Rams-Vikings Post Game Media Coverage

[RamBill]

Rams Fall to Vikings in Overtime
By Myles Simmons

View: http://www.stlouisrams.com/news-and-events/article-1/Rams-Fall-to-Vikings-in-Overtime/bd8880a2-a32b-4bfe-9094-e870152fb3d3


MINNEAPOLIS -- It was a back-and-forth contest between two strong defensive teams, but St. Louis couldn’t come out on top, falling to Minnesota 21-18 in overtime on Sunday afternoon at TCF Bank Stadium.

Starting their first drive in St. Louis territory after a short punt placed them at the 47, the Vikings were able to get on the board first with a 34-yard field goal. After another Rams punt, Minnesota made quick work of getting down the field to get on the board once again. Aided by a few St. Louis penalties, the Vikings drove 80 yards in six plays, finishing the possession on a 6-yard Adrian Peterson touchdown run.


With the Vikings up 10-0, the Rams offense got going. On 3rd-and-5 from the St. Louis 39, quarterback Nick Foles fired a deep pass down the middle. Wideout Kenny Britt was covered, but made the contested catch at the 6-yard line before being tackled there.

St. Louis got a touchdown out of the drive after two Todd Gurley runs. The running back took the first handoff up the middle, churning his legs to drive a pile down to the 1-yard line. Then Gurley pounded it in from a yard out, at first going airborne but then breaking the plane on the second effort. St. Louis went for a two-point conversion, but Gurley was stuffed before reaching the goal line, keeping the score at 10-6.

The visitors further cut into the lead when Greg Zuerlein set a new franchise record for longest field goal. Facing 4th-and-13 at the Vikings’ 43, head coach Jeff Fisher elected to send out Zuerlein for the 61-yard attempt, and the kicker nailed it with the wind at his back.

Later in the second quarter, Zuerlein hit a 35-yard field goal to give the Rams a 12-10 lead. And he’d increase it as time expired in the half.


St. Louis got the ball back on its own 15-yard line with 1:45 left in the period, and had a nice drive to finish out the half.

The Rams used a couple end arounds to Tavon Austin to get down the field quickly. The first came at the start of the drive, as Foles faked a handoff to Gurley and then turned around to hand it off to Austin for 13 yards. A play later, nearly the same thing happened, but this time Austin was able to break a couple tackles for a 22-yard run.

After a timeout with 1:13 left, Foles faked a handoff and the end around, then found tight end Lance Kendricks over the middle for a 20-yard gain to get into Greg Zuerlein’s field goal range.

The kicker nailed his 45-yard attempt as time expired at the end of the half to give St. Louis a 15-10 lead.

The game continued to trend the Rams’ way early in the third quarter, when Trumaine Johnson fought off an offensive pass interference penalty from Stefon Diggs to make his third interception of the season. Johnson caught the ball in the end zone and was downed for a touchback. The turnover did not net the Rams any points, however, as the offense went three-and-out.


Minnesota ended the Rams’ string of 15 straight points when it drove 60 yards in six plays for a touchdown. Teddy Bridgewater found Diggs for a 30-yard pass to get the Vikings into St. Louis territory. And once in the red zone, Bridgewater found a lane up the middle on 3rd-and-2 from the St. Louis 6-yard line, taking the ball in for six. The signal-caller then scrambled to the front right corner of the end zone to complete the two-point conversion, giving Minnesota a 18-15 lead.

The Rams had a chance to tie the game late in the fourth quarter with 1:45 left, but Zuerlein’s 48-yard field goal attempt was wide right. St. Louis, however, got the ball back with 1:27 on the clock and no timeouts after a strong defensive stand.

Foles threw to Britt on the first two plays of the drive, with the first netting a 9-yard completion, and the second a 17-yard defensive pass interference penalty. While a holding penalty on the Rams moved the ball back, a Foles pass to tight end Jared Cook got the ball back to where it was.


Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer tried to “ice” Zuerlein before his 53-yard attempt, but the tactic was for naught. The kicker split the uprights after the timeout, tying the game at 18. After the kickoff, the Vikings took a knee to send the game into overtime.

The Rams could not take advantage of having the ball first in overtime, going three-and-out. While Johnny Hekker got off a good punt into the wind, returner Marcus Sherels had a better return, going 26 yards to place the ball at the Minnesota 49.

A short drive got Minnesota to the Rams’ 22, and Blair Walsh hit a 40-yard field goal attempt to end the game.

With the loss, the Rams fall back to .500 at 4-4 on the season.

