Rams blow out Raiders 52-0 at the Dome/PD

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RamBill

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Rams blow out Raiders 52-0 at the Dome
• By Joe Lyons
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_f8a6c593-77c4-5905-8da7-4ceb6f85e9cf.html

The Rams set the tone early and never let up, blowing past the visiting Oakland Raiders 52-0 Sunday at the Edward Jones Dome.

It was the second-largest margin of victory in franchise history. In 1976, the Rams blew out the Atlanta Falcons 59-0.

The Rams, who improved to 5-7, will play play Sunday in Washington against the Redskins. Coming off their lone win of the season, the Raiders fell to 1-11.

After coming up with a fourth-down stop near midfield late in the third quarter, the Rams moved 56 yards on five plays, stretching their lead to 45-0 on an 8-yard scoring run from Tre Mason with 12:47 to play. The key play of the drive was a 28-yard pass-interference call on the Raiders' T.J. Carrie on a pass intended for Kenny Britt.

The Rams closed out the day's scoring with 5:24 to play as Trumaine Johnson picked off a Matt Schaub pass and returned it 44 yards down the right sideline to make it 52-0.

S LEAD 38-0 WITH ONE QUARTER TO PLAY

The teams traded punts through the third quarter. In fact the Rams' lone first down came on the period's final play as Zac Stacy broke free for an 11-yard gain.

The highlight of the quarter for the Rams was Chris Long's first sack of the season. Later, after William Hayes knocked the ball from Oakland Marcel Reese, Rodney McLeod scooped up the fumble. But the Rams were unable to capitalize.

RAMS UP 38-0 AT THE HALF

The Rams continued to pour it on as Tre Mason broke free on a first-down play from the St. Louis 11 and went untouched for an 89-yard touchdown with 11:14 to play in the second quarter. On the play, receiver Tavon Austin made not one but two downfield blocks to help Mason stretch the Rams' lead to 28-0. Tight end Cory Harkey also came up with a key block.

Following the second-longest touchdown run in franchise history _ Kenny Washington had a 92-yarder against the Chicago Cardinals back in 1947 _ Mason was flagged for excessive celebration.

With Rams defensive tackle Michael Brockers around his ankles, Oakland rookie quarterback Derek Carr overthrew a short third-down pass to Maurice Jones-Drew and the pass was picked off by rookie corner E.J. Gaines. It was the second career interception for the former Mizzou star, who returned it t. he Mizzou product returned it to the Oakland 23.

Four plays later, Hill connected on a short pass to tight Cory Harkey, who powered his way past two Oakland defenders to make it 35-0 with 8:10 to play before halftime.

On another third-down play, Carr throws another pick. Trumaine Johnson intercepts the pass and returns it 22 yards to the Oakland 13. This drive stalled, thanks to a Justin Tuck sack on third down, but Greg Zuerlein booted a 38-yard field goal with 5:27 to play before halftime.

At the break, the Rams lead 38-0.

Some quick halftime numbers:

• Hill has completed 12 of 15 passes for 178 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Mason has 113 yards on just six carries, with an 89-yard TD run. Bailey has five catches for 100 yards. On defense, Alec Ogletree leads the way with four tackles. Gaines and Johnson have interceptions.

• Carr has completed 14 of 26 passes for 92 yards with a pair of picks. The Raiders' busiest player has been punter Marquette King. He's averaging 43.2 yards on five punts.

RAMS JUMP TO 21-0 LEAD AFTER ONE QUARTER

The Rams took control from the start. After forcing a three-and-out to start the game, the Rams moved 59 yards on just four plays to go up 7-0 on a 35-yard screen pass from Shaun Hill to Tre Mason. Under pressure, Hill dumped the all off to Mason, who raced up the right sideline and picked up a block near the goal line from Stedman Bailey to score the go-ahead touchdown with 12:04 to play in the opening quarter.

After forcing another punt, the Rams went back to work, moving 78 yards on just seven plays to make it 14-0. On a bootleg run to the right, Hill scored from the 2 with 7:12 left in the first quarter. Key plays of the drive included passes from Hill to Bailey covering 8, 16 and 34 yards and a 13-yard strike from Hill to Kenny Britt.

It was Hill's first rushing touchdown since 2008, when he was playing for the San Francisco 49ers.

After forcing yet another punt _ the Raiders have just 16 net yards in three offensive possessions _ the Rams are at it again. This time, they move 61 yards on just six plays and go up 21-0 on an 18-yard run from Tavon Austin on a jet sweep around left end with 2:37 to play in the first quarter. Key plays on the drive were a pair of passes from Hill to Bailey covering 26 and 16 yards. Bailey, the second-year pro from West Virginia, already has five catches for 100 yards.

DE LONG MAKES RETURN FOR RAMS

The Rams take on their third consecutive AFC West opponent today when they take on the Oakland Raiders in a noon contest at the Edward Jones Dome.

The Rams (4-7) stunned visiting Denver 22-7 on Nov. 16 and then fell short in a frustrating 27-24 loss in San Diego a week ago.

The Raiders (1-10) are coming off their first win of the season, a 24-20 Thursday victory over visiting Kansas City on Nov. 20 that snapped a 16-game losing streak.

The Raiders have won eight of 12 previous meetings with the Rams.

The Rams are in blue jerseys and white pants. The Raiders go with silver pans and white shirts.

Sunday will mark the return of veteran defensive end Chris Long, who underwent ankle surgery following the team's season-opening loss to Minnesota Vikings. Long was activated Saturday from the injured reserve/designated to return list. To open up a roster spot, linebacker Marshall McFadden was waived.

It's merely a coincidence, but Long's return against the Raiders is significant. His father Howie was a Hall of Fame defensive end for Oakland and his brother Howie Jr. works in the Raiders' front office.

