- Joined
- Jul 31, 2010
- Messages
- 8,874
Early preview: Rams vs. Lions
December 08, 2015 12:55 am •
By Joe Lyons
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_c68361eb-c536-5ffb-9162-cc424ac09108.html
COMING THIS WEEK
The Rams (4-8) will try to snap a five-game losing streak when they host fellow underachiever Detroit (4-8) in a noon game Sunday at the Edward Jones Dome. The Lions, who finished 11-5 and reached the playoffs a year ago, started this season 0-5 and 1-7. After three straight wins, they fell 27-23 to visiting Green Bay on Thursday on a 61-yard pass from Aaron Rodgers to Richard Rodgers on an untimed play to end the game.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Defensive end Ezekiel Ansah. Born and raised in Ghana, ‘Ziggy’ was cut twice by the Brigham Young basketball team and was with the Cougars’ track team before being persuaded to give football a try. Five years later, he’s one of the most disruptive young players in the NFL. At 6 feet 5 and 278 pounds, he possesses a mix of power and speed that few in the league can match. Selected fifth overall by the Lions in the 2013 draft, the 26-year-old Ansah has 12½ sacks this season — only Houston’s J.J. Watt (13½) has more — and he’s tied for the league lead with four forced fumbles.
HE SAID IT
“Hindsight’s 20-20,’’ Lions head coach Jim Caldwell said after the Packers rallied from a 20-0 third-quarter deficit to win in Detroit on Thursday.
Questioned about the defensive strategy on the game’s last play, Caldwell explained that he was expecting a lateral play instead of the desperation pass. On the play, the Lions rushed three, had Ansah, their best pass rusher, positioned near the 40-yard line and failed to employ 6-foot-5 receiver Calvin Johnson as a defensive back, something he’s done in the past.
“We had plenty of guys back there,’’ the coach said. “We just didn’t make the play. They did.’’
INJURIES
The Rams came out of Sunday’s 27-3 loss to the Cardinals with cornerback Janoris Jenkins and tight end Lance Kendricks in the league’s concussion protocol. In addition, safety T.J. McDonald hurt his shoulder and kicker Zach Hocker injured his quad in pregame. And then there’s defensive end Robert Quinn (back), cornerback Trumaine Johnson (thigh) and kicker Greg Zuerlein (right hip), who were unable to play on Sunday.
The Lions appeared to come out of Thursday’s gut-wrenching loss to the Packers without any significant injuries. They did play that night without starting center Travis Swanson and veteran receiver Lance Moore because of ankle injuries.
SERIES HISTORY
The Rams hold a 42-40-1 edge in a series that began in Cleveland in 1937. Since the move to St. Louis in 1995, the teams have met seven times, but just once — a 41-33 Rams win in 2006 — in St. Louis. The Lions are 4-3 against the Rams since 1995 and have won the last two, 44-6 in 2010 and 27-24 in 2012. In the 2012 season opener, the Lions’ Matthew Stafford shook off three first-half interceptions to throw the game-winning TD pass with 15 seconds to play.
Joe Lyons
December 08, 2015 12:55 am •
By Joe Lyons
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_c68361eb-c536-5ffb-9162-cc424ac09108.html
COMING THIS WEEK
The Rams (4-8) will try to snap a five-game losing streak when they host fellow underachiever Detroit (4-8) in a noon game Sunday at the Edward Jones Dome. The Lions, who finished 11-5 and reached the playoffs a year ago, started this season 0-5 and 1-7. After three straight wins, they fell 27-23 to visiting Green Bay on Thursday on a 61-yard pass from Aaron Rodgers to Richard Rodgers on an untimed play to end the game.
PLAYER TO WATCH
Defensive end Ezekiel Ansah. Born and raised in Ghana, ‘Ziggy’ was cut twice by the Brigham Young basketball team and was with the Cougars’ track team before being persuaded to give football a try. Five years later, he’s one of the most disruptive young players in the NFL. At 6 feet 5 and 278 pounds, he possesses a mix of power and speed that few in the league can match. Selected fifth overall by the Lions in the 2013 draft, the 26-year-old Ansah has 12½ sacks this season — only Houston’s J.J. Watt (13½) has more — and he’s tied for the league lead with four forced fumbles.
HE SAID IT
“Hindsight’s 20-20,’’ Lions head coach Jim Caldwell said after the Packers rallied from a 20-0 third-quarter deficit to win in Detroit on Thursday.
Questioned about the defensive strategy on the game’s last play, Caldwell explained that he was expecting a lateral play instead of the desperation pass. On the play, the Lions rushed three, had Ansah, their best pass rusher, positioned near the 40-yard line and failed to employ 6-foot-5 receiver Calvin Johnson as a defensive back, something he’s done in the past.
“We had plenty of guys back there,’’ the coach said. “We just didn’t make the play. They did.’’
INJURIES
The Rams came out of Sunday’s 27-3 loss to the Cardinals with cornerback Janoris Jenkins and tight end Lance Kendricks in the league’s concussion protocol. In addition, safety T.J. McDonald hurt his shoulder and kicker Zach Hocker injured his quad in pregame. And then there’s defensive end Robert Quinn (back), cornerback Trumaine Johnson (thigh) and kicker Greg Zuerlein (right hip), who were unable to play on Sunday.
The Lions appeared to come out of Thursday’s gut-wrenching loss to the Packers without any significant injuries. They did play that night without starting center Travis Swanson and veteran receiver Lance Moore because of ankle injuries.
SERIES HISTORY
The Rams hold a 42-40-1 edge in a series that began in Cleveland in 1937. Since the move to St. Louis in 1995, the teams have met seven times, but just once — a 41-33 Rams win in 2006 — in St. Louis. The Lions are 4-3 against the Rams since 1995 and have won the last two, 44-6 in 2010 and 27-24 in 2012. In the 2012 season opener, the Lions’ Matthew Stafford shook off three first-half interceptions to throw the game-winning TD pass with 15 seconds to play.
Joe Lyons
