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Rams are no-shows in loss to Giants
• By Jim Thomas
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_f970a96f-583f-52b5-9eb4-583d540c61a2.html
The big question entering the day was whether the Rams could keep their focus and motivation after losing any chance at a playoff berth or a winning record the week before against Arizona.
The answer was a resounding "No" as the Rams' secondary was scorched by quarterback Eli Manning and wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. in a 37-27 loss to the New York Giants on Sunday at the Edward Jones Dome.
Fan Appreciation Day proved to be just another slap in the face to fans now assured of their 11th consecutive non-winning season by the 6-9 Rams. On this day, the best hits by the Rams defense seemed to come on late hits well out of bounds.
Meanwhile, after snapping out of a seven-game losing streak, the Giants (6-9) have now won three in a row.
Manning threw for 391 yards and three touchdowns, and Beckham (148) and Rueben Randle (132) both had over 100 yards receiving. It was a brutal day for cornerback Trumaine Johnson in coverage. As for the Rams' pass rush, it was a step slow all day.
The offense showed an ability to move the football, but holding penalties and missed blocks by the line were an issue all day. As a topper, it was not quarterback Shaun Hill's most accurate day. He missed wide-open receivers Kenny Britt and Jared Cook on deep balls that probably would've been touchdowns.
This was a day when the Rams' defense was a no-show. With the help of two Rams turnovers, Manning and the New York offense raced to a 20-3 first-half lead.
The St. Louis secondary, particularly Johnson, struggled in coverage as Manning threw for 200 yards on 16 of 18 passing in the half.
Beckham Jr. ended the Rams' streak of 12 quarters without allowing a touchdown pass with 9-yard grab with 8:24 left in the first quarter. It was as strange choice of coverage by the Rams. Johnson lined up across from Beckham Jr., but then dropped into zone coverage as Beckham ran by.
That left Beckham Jr. isolated with safety T.J. McDonald — and 95 times out of 100 a wide receiver is going to win a matchup with a safety, particularly a wideout as talented as the Giants' rookie phenom.
That made it 10-0 Giants, who had kicked a field goal earlier. The Rams got on the board with a 51-yard field by Greg Zuerlein on their next possession. One play before Zuerlein's kick the Rams had a manageable third-and-4 from the New York 28, but right guard Davin Joseph was beaten by Jason Pierre-Paul for a sack, forcing the field goal attempt.
The Giants scored that touchdown after Benny Cunningham — on a kickoff return — fumbled for the first time in 126 touches this year, a total that includes catches, carries, and returns. New York recovered on the St. Louis 21.
The lead grew to 13-3 Giants early in the second quarter on a field goal by former Rams place-kicker Josh Brown on a series that followed another St. Louis turnover. Hill threw a quick screen to Tavon Austin, but the ball caromed off Austin's hands and was picked off by Giants defensive lineman Kerry Wynn and returned seven yards to the New York 44.
After a Johnny Hekker punt the Giants drove 80 yards with unheralded running back Orleans Darkwa scoring on a 12-yard cutback run. So it was 20-3 Giants with 4:49 left in the first half.
But a bench-clearing scuffle that began with a late hit on Beckham Jr. by linebacker Alec Ogletree seemed to snap the Rams out of their slumber. Ogletree hit Beckham well out of bounds after a short reception near the New York bench.
Beckham Jr. responded by throwing the football at Ogletree. Ogletree shoved back, the Giants' bench came to Beckham's aid, and then the Rams came to help Ogletree. After referee Pete Morelli and his crew restored order, defensive end Damontre Moore and wide receiver Preston Parker of the Giants had been ejected. Defensive end William Hayes of the Rams also was ejected.
The Rams forced a punt after the fracas, then scored on a 10-yard run by Tre Mason on the ensuing possession to narrow the Giants' lead to 20-10. A 20-yard field goal by Zuerlein to close the half made it a one-score game — 20-13 — and the Rams got the ball to start the second half.
But the Rams ended up punting to start the third quarter, and the Giants and Manning continued to pick apart the St. Louis secondary, with TD passes to Rueben Randle and Beckham Jr. to help stretch the Giants' lead to 37-20 midway through the fourth quarter.