“I'm proud of what my dad was able to accomplish there,'' Long said earlier this week from Rams Park. He speaks highly of that experience. They have got great fans. They've got a great history. I enjoyed when I went there and played a couple of years back. They showed me love, their fans, so I'm very respectful of their tradition and what they do.

“It's exciting because my brother Howie is in football operations there actually. That's actually more exciting to me than playing my brother (Chicago guard) Kyle because I actually have to play my brother Kyle and that's not very fun. But to be able to see my brother and catch up with him is nice, too.''

INACTIVES

The Rams' inactives today are cornerback Marcus Roberson (ankle), defensive back Lamarcus Joyner (groin), defensive tackle Alex Carrington (thigh), defensive end Ethan Westbrooks and offensive linemen Barrett Jones and Brandon Washington.

The Raiders will be without safety Jonathan Dowling (back), cornerback Neiko Thorpe (hand) and running back Latavius Murray (concussion). Other inactives are quarterback Matt McGloin, wide receiver Demarius Moore, guard Tony Bergstrom and defensive tackle Stacy McGee.

Oakland has placed cornerback Carlos Rogers and tight end David Ausberry on injured reserve, with running back George Atkinson III and defensive tackle Ricky Lumpkin promoted from the practice squad.

Murray, a second-year player from the University of Central Florida, was enjoying a huge game against the Chiefs _ 112 yards on four carries with 11- and 90-yard touchdowns _ when a helmet-to-helmet hit in the second quarter ended his night.
 

RamBill

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Rare laugher: Rams clobber Raiders 52-0
• By Jim Thomas

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_4e10dd93-c43a-5348-a188-e4f762d47d97.html

The only bad thing about Sunday's 52-0 smashing of Oakland? It only counts as one victory. For the first time all season, the Rams enjoyed a laugher _ a laugher of near epic proportions.

Scoring on their first six possessions Sunday at the Edward Jones Dome, the Rams led 38-0 at halftime and then coasted to victory before a crowd announced at 55,650. The Rams had over 300 yards of offense by intermission, not to mention a 100-yard receiver (Stedman Bailey) and a 100-yard rusher (Tre Mason).

Before all was said and done, Mason had three touchdowns, quarterback Shaun Hill had thrown two TD passes, and the Rams had boosted their record to 5-7 on the season.

And let's not forget the defense which produced four turnovers, including a pair of interceptions by Trumaine Johnson _ the second of which he returned 43 yards for the Rams' final touchdown of the day.

The shutout was the team's first since Dec. 17, 2006, at 20-0 victory at _ who else _ Oakland, in Scott Linehan's first season as Rams head coach.

And the margin of victory was the most for a Rams team since the 1976 squad blanked Atlanta 59-0 on Dec. 4 of that year.

No ifs, ands, or buts, it was the most amazing first half seen in St. Louis since the Rams moved here in 1995. Yes, it came against the lowly Raiders (1-11), but it was a Raiders team coming off a 24-20 upset of Kansas City their last time out. And a Raiders team that had lost five games by seven points or fewer.

Save for a kneel-down on the final play of the first half, the Rams scored on every possession in the opening half. The first five were touchdowns, two by Mason, and one apiece by Hill, Tavon Austin, and Cory Harkey. On the Rams' sixth possession, they settled for a Greg Zuerlein field goal and ultimately a 38-0 halftime lead.

The 38 points tied for the second most points scored in the first half in franchise history. The Rams scored 38 points in the first half vs. Green Bay in 1989, and scored a record 44 points in the first half against the Packers in 1980.

Before the end of the first quarter, Bailey had exactly 100 yards receiving on five catches. The Rams came out testing the Oakland perimeter, with Hill throwing tons of bubble screens with some occasional outside runs mixed in as well.

The Rams' first nine offensive plays were passes, with Hill completing eight of them. The day's first score came on a screen pass that Mason took 35 yards for a score.

The second score came on a two-yard rollout by Hill. With tight end Lance Kendricks knocked off his route by an Oakland defender, Hill just kept running to his right and scored only the fourth rushing TD of his 13-year career and his first since 2008.

After the third 3-and-out in as many possessions for the Oakland offense, Austin scored his second TD in as many weeks, dashing around left end on a jet sweep for an 18-yard score and a 21-0 lead with 2:37 still remaining in the opening quarter.

That 21-point outburst meant the Rams had outscored their opponents 86-32 in the first quarter this season.

Mason began the second quarter in scintillating fashion, racing 89 yards off left guard for the day's fourth touchdown. Getting downfield blocks from Harkey and Austin, Mason's run was the second-longest from scrimmage in franchise history. The record was a 92-yard run by Kenny Washington in 1947 against the Chicago Cardinals.

The run also put Mason above 100 yards rushing for the second time in three weeks.

A pair of interceptions thrown by Oakland rookie QB Derek Carr helped the Rams tack on 10 more points before the end of the half.

Missouri rookie E.J. Gaines grabbed a floater from Carr, who had Rams defensive tackle Michael Brockers draped all over him when he threw. It was Gaines' second interception as a pro, with the Rams taking over at the Oakland 23. Four plays later, it was 35-0 Rams after a four-yard TD pass from Hill to Harkey.

The Zuerlein field goal came after Johnson's second interception in five games this year. Johnson's 22-yard return set up the Rams at the Oakland 13.

After a scoreless third quarter, the Rams tacked on yet another TD to start the fourth quarter. A 28-yard pass interference penalty against Oakland corner T.J. Carrie, who was trying to cover Kenny Britt, put the Rams in scoring position at the Raiders 10.

After a two-yard carry by Zac Stacy. Mason then came up with the hat trick, scoring on an eight-yard run to give St. Louis a 45-0 lead with 12:47 to play in the fourth quarter.