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GLENDALE, Ariz. >> The Rams followed a familiar pattern Sunday, as the defense came with a number of impressive stops and the offense, well, hoped for something good. Finally, it arrived.
Given a handful of chances to win a closer-than-expected game, the Rams got a big fourth-quarter punt return from Tavon Austin, then followed it up with a touchdown pass from Case Keenum to Brian Quick and the Rams held on for a 17-13 victory over the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium.
Austin’s 47-yard punt return gave the Rams, trailing 13-10, the ball on the Arizona 19-yard line, and the Rams scored five plays later when Keenum connected with Quick on a 4-yard touchdown with 2:36 remaining.
Arizona had another chance, but without quarterback Carson Palmer, who had to leave the game in the fourth quarterback as he underwent evaluation for a concussion.
Drew Stanton took over at quarterback, but Rams linebacker Mark Barron came up with a game-clinching interception with 1:27 remaining.
The teams came out of halftime tied 10-10, and the third quarter was a near stalemate, at least until the Cardinals got a 21-yard field goal on its final play and took a 13-10 lead that held up as the winning score.
Each team forced and recovered a fumble in the third quarter, and the Rams held on even though the Cardinals moved the ball with increasing ease. Palmer did a good job of getting rid of the ball early, to help neutralize the Rams’ pass rush.
Palmer completed 23 of 36 attempts for 288 yards, and the Cardinals got enough from the running-back combination of David Johnson (83 yards) and Chris Johnson (34) to create some balance.
The Rams had none, and it seemed to influence their play-calling at an important time.
Once again, the Rams could not get star running back Todd Gurley going. Gurley rushed for 33 yards on 19 carries, and early in the fourth quarter, with the score 13-10, the Rams faced a third-and-1 play at the Arizona 35.
Instead of handing the ball to Gurley, who finished with the third-most yards in the NFL last season, the Rams threw it to him out of the backfield, and the Cardinals swarmed Gurley for a four-yard loss.
On the next play, a fourth-and-5 call from the Arizona 39, Keenum attempted a deep throw to receiver Brian Quick, but the ball was deflected away by Arizona’s Patrick Peterson.
The Rams’ defense followed with another big play, when Dominique Easley hit Johnson and forced a fumble that was recovered by Rams linebacker Josh Forrest at the Rams’ 41.
Once again, though, the Rams couldn’t convert. On third and 3 from the Arizona 39, the Rams once again attempted to pass instead of run. Keenum did an incredible job of avoiding a sack three or four times and found tight end Lance Kendricks for a first down, but the play was negated when offensive lineman Greg Robinson was penalized for being downfield.
The Rams had to punt with 8:26 remaining in the fourth quarter, but the defense gave the offense yet another chance when it sacked Palmer to force a punt. That set up Austin’s big return and Keenum’s touchdown pass.
Keenum finished 18 of 30 for 266 yards.
The Rams’ first half could be summed up as, two big plays and too many little ones.
After the Rams three and out on their first possession, they struck big on their second attempt. On third and 7 from the Rams’ 35, Keenum threw deep toward Quick. One Arizona defensive back attempted to play the ball and another slipped, and Quick completed a 65-yard touchdown.
On their next possession, the Cardinals drove into the red zone but had to settle for a 25-yard field goal by Chandler Catanzaro, which cut the Rams’ lead to 7-3 early in the second quarter.
The Rams returned the favor on their next possession, as they drove to the Arizona 11 but got only a 29-yard field goal by Greg Zuerlein, which moved their lead up to 10-3.
The teams traded punts before the Rams made their second big play of the half. Arizona had the ball at the Rams’ 33 and went for the endzone, but Rams cornerback Trumaine Johnson was perfect in coverage and intercepted Palmer’s attempt in the endzone.
Finally, the Cardinals broke through. After forcing a Rams three-and-out punt, the Cardinals marched 80 yards in only 1 minute, 24 seconds, and tied the game 10-10 on Palmer’s 5-yard pass to Michael Floyd with 24 seconds remaining in the first half.
