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Rapid Reaction: St. Louis Rams
By Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/13232/rapid-reaction-st-louis-rams-20
SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- A few thoughts on the St. Louis Rams' 13-10 win against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday:
What it means: Trying to figure out this Rams team has become an exercise in futility. With the deck seemingly stacked against them entering this game, they rallied and played like the hard-nosed, defense-first team that everyone thought they'd be entering the season. The flip side was an offense that was also what many expected entering the season. Which is to say, futile. But the Rams' defense came through when it mattered most, recovering a Colin Kaepernick fumble with two seconds left at their own goal line to steal the win. A season that looked to be slipping away now holds at least a little glimmer of hope for the 3-5 Rams.
Stock watch: Down -- quarterback Austin Davis. Davis has rarely been the crux of the Rams' offensive problems this season but this was, by far, his worst start. He threw two terrible interceptions in the first half and missed a wide-open tight end Lance Kendricks in the fourth quarter with a chance to put the game away. Davis has been far from perfect this season but this was obviously not his day. He finished 13-of-24 for 105 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions for a passer rating of 44.6.
Safety situation: Near the end of the first half, Niners kicker Phil Dawson attempted a 55-yard field goal which he left short. Rams receiver Tavon Austin was stationed in the end zone and caught it with an apparent opportunity for a return. But Austin, as he's done often this season, hesitated and barely made it out of the end zone before being tackled at the goal line. A review gave Austin the benefit of the doubt and the Rams dodged a bullet that would have made it 12-10 at the half. Call it a makeup call for the forward progress ruling that nullified a possible fumble return for a touchdown by Rams linebacker James Laurinaitis.
Game ball: The Rams' pass rush -- The idea of a hashtag referring to the Rams as #SackCity has been something of an on-going joke this season, including in this space. But the group that many expected to see showed up in a big way Sunday afternoon. The Rams, who entered the game with six sacks on the season, finished with eight sacks, including consistent pressure from ends Robert Quinn and William Hayes and tackle Aaron Donald. They even got home on some blitzes, including a sack for Laurinaitis.
What's next: The Rams finish their three-game road stretch with a trip to NFC West division leading Arizona followed by a home game against the Denver Broncos.
By Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/13232/rapid-reaction-st-louis-rams-20
SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- A few thoughts on the St. Louis Rams' 13-10 win against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday:
What it means: Trying to figure out this Rams team has become an exercise in futility. With the deck seemingly stacked against them entering this game, they rallied and played like the hard-nosed, defense-first team that everyone thought they'd be entering the season. The flip side was an offense that was also what many expected entering the season. Which is to say, futile. But the Rams' defense came through when it mattered most, recovering a Colin Kaepernick fumble with two seconds left at their own goal line to steal the win. A season that looked to be slipping away now holds at least a little glimmer of hope for the 3-5 Rams.
Stock watch: Down -- quarterback Austin Davis. Davis has rarely been the crux of the Rams' offensive problems this season but this was, by far, his worst start. He threw two terrible interceptions in the first half and missed a wide-open tight end Lance Kendricks in the fourth quarter with a chance to put the game away. Davis has been far from perfect this season but this was obviously not his day. He finished 13-of-24 for 105 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions for a passer rating of 44.6.
Safety situation: Near the end of the first half, Niners kicker Phil Dawson attempted a 55-yard field goal which he left short. Rams receiver Tavon Austin was stationed in the end zone and caught it with an apparent opportunity for a return. But Austin, as he's done often this season, hesitated and barely made it out of the end zone before being tackled at the goal line. A review gave Austin the benefit of the doubt and the Rams dodged a bullet that would have made it 12-10 at the half. Call it a makeup call for the forward progress ruling that nullified a possible fumble return for a touchdown by Rams linebacker James Laurinaitis.
Game ball: The Rams' pass rush -- The idea of a hashtag referring to the Rams as #SackCity has been something of an on-going joke this season, including in this space. But the group that many expected to see showed up in a big way Sunday afternoon. The Rams, who entered the game with six sacks on the season, finished with eight sacks, including consistent pressure from ends Robert Quinn and William Hayes and tackle Aaron Donald. They even got home on some blitzes, including a sack for Laurinaitis.
What's next: The Rams finish their three-game road stretch with a trip to NFC West division leading Arizona followed by a home game against the Denver Broncos.