Here are the updates posted by football writer Joe Lyons during Sunday's game:
The Giants scored 10 points before the Rams ran an offensive play and went on to a 37-27 win Sunday at the Edward Jones Dome.
It's the third win in a row for New York (6-9), a team that dropped seven consecutive games earlier in the season. The Rams, who close out the season Sunday in Seattle against the defending Super Bowl champion Seahawks, slipped to 6-9 with their second consecutive home-field loss.
New York's Eli Manning completed 25 of 32 passes for 391 yards and three touchdowns. Odell Beckman Jr. caught eight passes for 148 yards and two touchdowns while Rueben Randle had six catches for 132 yards and a score. Andre Williams rushed 26 times for 110 yards.
The Giants pushed their lead to 37-20 with 8:29 to play when Josh Brown connected on a 52-yard field goal to cap a 10-play, 56-yard drive that was highlighted by a 29-yard pass from Eli Manning to NFL Rookie of the Year candidate Odell Beckham Jr.
An update on Rams rookie corner E.J. Gaines: head injury, being evaluated for a possible concussion.
The Rams closed out the the scoring with 3:56 to play as Shaun Hill found Chris Givens uncovered down the right sideline for a 47-yard touchdown to make it 37-27.
After a failed onside kick by the Rams, the Giants moved into field-goal range, but second-year linebacker Daren Bates foiled the 24-yard try with a block after hurdling the New York center. Will Herring recovered at the St. Louis 26.
On the next play, a high snap was recovered by the Giants' Kerry Wynn. New York took over at the St. Louis 12 and ran out the clock.
The Giants added to their lead, going up 27-13 midway through the third quarter, on a 7-yard scoring pass from Eli Manning to Rueben Randle. The TD pass, at the 7:29 mark of the third quarter, capped a seven-play, 89-yard drive that featured a powerful 45-yard run up the middle from Andre Williams and a roughing-the-passer call on the Rams' Eugene Sims.
The Rams answered with a 10-play, 80-yard drive capped by a 23-yard touchdown pass from Shaun Hill to tight end Lance Kendricks with 1:44 to play in the third quarter. Hill made a near-perfect throw to find Kendricks on a seam pattern between three or four Giants defenders to make it 27-20. Key plays on the drive included an 11-yard pass from Hill to Jared Cook, a 19-yard end-around by Tavon Austin and an 11-yard pass from Hill to Kenny Britt.
GIANTS LEAD 34-20 WITH A QUARTER LEFT
The Rams received a scare in the final minute of the third quarter as defensive backs E.J. Gaines and T.J. McDonald collided on a pass breakup. Gaines, the standout rookie from Mizzou, got the worst of it. He got to his feet but eventually was carted off.
On the next play, Odell Beckham Jr. split the Rams defense and scored on an 80-yard bomb from Eli Manning that made it 34-20 with 45 seconds to play in the third quarter.
NEW YORK UP 20-13 AT HALFTIME
The Giants took advantage of the late first-quarter interception, going up 13-3 on a 37-yard Josh Brown field with 12:39 to play in the first half. The key play of the drive was a 23-yard pass from Eli Manning to tight end Larry Donnell. The play was originally ruled incomplete, but after New York coach Tom Coughlin threw the challenge flag, the call was overturned.
New York stretched its lead to 20-3 when rookie Orleans Darkwa scored on a 12-yard run with 4:49 to play in the first half. The touchdown run, which featured a nice cutback move from Darkwa, capped a 10-play, 80-yard drive that featured Manning passes to Preston Parker (15 yards), Rueben Randle (19) and Odell Beckham Jr (5 yards). At the end of the Beckham Jr. catch, Rams safety T.J. McDonald was flagged for taunting after chasing the New York rookie out of bounds.
The Rams responded with their best drive of the half, thanks to a Giants' penalty, to cut the lead to 20-10 on a 10-yard touchdown run by Tre Mason with 2:18 to play before halftime. The penalty, a 26-yard pass interference call on Dominique Rogers-Cromartie against Tavon Austin, put the ball at the New York 15. After an encroachment call, Mason took a quick pitch from Hill around left end for the score, picking up a block from Kenny Britt near the goal line.
