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Cardinals hold off Rams, 12-6, in slugfest
• By Jim Thomas
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_36660d82-ccf6-52be-99b9-13aa489d1d6a.html
The Rams were so very close to .500 for much of Thursday evening and a third straight victory. But in a game of field goals, without a touchdown scored by either team, the NFC West-leading Arizona Cardinals held on for a 12-6 victory at the Edward Jones Dome.
Currently the No. 1 seed in the NFC, the Cardinals improved to 11-3 after sweeping the season series against the Rams. The Rams, meanwhile, fell to 6-8. The can still avoid a losing record if they win their final two games _ at home against the New York Giants on Dec. 21 and at Seattle on Dec. 28.
But for the 11th consecutive season dating back to the 2003 season, the Rams will not have a winning season.
On this day, Arizona blocked just a little bit better, ran the ball better, and rushed the passer better than the Rams. St. Louis couldn't establish the run and couldn't get consistent enough pass blocking to mount any kind of consistent passing attack.
Being forced to kick field goals on two trips inside the red zone didn't help matters either.
The Rams took an early 3-0 lead, but it could've been more. After a short punt and penalty by Arizona, the Rams took over on their first possession at their 45. A 19-yard gain on a screen pass by Benny Cunningham, and a 21-yard strike to an unlikely target _ Cory Harkey _ gave the Rams a first down at the Arizona 16.
A 9-yard gain by Jared Cook on a crossing pattern gave the Rams a third-and-1 from the 7, but Cunningham was stopped for no gain. That forced a 24-yard field goal by Greg Zuerlein _ no yips on this one _ for a 3-0 Rams lead with 6:57 to go in the first.
But Tre Mason's first lost fumble as an NFL player gave Arizona a golden scoring opportunity late in the first quarter. Defensive end Frostee Rucker knocked the ball loose and linebacker Larry Foote recovered for the Big Red on the St. Louis 27.
After Arizona secured a first down at the St. Louis 10, the Rams' defense stiffened. Three plays produced only five yards, so the Cardinals settled for a 23-yard field goal by Chandler Catanzaro and a 3-3 tie with 13:36 left in the second quarter.
It ended a string of 86 consecutive unanswered points scored by the Rams, dating back to the San Diego game Nov. 23.
With the Rams unable to get much going offensively, the Big Red put another 3 points on the board on a 44-yard kick by Catanzaro. After a Rams punt, Arizona started the drive on its 15. But on the first play of the series, quarterback Drew Stanton completed a 49-yard pass to Michael Floyd who got behind Janoris Jenkins for 49-yard gain to the Rams 35.
It was the longest play from scrimmage against the Rams' defense since Oct. 19, when Russell Wilson ran for 52 yards for Seattle. There hasn't been a longer pass play against the Rams since the Monday night game against San Francisco Oct. 13, when Brandon Lloyd scored on an 80-yard TD catch and run just before the half.
So the Cardinals took a 6-3 lead into the locker room at halftime in a contest that featured little in the way of offense but plenty of defense and hard hits. Both teams blitzed heavily _ no surprise there. But the Arizona pass rush was a little bit better in the half than the Rams. Then again, there were some potential holding penalties against Aaron Donald and Robert Quinn that went uncalled.
The Rams had only 28 yards rushing on 10 carries in the half, and the Rams had a mere 139 yards overall. Then again, the Cardinals were far form a juggernaut offensively, either, with 172 yards at the half.
The teams exchanged punts at the start of the third quarter, with Arizona unable to capitalize on a 42-yard punt return by Ted Ginn Jr. that gave the Cardinals a first down at the St. Louis 42.
But the Cardinals tacked three more on the board on their second possession, with Jenkins victimized again on a deep ball from Stanton to Floyd. This time it was a 36-yard pass interference call rather than a reception.
Jenkins had his arm interlocked with Floyd's, leading to the flag and a first down at the St. Louis 28. But on second-and-13 from the St. Louis 31, Aaron Donald sacked Stanton with help from Alec Ogletree and Eugene Sims.
Stanton suffered a knee injury on that play and did not return. The Cardinals were backed up to the 39, out of field goal range. But on Ryan Lindley's first play replacing Stanton at quarterback, he completed a six-yard pass to Floyd _ just enough to get the Big Red in field goal range.
Catanzaro, who had been struggling lately, connected on a 51-yard field goal to give Arizona a 9-3 lead with 7:23 remaining in the third quarter. On a night when yards and first downs were hard to come by for the Rams, that meant they would need a touchdown to gain the lead.
But not even a Rams TD was enough when Catanzaro hit his fourth field goal of the day _ a 46-yarder that gave the Cardinals a 12-3 lead with 10:48 left in the game.
The Rams didn't have a first down in the third quarter and managed just 15 yards on offense. But they finally got a drive going in the fourth _ a drive that included a 38-yard pass play from Hill to Bailey. But once again the drive stalled in the red zone.
On third-and-goal from the 1, Hill rolled out but nobody was open so he threw the ball away incomplete and the Rams settled for a 19-yard field goal by Greg Zuerlein and a 12-6 deficit with 6:07 left to play.