The Rams got only 17 yards from Gurley in the first half (on eight carries) and only five first downs.
-- [www.dailynews.com]
Given a handful of chances to win a closer-than-expected game, the Rams got a big fourth-quarter punt return from Tavon Austin, then followed it up with a touchdown pass from Case Keenum to Brian Quick and the Rams held on for a 17-13 victory over the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium.
Austin’s 47-yard punt return gave the Rams, trailing 13-10, the ball on the Arizona 19-yard line, and the Rams scored five plays later when Keenum connected with Quick on a 4-yard touchdown with 2:36 remaining.
Arizona had another chance, but without quarterback Carson Palmer, who had to leave the game in the fourth quarterback as he underwent evaluation for a concussion.
Drew Stanton took over at quarterback, but Rams linebacker Mark Barron came up with a game-clinching interception with 1:27 remaining.
The teams came out of halftime tied 10-10, and the third quarter was a near stalemate, at least until the Cardinals got a 21-yard field goal on its final play and took a 13-10 lead that held up as the winning score.
Each team forced and recovered a fumble in the third quarter, and the Rams held on even though the Cardinals moved the ball with increasing ease. Palmer did a good job of getting rid of the ball early, to help neutralize the Rams’ pass rush.
Palmer completed 23 of 36 attempts for 288 yards, and the Cardinals got enough from the running-back combination of David Johnson (83 yards) and Chris Johnson (34) to create some balance.
The Rams had none, and it seemed to influence their play-calling at an important time.
Once again, the Rams could not get star running back Todd Gurley going. Gurley rushed for 33 yards on 19 carries, and early in the fourth quarter, with the score 13-10, the Rams faced a third-and-1 play at the Arizona 35.
Instead of handing the ball to Gurley, who finished with the third-most yards in the NFL last season, the Rams threw it to him out of the backfield, and the Cardinals swarmed Gurley for a four-yard loss.
On the next play, a fourth-and-5 call from the Arizona 39, Keenum attempted a deep throw to receiver Brian Quick, but the ball was deflected away by Arizona’s Patrick Peterson.
The Rams’ defense followed with another big play, when Dominique Easley hit Johnson and forced a fumble that was recovered by Rams linebacker Josh Forrest at the Rams’ 41.
Once again, though, the Rams couldn’t convert. On third and 3 from the Arizona 39, the Rams once again attempted to pass instead of run. Keenum did an incredible job of avoiding a sack three or four times and found tight end Lance Kendricks for a first down, but the play was negated when offensive lineman Greg Robinson was penalized for being downfield.
The Rams had to punt with 8:26 remaining in the fourth quarter, but the defense gave the offense yet another chance when it sacked Palmer to force a punt. That set up Austin’s big return and Keenum’s touchdown pass.
Keenum finished 18 of 30 for 266 yards.
The Rams’ first half could be summed up as, two big plays and too many little ones.
After the Rams three and out on their first possession, they struck big on their second attempt. On third and 7 from the Rams’ 35, Keenum threw deep toward Quick. One Arizona defensive back attempted to play the ball and another slipped, and Quick completed a 65-yard touchdown.
On their next possession, the Cardinals drove into the red zone but had to settle for a 25-yard field goal by Chandler Catanzaro, which cut the Rams’ lead to 7-3 early in the second quarter.
The Rams returned the favor on their next possession, as they drove to the Arizona 11 but got only a 29-yard field goal by Greg Zuerlein, which moved their lead up to 10-3.
The teams traded punts before the Rams made their second big play of the half. Arizona had the ball at the Rams’ 33 and went for the endzone, but Rams cornerback Trumaine Johnson was perfect in coverage and intercepted Palmer’s attempt in the endzone.
Finally, the Cardinals broke through. After forcing a Rams three-and-out punt, the Cardinals marched 80 yards in only 1 minute, 24 seconds, and tied the game 10-10 on Palmer’s 5-yard pass to Michael Floyd with 24 seconds remaining in the first half.
The Rams got only 17 yards from Gurley in the first half (on eight carries) and only five first downs.
-- [www.dailynews.com]