On the Giants' next play from scrimmage, Rams linebacker Alec Ogletree had a late hit on Beckham Jr. that set off a scuffle in the New York bench area. There were three ejections _ the Rams William Hayes as well as wide receiver Preston Parker and defensive end Damontre' Moore of the Giants.
The Rams managed to finish the half on a high note, getting a Greg Zuerlein 20-yard field goal as time ran out. The Giants are up 20-13 at the half.
The nine-play, 58-yard drive featured Hill passes to Kenny Britt, Benny Cunningham, Stedman Bailey, Tavon Austin, Jared Cook and Britt. But on a first-and-goal from the 2, a high snap led to Hill throwing the ball over a wide-open Bailey in the right corner of the end zone.
With just four seconds left in the half, the Rams took the points with the Zuerlein field goal.
Some quick halftime numbers;
• Hill has completed 10 of 14 passes for 109 yards and an interception. Tre Mason has 41 yards and a touchdown on just six carries. Kenny Britt has four catches for 58 yards.
• Eli Manning has completed 16 of 18 passes for 200 yards and a touchdown. Rueben Randle has three catches for 84 yards while Beckham Jr. has 30 yards on five catches. Andre Williams has 32 yards on 13 rushes.
GIANTS UP 10-3 AFTER ONE QUARTER
A 49-yard pass from Eli Manning to Rueben Randle, who did a good job of posting up to keep the jump ball away from Rams safety Rodney McLeod, helped set up the game's first score _ a 29-yard field goal from ex-Ram Josh Brown with 10:41 to play in the first quarter.
On the ensuing kickoff, Benny Cunningham fumbled while taking a hit from Orleans Darkwa while atempting to make a spin move. The ball was recovered by Nat Berthe at the Rams' 21-yard line. Five plays later, Manning found rookie sensation Odell Beckham Jr. alone in the right corner of the end zone for 9-yard touchdown with 8:24 to play.
The Giants are up 10-0 before the Rams have taken an offensive snap.
The Rams, taking advantage of personal fouls on Beckham Jr. (taunting) and Brown (unnecessary roughness), got on the board at 10-3 with a 51-yard field goal from Greg Zuerlin with 4:52 to play in the opening quarter. The kick capped a six-play, 15-yard drive highlighted by a 9-yard run from Tre Mason. A third-down sack by Jason Pierre-Paul forced the Rams to go for the field goal.
After a 4-yard punt return by Tavon Austin and a 16-yard run by Mason, the Rams appeared to be in business again at the New York 37. But a first-down pass from Shaun Hill deflected high into the air off the hands of Austin and the Giants' Kerry Wynn came up with the interception and returned it to the New York 44.
RAMS FACE GIANTS IN HOME FINALE
Still hoping to salvage an 8-8 finish, their first non-losing season since 2007, the Rams (6-8) will play their final home game of 2014 today at 3:05 when they host the New York Giants (5-9) at the Edward Jones Dome.
The Rams are sporting throwback uniforms, with blue jerseys, yellow pants. Today's inactives feature offensive linemen Barrett Jones and Brandon Washington, tight ends Alex Bayer and Justice Cunningham, defensive linemen Alex Carrington and Ethan Westbrooks and cornerback Marcus Roberson.
Active for the first time in six weeks is defensive back Lamarcus Joyner, the team's second-round draft pick in May. He missed the first three of those games with a groin injury and has been a healthy scratch in the last two games.
It marks the second consecutive game where the Rams had their full 53-man roster healthy and available.
The Giants, who lost seven consecutive games earlier this season, are coming off wins over Tennessee and Washington. The visitors will be without top rusher Rashad Jennings (606 yards, 4 TDs), who aggravated an ankle injury on his lone carry a week ago in a 24-13 win over the Redskins. Andre Williams, a rookie from Boston College with 568 rushing yards and six touchdowns, figures to the bulk of today's carries.
Other inactives for New York are cornerback Jayron Hosley, linebacker James Davidson, offensive lineman Adam Gettis, guard Eric Herman, tight end Jerome Cunningham and defensive tackle Dominique Hamilton, the Mizzou product.
The Giants are in white jerseys, with sliver pants.
