.1 rating in a 28-13 victory over Oakland on Oct. 13, 2002. But that performance should have an unofficial asterisk; it came in the Rams’ sixth game of the season. Kurt Warner had started the first five contests _ with the Rams losing all five _ before coach Mike Martz switched to Bulger.
As for an opening-day starter making his home debut for the Rams in St. Louis, Foles stands at the top of the leaderboard with his 115.8 rating.
But you have to look under the surface numbers to see the true excellence of Foles’ first start as a Ram.
Here’s what jumped out to me: Foles was at his brilliant best when the Rams were trailing the Seahawks.
And that isn’t easy to do.
Consider:
Between 2012-2014, the Seahawks went 36-12 in the regular season, the best three-season record in the NFL over that stretch…
And when leading a game, Seattle held opposing quarterbacks to a 59.6 completion percentage, and a poor passer rating of 74.8. Those QBs threw as many interceptions as touchdown passes (37-37) and averaged 6.23 yards per passing attempt.
(All stats culled from STATS LLC.)
Foles defied Seattle’s staunch defensive history on Sunday.
When the Rams were down on the scoreboard, Foles brought them back three times to take the lead or tie.
After a long punt return for a touchdown by Seattle rookie Tyler Lockett put his team ahead 7-0, Foles and the Rams responded with a nine-play 80-yard drive culminated by Tavon Austin’s touchdown run for a 7-7 tie.
In the third quarter, with the Rams trailing 13-10, Foles directed a six-play, 80-yard TD drive that elevated the Rams to a 17-13 lead. Foles did the honors this time by rolling right and landing in the end zone for a 1-yard touchdown run.
Late in the fourth quarter, with the Rams down 31-24 and in extreme danger of losing after giving away a 13-point lead, Foles took the offense 84 yards in 12 plays _ firing a 37-yard TD strike to tight end Lance Kendricks to even the score with 53 seconds remaining in regulation.
Here’s what Foles did Sunday when the Rams were trailing:16 attempts, 11 completions (69%)
Nine throws for first downs, plus the touchdown to Kendricks.
Two completions of 25+ yards.
A killer average of 12.13 yards per passing attempt.
A passer rating of 130.7.Impressive, yes?
You just don’t see many quarterbacks firing away with such gall and calm and precision to erase a deficit against a Seahawks defense that surrendered the fewest points in the league from 2012 through 2014.
The Foles’ come-from-behind numbers would be outstanding in any context, but it’s particularly exceptional do it against the Seattle defense that limited opponents to 17 points or fewer in 30 of its previous 48 regular-season games. That includes 16 games of allowing no more than 10 points.
Since Pete Carroll became Seattle’s head coach in 2010, the Seahawks were 20-0 when scoring at least 30 points in a regular-season game before Foles foiled that trend. And over the past three seasons, when the Seahawks scored first in a game, they went 24-8. The Rams didn’t fall in line with that trend, either.
Foles was also terrific on third-down plays during Sunday’s win.
Foles completed 6 of 9 passes on third down, averaging 10.67 yards per attempt. His touchdown pass to Kendricks came on a third-and-five play from the Seattle 37. His third-down passer rating: a slick 139.1.
Foles went 3 for 3 Sunday when the Rams faced third down and 11+ yards to go.
In the fourth quarter, with the score within seven points (either way), Foles connected on 7 of 11 passes for 127 yards, averaging 11.55 yards per attempt. That included his critical game-tying fastball to the wide open Kendricks.
The situation was bleak for the Rams after the Seahawks went ahead 31-24 on the strip-fumble and TD return by cornerback Cary Williams with 4:39 remaining in the fourth Q.
Foles was undeterred.
He responded.
Again.
“Oh man, that’s big bro,” Austin said. “He comes in the huddle, he takes charge of the huddle, lets us know what he wants. You know, he always tells us that adversity is going to come. It’s all how we’re going to fight back and that’s what we did.”
What was it like on the STL sideline after Williams raced into the end zone with that fumble return that pushed the Rams to the brink of defeat?
Austin’s view: “We were on the sideline just screaming ‘It’s definitely not over.’ We believe in (Foles) and he believes in us. On the field, him and Lance hooked up on a good go route. And that’s how it was.”
After doing his part to rescue the Rams on Sunday, Foles is 16-9 as an NFL starter.
And add this one to the Foles File: with Sunday’s rally, Foles has five fourth-quarter comebacks and six game-winning drives in his career. That’s in only 25 starts.
“Yeah, if there’s time on the clock, the game’s never over no matter what the score is,” Foles said. “That’s been my mentality as a little kid, something my parents instilled in me…my dad…just to fight to the end no matter what because you want to leave it all on the field. You don’t want to go back in the locker room and say, ‘I wish I coulda.’ You want to say, ‘I gave it everything I had.’
“Our guys gave it everything they had. Seattle came out and played a great game. They gave it everything they had. We just finished. We needed to finish.”
By the way: Foles likes his new home just fine.
“The fans were tremendous,” he said. “Our fans were causing havoc. I could tell there was times where they had to burn timeouts, delay of games, communication … I recognize that stuff watching their offense and that’s huge. Our fans had a huge impact in this game. I’m thanking everybody that came out to support us. We heard them loud and clear and it really helped us get this victory.”
