Cardinals get to Rams CB Jenkins for big plays/PD

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Cardinals get to Rams CB Jenkins for big plays

• By Jim Thomas

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_e80a69a1-142d-5ed5-b790-aa151be8b81b.html

In a game that was tight from start to finish, the Cardinals found success going after Rams cornerback Janoris Jenkins. Both times it was Arizona wide receiver Michael Floyd who got the best of Jenkins on Thursday at the Edward Jones Dome.

Early in the second quarter, Floyd got behind Jenkins down the left sideline for a 49-yard reception from quarterback Drew Stanton. That gave Arizona a first down at the Rams 36, putting them on the fringe of field goal range.

They came up with one first down, on a one-yard gain by tight end/H-back Rob Housler on a third-and-one play from the 26. And that was enough real estate for the first of four field goals by Cardinals rookie Chandler Catanzaro. This one came from 44 yards.

The pass play was the longest completion against the Rams defense since the team’s last prime-time game, an Oct. 13 Monday night contest against San Francisco. In that contest, 49ers wide receiver Brandon Lloyd scored on an 80-yard catch-and-run just before halftime.

Floyd got Jenkins once again for a big play, but not on a reception, in the second half. With Floyd once again running deep down the left sideline, Jenkins was called for pass interference. There was contact near the end of the play and Jenkins had an arm interlocked with Floyd’s arm as the football came down.

The result was a 36-yard gain on third-and-4 from the Arizona 36, giving Arizona a first down at the Rams 28. From there, the Cardinals were able to get a 51-yard field goal from the previously struggling Catanzaro, who had missed four of his previous nine tries before going 4 for 4 Thursday.

Catanzaro’s 51-yarder in the third quarter gave Arizona a 9-3 lead in what became a 12-6 Cardinals victory.

Jenkins almost got a chance for some retribution, but what looked like an interception on the next Arizona possession was overruled by the replay official and changed to an incomplete pass.

“I think it was a good call,” coach Jeff Fisher said. “The ball is loose on the ground. He has to maintain possession throughout.”

Even with the play overturned, the Cardinals still had to punt on the next play, but the Rams lost about 40 yards of field position with the punt and field position was something that was lacking for the Rams most of the night.

REMEMBERING BURWELL

There was a stadium-wide moment of silence in honor of late Post-Dispatch columnist Bryan Burwell just before kickoff, complete with a photo of Burwell on the stadium scoreboards.

There was a framed picture of Burwell at his usual spot on press row at the Edward Jones Dome. About a half-dozen large framed pictures of Burwell were hung around the press box.

Earlier in the day, Fisher and general manager Les Snead took the time to attend a memorial service for Burwell in Ballwin.

SITTING IT OUT

For the second week in a row all seven pregame inactives for the Rams were healthy scratches: DB Lamarcus Joyner, CB Marcus Roberson, TE Justice Cunningham, OG Brandon Washington, TE Alex Bayer, DT Alex Carrington, and DE Ethan Westbrooks.

DE Chris Long (ankle), who was listed as questionable, was active as expected.

RAM-BLINGS

Short but high punts by Arizona’s Drew Butler took the steam out of Tavon Austin and the Rams punt return. After a 143-yard day Sunday against Washington, Austin had minus-2 yards on two returns Thursday. Austin had four fair catches; in addition one Butler punt landed out of bounds and another was downed by the Cardinals.

• Former Rams coach Dick Vermeil was in the house, and was introduced to thunderous applause in the first half. He was part of the NFL Network’s pregame show.