• By Jim Thomas
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_f970a96f-583f-52b5-9eb4-583d540c61a2.html
The big question entering the day was whether the Rams could keep their focus and motivation after losing any chance at a playoff berth or a winning record the week before against Arizona.
The answer was a resounding "No" as the Rams' secondary was scorched by quarterback Eli Manning and wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. in a 37-27 loss to the New York Giants on Sunday at the Edward Jones Dome.
Fan Appreciation Day proved to be just another slap in the face to fans now assured of their 11th consecutive non-winning season by the 6-9 Rams. On this day, the best hits by the Rams defense seemed to come on late hits well out of bounds.
Meanwhile, after snapping out of a seven-game losing streak, the Giants (6-9) have now won three in a row.
Manning threw for 391 yards and three touchdowns, and Beckham (148) and Rueben Randle (132) both had over 100 yards receiving. It was a brutal day for cornerback Trumaine Johnson in coverage. As for the Rams' pass rush, it was a step slow all day.
The offense showed an ability to move the football, but holding penalties and missed blocks by the line were an issue all day. As a topper, it was not quarterback Shaun Hill's most accurate day. He missed wide-open receivers Kenny Britt and Jared Cook on deep balls that probably would've been touchdowns.
This was a day when the Rams' defense was a no-show. With the help of two Rams turnovers, Manning and the New York offense raced to a 20-3 first-half lead.
The St. Louis secondary, particularly Johnson, struggled in coverage as Manning threw for 200 yards on 16 of 18 passing in the half.
Beckham Jr. ended the Rams' streak of 12 quarters without allowing a touchdown pass with 9-yard grab with 8:24 left in the first quarter. It was as strange choice of coverage by the Rams. Johnson lined up across from Beckham Jr., but then dropped into zone coverage as Beckham ran by.
That left Beckham Jr. isolated with safety T.J. McDonald — and 95 times out of 100 a wide receiver is going to win a matchup with a safety, particularly a wideout as talented as the Giants' rookie phenom.
That made it 10-0 Giants, who had kicked a field goal earlier. The Rams got on the board with a 51-yard field by Greg Zuerlein on their next possession. One play before Zuerlein's kick the Rams had a manageable third-and-4 from the New York 28, but right guard Davin Joseph was beaten by Jason Pierre-Paul for a sack, forcing the field goal attempt.
The Giants scored that touchdown after Benny Cunningham — on a kickoff return — fumbled for the first time in 126 touches this year, a total that includes catches, carries, and returns. New York recovered on the St. Louis 21.
The lead grew to 13-3 Giants early in the second quarter on a field goal by former Rams place-kicker Josh Brown on a series that followed another St. Louis turnover. Hill threw a quick screen to Tavon Austin, but the ball caromed off Austin's hands and was picked off by Giants defensive lineman Kerry Wynn and returned seven yards to the New York 44.
After a Johnny Hekker punt the Giants drove 80 yards with unheralded running back Orleans Darkwa scoring on a 12-yard cutback run. So it was 20-3 Giants with 4:49 left in the first half.
But a bench-clearing scuffle that began with a late hit on Beckham Jr. by linebacker Alec Ogletree seemed to snap the Rams out of their slumber. Ogletree hit Beckham well out of bounds after a short reception near the New York bench.
Beckham Jr. responded by throwing the football at Ogletree. Ogletree shoved back, the Giants' bench came to Beckham's aid, and then the Rams came to help Ogletree. After referee Pete Morelli and his crew restored order, defensive end Damontre Moore and wide receiver Preston Parker of the Giants had been ejected. Defensive end William Hayes of the Rams also was ejected.
The Rams forced a punt after the fracas, then scored on a 10-yard run by Tre Mason on the ensuing possession to narrow the Giants' lead to 20-10. A 20-yard field goal by Zuerlein to close the half made it a one-score game — 20-13 — and the Rams got the ball to start the second half.
But the Rams ended up punting to start the third quarter, and the Giants and Manning continued to pick apart the St. Louis secondary, with TD passes to Rueben Randle and Beckham Jr. to help stretch the Giants' lead to 37-20 midway through the fourth quarter.