• By Jim Thomas
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_36660d82-ccf6-52be-99b9-13aa489d1d6a.html
The Rams were so very close to .500 for much of Thursday evening and a third straight victory. But in a game of field goals, without a touchdown scored by either team, the NFC West-leading Arizona Cardinals held on for a 12-6 victory at the Edward Jones Dome.
Currently the No. 1 seed in the NFC, the Cardinals improved to 11-3 after sweeping the season series against the Rams. The Rams, meanwhile, fell to 6-8. The can still avoid a losing record if they win their final two games _ at home against the New York Giants on Dec. 21 and at Seattle on Dec. 28.
But for the 11th consecutive season dating back to the 2003 season, the Rams will not have a winning season.
On this day, Arizona blocked just a little bit better, ran the ball better, and rushed the passer better than the Rams. St. Louis couldn't establish the run and couldn't get consistent enough pass blocking to mount any kind of consistent passing attack.
Being forced to kick field goals on two trips inside the red zone didn't help matters either.
The Rams took an early 3-0 lead, but it could've been more. After a short punt and penalty by Arizona, the Rams took over on their first possession at their 45. A 19-yard gain on a screen pass by Benny Cunningham, and a 21-yard strike to an unlikely target _ Cory Harkey _ gave the Rams a first down at the Arizona 16.
A 9-yard gain by Jared Cook on a crossing pattern gave the Rams a third-and-1 from the 7, but Cunningham was stopped for no gain. That forced a 24-yard field goal by Greg Zuerlein _ no yips on this one _ for a 3-0 Rams lead with 6:57 to go in the first.
But Tre Mason's first lost fumble as an NFL player gave Arizona a golden scoring opportunity late in the first quarter. Defensive end Frostee Rucker knocked the ball loose and linebacker Larry Foote recovered for the Big Red on the St. Louis 27.
After Arizona secured a first down at the St. Louis 10, the Rams' defense stiffened. Three plays produced only five yards, so the Cardinals settled for a 23-yard field goal by Chandler Catanzaro and a 3-3 tie with 13:36 left in the second quarter.
It ended a string of 86 consecutive unanswered points scored by the Rams, dating back to the San Diego game Nov. 23.
With the Rams unable to get much going offensively, the Big Red put another 3 points on the board on a 44-yard kick by Catanzaro. After a Rams punt, Arizona started the drive on its 15. But on the first play of the series, quarterback Drew Stanton completed a 49-yard pass to Michael Floyd who got behind Janoris Jenkins for 49-yard gain to the Rams 35.
It was the longest play from scrimmage against the Rams' defense since Oct. 19, when Russell Wilson ran for 52 yards for Seattle. There hasn't been a longer pass play against the Rams since the Monday night game against San Francisco Oct. 13, when Brandon Lloyd scored on an 80-yard TD catch and run just before the half.
So the Cardinals took a 6-3 lead into the locker room at halftime in a contest that featured little in the way of offense but plenty of defense and hard hits. Both teams blitzed heavily _ no surprise there. But the Arizona pass rush was a little bit better in the half than the Rams. Then again, there were some potential holding penalties against Aaron Donald and Robert Quinn that went uncalled.
The Rams had only 28 yards rushing on 10 carries in the half, and the Rams had a mere 139 yards overall. Then again, the Cardinals were far form a juggernaut offensively, either, with 172 yards at the half.
The teams exchanged punts at the start of the third quarter, with Arizona unable to capitalize on a 42-yard punt return by Ted Ginn Jr. that gave the Cardinals a first down at the St. Louis 42.
But the Cardinals tacked three more on the board on their second possession, with Jenkins victimized again on a deep ball from Stanton to Floyd. This time it was a 36-yard pass interference call rather than a reception.
Jenkins had his arm interlocked with Floyd's, leading to the flag and a first down at the St. Louis 28. But on second-and-13 from the St. Louis 31, Aaron Donald sacked Stanton with help from Alec Ogletree and Eugene Sims.
Stanton suffered a knee injury on that play and did not return. The Cardinals were backed up to the 39, out of field goal range. But on Ryan Lindley's first play replacing Stanton at quarterback, he completed a six-yard pass to Floyd _ just enough to get the Big Red in field goal range.
Catanzaro, who had been struggling lately, connected on a 51-yard field goal to give Arizona a 9-3 lead with 7:23 remaining in the third quarter. On a night when yards and first downs were hard to come by for the Rams, that meant they would need a touchdown to gain the lead.
But not even a Rams TD was enough when Catanzaro hit his fourth field goal of the day _ a 46-yarder that gave the Cardinals a 12-3 lead with 10:48 left in the game.
The Rams didn't have a first down in the third quarter and managed just 15 yards on offense. But they finally got a drive going in the fourth _ a drive that included a 38-yard pass play from Hill to Bailey. But once again the drive stalled in the red zone.
On third-and-goal from the 1, Hill rolled out but nobody was open so he threw the ball away incomplete and the Rams settled for a 19-yard field goal by Greg Zuerlein and a 12-6 deficit with 6:07 left to play.