 

[RamBill]

Kenny Britt up, D-line and Jeff Fisher down in Rams' loss
By Nick Wagoner

http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-ra...-defensive-line-jeff-fisher-down-in-rams-loss

MINNEAPOLIS -- A look at St. Louis Rams players who were “up” and those who were “down” in Sunday's 21-18 loss against the Minnesota Vikings:

UP

Tavon Austin: Austin had an important miscue in the second half when he dropped a deep ball that could have gone for a big gain, though it was underthrown. But he also was one of only two guys keeping the Rams in it in the first half. He finished with eight carries for 66 yards and four catches for 15 more yards, one of the few consistent sources of production for the offense.

Kenny Britt: The other player who was able to produce, he finished with three catches for 87 yards, including a 55-yard grab to jump-start the offense in the second half. Britt was also wide open on the game's first offensive play but his quarterback didn't throw it to him. The Rams need more from all of their receivers, but at least Austin and Britt showed up against the Vikings.

DOWN

Nick Foles: It should tell you all you need to know about what Minnesota thinks of Foles' ability to win a game that they took the wind instead of the ball to open overtime. Likewise, the Rams had no intention of throwing the ball down the field until third down of their lone overtime possession, and by then it was third-and-16. Foles also didn't let it fly to Britt on the game's first play for a potential touchdown. He didn't turn it over, which is a positive, but he mostly struggled to offer the Rams some much-needed offensive variety to help open things up for running back Todd Gurley.

The defensive line: Even without starting ends Chris Long and Robert Quinn, the Rams line has the depth to make a difference but was mostly quiet for the day. They struggled to generate pressure and didn't get to Teddy Bridgewater for a sack before he left with an injury. Worse, they were the main culprits of another penalty-plagued game. The Rams had 12 penalties for 87 yards, including five neutral-zone infractions on their front four.

Jeff Fisher: After the game, Fisher said he went for an early two-point conversion because "we were going to need as many scoring opportunities as we possibly can. Also, it’s indicative of how the wind was." Well, the conversion failed and the Rams lost the game in overtime, but the explanation also didn't make much sense considering that points were at a premium and kicker Greg Zuerlein said afterward that he felt comfortable kicking into the wind from 45 to 48 yards during warm-ups. Combine decisions like that with the penalty issue that perpetually plagues Fisher's teams, and he lands here.

 

[RamBill]

Vikings boot Rams 21-18 in overtime
• By Jim Thomas

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_63877e9d-fc9e-52c6-8faf-853beb52ad72.html

MINNEAPOLIS • This was the chance for the Rams to make a statement. Show that they were capable of stacking wins together. Show they were a maturing, improving team by winning a key November game on the road against a good opponent.

"I'm not into making statements," coach Jeff Fisher said afterwards. "I'm just into winning games."

Alas, the Rams did neither Sunday at TCF Bank Stadium. They had several chances to pull out a victory that would've put them at 5-3 — or two games above .500 in November for the first time since 2003.

Instead, they fell to 4-4, losing 21-18 to Minnesota on Blair Walsh's 40-yard field goal with 9 minutes 20 seconds left in overtime.

There was controversy when a sliding Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater was knocked out of the game with a concussion after taking a forearm to the head by Rams nickel back Lamarcus Joyner, who was sliding to prevent contact.

An upset Vikings coach Mike Zimmer called it a cheap shot.

"I would say if we were out on the street, we probably would have had a fight (in response to the play)," Zimmer said.

Joyner, who was flagged for unnecessary roughness on the play, passionately defended himself afterwards.

"I know that guy," Joyner said. "I grew up across the railroad tracks from him (in Miami). My mom knows his mom. My dad knows his mom. I would never intentionally do a dirty play like that on Teddy Bridgewater."

But speaking of controversy, let the second-guessing begin on a couple of coaching decisions by Fisher.

First and foremost was the decision to go for 2-points after the Rams scored their one and only touchdown late in the first quarter. Running back Todd Gurley was stopped short of the goal line on the 2-point conversion attempt, so the score at that point was 10-6 Minnesota.

"I felt like we were gonna need as many scoring opportunities as we possibly can," Fisher said. "And it was indicative of how the wind was. I liked what we had up, and I let the coaches know after I observed the wind.

"It's a long kick, and (the wind) was pushing the ball around. Whether it worked out or not, I would do it again."

There was a swirling 18 mph wind, and the new extra-point rule means it's a 33-yard kick instead of a 20-yarder. Even so, kicker Greg Zuerlein was making kicks from 45 yards into the wind during pre-game warmup.

Obviously, it's difficult to predict how the game would've played out had the Rams simply kicked the extra point there. But in a game that was tied 18-18 at the end of regulation, it was a point that could've come in handy.

Then came some conservative play-calling late in the fourth quarter. On a day when Minnesota was stacking the box defensively against Gurley and running room was tough to come by, the Rams sent Gurley up the middle on third-and-11 from the Minnesota 34.