Here are the updates posted by football writer Joe Lyons during Sunday's game:
The Giants scored 10 points before the Rams ran an offensive play and went on to a 37-27 win Sunday at the Edward Jones Dome.
It's the third win in a row for New York (6-9), a team that dropped seven consecutive games earlier in the season. The Rams, who close out the season Sunday in Seattle against the defending Super Bowl champion Seahawks, slipped to 6-9 with their second consecutive home-field loss.
New York's Eli Manning completed 25 of 32 passes for 391 yards and three touchdowns. Odell Beckman Jr. caught eight passes for 148 yards and two touchdowns while Rueben Randle had six catches for 132 yards and a score. Andre Williams rushed 26 times for 110 yards.
The Giants pushed their lead to 37-20 with 8:29 to play when Josh Brown connected on a 52-yard field goal to cap a 10-play, 56-yard drive that was highlighted by a 29-yard pass from Eli Manning to NFL Rookie of the Year candidate Odell Beckham Jr.
An update on Rams rookie corner E.J. Gaines: head injury, being evaluated for a possible concussion.
The Rams closed out the the scoring with 3:56 to play as Shaun Hill found Chris Givens uncovered down the right sideline for a 47-yard touchdown to make it 37-27.
After a failed onside kick by the Rams, the Giants moved into field-goal range, but second-year linebacker Daren Bates foiled the 24-yard try with a block after hurdling the New York center. Will Herring recovered at the St. Louis 26.
On the next play, a high snap was recovered by the Giants' Kerry Wynn. New York took over at the St. Louis 12 and ran out the clock.
The Giants added to their lead, going up 27-13 midway through the third quarter, on a 7-yard scoring pass from Eli Manning to Rueben Randle. The TD pass, at the 7:29 mark of the third quarter, capped a seven-play, 89-yard drive that featured a powerful 45-yard run up the middle from Andre Williams and a roughing-the-passer call on the Rams' Eugene Sims.
The Rams answered with a 10-play, 80-yard drive capped by a 23-yard touchdown pass from Shaun Hill to tight end Lance Kendricks with 1:44 to play in the third quarter. Hill made a near-perfect throw to find Kendricks on a seam pattern between three or four Giants defenders to make it 27-20. Key plays on the drive included an 11-yard pass from Hill to Jared Cook, a 19-yard end-around by Tavon Austin and an 11-yard pass from Hill to Kenny Britt.
GIANTS LEAD 34-20 WITH A QUARTER LEFT
The Rams received a scare in the final minute of the third quarter as defensive backs E.J. Gaines and T.J. McDonald collided on a pass breakup. Gaines, the standout rookie from Mizzou, got the worst of it. He got to his feet but eventually was carted off.
On the next play, Odell Beckham Jr. split the Rams defense and scored on an 80-yard bomb from Eli Manning that made it 34-20 with 45 seconds to play in the third quarter.
NEW YORK UP 20-13 AT HALFTIME
The Giants took advantage of the late first-quarter interception, going up 13-3 on a 37-yard Josh Brown field with 12:39 to play in the first half. The key play of the drive was a 23-yard pass from Eli Manning to tight end Larry Donnell. The play was originally ruled incomplete, but after New York coach Tom Coughlin threw the challenge flag, the call was overturned.
New York stretched its lead to 20-3 when rookie Orleans Darkwa scored on a 12-yard run with 4:49 to play in the first half. The touchdown run, which featured a nice cutback move from Darkwa, capped a 10-play, 80-yard drive that featured Manning passes to Preston Parker (15 yards), Rueben Randle (19) and Odell Beckham Jr (5 yards). At the end of the Beckham Jr. catch, Rams safety T.J. McDonald was flagged for taunting after chasing the New York rookie out of bounds.
The Rams responded with their best drive of the half, thanks to a Giants' penalty, to cut the lead to 20-10 on a 10-yard touchdown run by Tre Mason with 2:18 to play before halftime. The penalty, a 26-yard pass interference call on Dominique Rogers-Cromartie against Tavon Austin, put the ball at the New York 15. After an encroachment call, Mason took a quick pitch from Hill around left end for the score, picking up a block from Kenny Britt near the goal line.