Thanks for reading…
September 14, 2015 at 10:39 am #30472ZooeyModeratorGiven the depressing climate, it was imperative for the Rams to charge to a fast start in 2015 … to create energy and optimism and a buzz-worthy product for an abused fan base that’s weary and disenchanted after getting slapped down by chronic losing and punched in the gut by the worst owner among the four major professional sports leagues in North America.
Worst among the four major pro sports leagues?
I don’t think he’s the worst in the NFC West.
That’s Bernie, though. His feelings are hurt, so….
September 15, 2015 at 10:24 pm #30602znModeratorSix Takeaways from the Rams’ Win Over the Seahawks
Randy Karrakerhttp://www.101sports.com/2015/09/14/six-takeaways-from-the-rams-win-over-the-seahawks/
Rams coach Jeff Fisher celebrates after his team’s OT win over Seattle.
For the 51,792 on hand, it was awesome to be completely emotionally invested in a game, to be physically and mentally spent when it was over. There haven’t been many times in the last decade when I’ve come home from a Rams game and crashed, but I did on Sunday.
The players put everything into it, and so did the fans. Once again, we saw an example of how a football team can galvanize a community. The community of Rams fans at the Dome on Sunday could not have enjoyed it more, or been happier after it was over. It was a great day.
With that, six takeaways from a Rams win in the opener:
1) Sunday was only the second time under Jeff Fisher that the Rams have lost the turnover battle but won the game.
Last year, the Rams were 0-7 when they turned the ball over more than they took it away, and in three years under Fisher, they were 1-18-1 before they knocked off the Seahawks despite being a minus-2. There are two factors at play here.
Number one is that the Rams offense was able to respond to adversity, which is huge. So many times in the past if the Rams had allowed a late turnover touchdown like they did with Cary Williams’ fumble return with 4:39 to go, it was game over. Last season against Dallas, Austin Davis threw an interception that Bruce Carter returned for a touchdown and a ten point lead, and the Rams could never come back. Against San Francisco, Davis threw a pick-six with a minute left that knocked the Rams out of contention in a 31-17 loss.
After the sack-fumble that Nick Foles lost for a TD, he deftly moved the Rams 84 yards in 12 plays, capped by a 37 yard TD pass to Lance Kendricks. That tied the game, and sent it to the overtime in which the Rams won.
Secondly, even without running backs Todd Gurley and Tre Mason and wide receiver Brian Quick, the Rams had enough talented players on offense to make plays to win the game. Tavon Austin, Lance Kendricks, and Stedman Bailey all made monstrous receptions to contribute to a win.
gregg williamsRams DC Gregg Williams
2) The second year under defensive coordinator Gregg Williams apparently will make a difference, if this game is any indication.
The Rams turned in some really creative packages, especially when they utilized Lamarcus Joyner and Mark Barron in blitzes, and made Russell Wilson’s afternoon miserable.
Aaron Donald (two sacks, team-high nine tackles) is a legitimate star. Last year, the Rams had one sack through five games. Getting six sacks against Wilson and the Seahawks says a lot about where the Rams are defensively. St. Louis allowed Seattle just one offensive touchdown, and success on just one-of-four trips into the red zone.
3) Fisher spent the off-season talking about how he wanted to get Tavon Austin more involved in the offense.
When he hired Frank Cignetti as offensive coordinator, he talked about it. At the outset of camp, he talked about it. And even on the first Jeff Fisher show of the season, he talked about getting the ball into the hands of Austin.
Austin had four carries, including one jet sweep for a touchdown, and was targeted in five pass plays, catching two. Throw in his 75-yard punt return for a touchdown, and Austin was a major factor.
It’ll be interesting to see if he continues to be such a factor. One would think that as Todd Gurley and Brian Quick return to health, Austin will become more specialized.
4) How about a round of applause for the scoreboard crew?
After Seattle tried an onside kick to start overtime that the Rams recovered, the officials convened and determined that the kick had touched the ground first, and Bradley Marquez’ fair catch recovery was illegal touching.
Almost immediately, the play was shown on the big screen, clearly showing that the ball did not touch the ground before Marquez touched it. Magically, the officials reconvened and determined that the ball had not touched the ground, and that rather than getting the ball deep in their own territory, the Rams would get it at Seattle’s 49. The Rams moved 30 yards to set up Greg Zuerlein’s eventual game winning field goal.
5) I still think the Seahawks should have run Marshawn Lynch at the goal line in the Super Bowl last February.
Even though on 4th and one he got stopped when his team needed it most at the end of this one. Credit to Michael Brockers and Donald, who stopped Wilson on 3rd and two and then Lynch on the final play of the game to seal the victory. Those two were fantastic all day, and deserve much credit for the win.
nick foles-3Rams QB Nick Foles
6) Foles made athletic plays that haven’t consistently been made by Rams quarterbacks since Marc Bulger’s heyday.
Foles’ two-handed push pass to Cunningham early in the fourth quarter set the Rams up in great shape, but Isiah Pead fumbled on the next play. Foles was able to scramble out of trouble and make his offensive line look better than it really was.
Not to disparage the young line, which played very well, but Foles helped it out.
His playmaking ability can be the difference in winning games. Having an established NFL starter rather than the backups the Rams have used the last year and a half will offer them better chances to win.
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