On the Giants' next play from scrimmage, Rams linebacker Alec Ogletree had a late hit on Beckham Jr. that set off a scuffle in the New York bench area. There were three ejections _ the Rams William Hayes as well as wide receiver Preston Parker and defensive end Damontre' Moore of the Giants.
The Rams managed to finish the half on a high note, getting a Greg Zuerlein 20-yard field goal as time ran out. The Giants are up 20-13 at the half.
The nine-play, 58-yard drive featured Hill passes to Kenny Britt, Benny Cunningham, Stedman Bailey, Tavon Austin, Jared Cook and Britt. But on a first-and-goal from the 2, a high snap led to Hill throwing the ball over a wide-open Bailey in the right corner of the end zone.
With just four seconds left in the half, the Rams took the points with the Zuerlein field goal.
Some quick halftime numbers;
• Hill has completed 10 of 14 passes for 109 yards and an interception. Tre Mason has 41 yards and a touchdown on just six carries. Kenny Britt has four catches for 58 yards.
• Eli Manning has completed 16 of 18 passes for 200 yards and a touchdown. Rueben Randle has three catches for 84 yards while Beckham Jr. has 30 yards on five catches. Andre Williams has 32 yards on 13 rushes.
GIANTS UP 10-3 AFTER ONE QUARTER
A 49-yard pass from Eli Manning to Rueben Randle, who did a good job of posting up to keep the jump ball away from Rams safety Rodney McLeod, helped set up the game's first score _ a 29-yard field goal from ex-Ram Josh Brown with 10:41 to play in the first quarter.
On the ensuing kickoff, Benny Cunningham fumbled while taking a hit from Orleans Darkwa while atempting to make a spin move. The ball was recovered by Nat Berthe at the Rams' 21-yard line. Five plays later, Manning found rookie sensation Odell Beckham Jr. alone in the right corner of the end zone for 9-yard touchdown with 8:24 to play.
The Giants are up 10-0 before the Rams have taken an offensive snap.
The Rams, taking advantage of personal fouls on Beckham Jr. (taunting) and Brown (unnecessary roughness), got on the board at 10-3 with a 51-yard field goal from Greg Zuerlin with 4:52 to play in the opening quarter. The kick capped a six-play, 15-yard drive highlighted by a 9-yard run from Tre Mason. A third-down sack by Jason Pierre-Paul forced the Rams to go for the field goal.
After a 4-yard punt return by Tavon Austin and a 16-yard run by Mason, the Rams appeared to be in business again at the New York 37. But a first-down pass from Shaun Hill deflected high into the air off the hands of Austin and the Giants' Kerry Wynn came up with the interception and returned it to the New York 44.
RAMS FACE GIANTS IN HOME FINALE
Still hoping to salvage an 8-8 finish, their first non-losing season since 2007, the Rams (6-8) will play their final home game of 2014 today at 3:05 when they host the New York Giants (5-9) at the Edward Jones Dome.
The Rams are sporting throwback uniforms, with blue jerseys, yellow pants. Today's inactives feature offensive linemen Barrett Jones and Brandon Washington, tight ends Alex Bayer and Justice Cunningham, defensive linemen Alex Carrington and Ethan Westbrooks and cornerback Marcus Roberson.
Active for the first time in six weeks is defensive back Lamarcus Joyner, the team's second-round draft pick in May. He missed the first three of those games with a groin injury and has been a healthy scratch in the last two games.
It marks the second consecutive game where the Rams had their full 53-man roster healthy and available.
The Giants, who lost seven consecutive games earlier this season, are coming off wins over Tennessee and Washington. The visitors will be without top rusher Rashad Jennings (606 yards, 4 TDs), who aggravated an ankle injury on his lone carry a week ago in a 24-13 win over the Redskins. Andre Williams, a rookie from Boston College with 568 rushing yards and six touchdowns, figures to the bulk of today's carries.
Other inactives for New York are cornerback Jayron Hosley, linebacker James Davidson, offensive lineman Adam Gettis, guard Eric Herman, tight end Jerome Cunningham and defensive tackle Dominique Hamilton, the Mizzou product.
The Giants are in white jerseys, with sliver pants.