He gained four yards, and then with the wind at his back Zuerlein's field goal attempt missed wide right from 48 yards with 1 minute 42 seconds to play.

"Big picture, we felt confident defensively that we could get the ball back and have a chance perhaps to win the game in regulation," Fisher said, when asked why he didn't throw a pass on third down. "And then we missed the kick."

Zuerlein did get another crack, and this time his 53-yard field goal as time expired with the wind at his back sent the game into regulation tied at 18-18.

Minnesota won the coin toss in overtime, but instead of taking the ball decided to take the wind. Fisher said he wasn't expecting that, but it obviously worked out for the Vikings.

Starting overtime at their 20 after the kickoff resulted in a touchback, the Rams lost six yards in three plays. Punter Johnny Hekker knocked the stuffing out of the ball, kicking 63 yards into the wind. But this time, the Rams' normally strong punt coverage team couldn't get Vikings return man Marcus Sherels down until he had tight-roped the right sideline for 26 yards to the Minnesota 49.

(Officials missed an illegal block into the back of Rams coverage man Cory Harkey on the play.)

"It was not easy to punt into the wind, and both teams showed that," Fisher said. "But Johnny hit a great ball, he really hit a tight spiral that pierced the wind. We could've flipped the field and we just didn't get the tackle made."

With Bridgewater out of the game, the Rams knew the Vikings wouldn't pass much with backup and former Ram Shaun Hill replacing him at quarterback. Nonetheless, they couldn't prevent Peterson, who finished with 125 yards on 29 carries, from running the Vikings into field goal range.

Peterson's 11-yard run on third-and-1 from the St. Louis 42 put the Vikings into range. After three more runs gained nine yards, Walsh blasted the 40-yarder through the uprights — with the wind at his back — giving the Vikings (6-2) their fourth consecutive victory.

"I'm disappointed for our guys," Fisher said. "Losses are one thing; to overcome losses are another. You know you have your work cut out coming back off these, so we definitely have our work cut out this week. But I've got a lot of respect and confidence in our guys that we'll bounce right back."

Gurley held under 100 yards for the first time as an NFL starter, finishing with 89 yards on 24 carries and a touchdown. Tavon Austin was effective on the end-around with 66 yards on eight carries. But once again, the Rams couldn't get much going in the passing game, with Nick Foles completing 18 of 33 passes for 168 yards and a 68.8 passer rating.

Zuerlein kicked four field goals, all when he had the wind at his back, including a franchise-record 61-yarder early in the second quarter.

Here are the updates posted during the game by football writer Joe Lyons:

Blair Walsh kicked a 40-yard field goal in overtime to lift the host Minnesota Vikings to a 21-18 victory over the Rams Sunday at the University of Minnesota's TCF Bank Stadium.

It was the second consecutive game-winning kick for Walsh, who has converted his last 15 field-goal tries. A week earlier, he capped a late 10-point rally by the Vikings when he booted a 36-yarder as time expired in a 23-20 win in Chicago.

The Vikings, who lost quarterback Teddy Bridgewater to a head injury on a Lamarcus Joyner hit early in the fourth quarter, have won four in a row and improve to 6-2. The loss snapped a two-game win streak for the Rams (4-4).

St. Louis will host Chicago next Sunday in a noon game at the Edward Jones Dome.

The Rams' Greg Zuerlein, who booted three second-quarter field goals, including a career-best 61-yarder, sent the game to overtime with a 53-yard field goal with 12 seconds left in regulation.

With 1:42 to play, Zuerlein missed on a 48-yarder that sailed wide right.

But the Rams defense stepped up for the three-and-out to force a punt and eventually give Zuerlein another chance.

In overtime, Minnesota won the toss and deferred, making sure its possession would come with the wind at its back. After the Rams failed to move the ball and punted, the Vikings moved 29 yards on seven plays for the win.

On that final drive, Minnesota's Adrian Peterson had runs of 11, 6, 3 and 1 yard. The ninth-year pro finished with 125 yards and a touchdown on 29 carries to pace the Vikings.

Rams rookie running back Todd Gurley gained 89 yards on 24 carries.

BRIDGEWATER OUT; VIKES UP 18-15 WITH A QUARTER TO PLAY

After a big kick return by Minnesota's Cordarrelle Patterson, on the second play from scrimmage to start the second half, the Vikings' Teddy Bridgewater went deep for rookie sensation Stefon Diggs. After a battle for position near the goal line, the Rams' Trumaine Johnson came up with the interception in the end zone. The pick wiped out a pass-interference call on Diggs.

After a penalty on a punt forced a re-kick from the Rams' end zone, the Vikings moved 60 yards on just six plays to regain the lead with 8:39 to play in the third quarter. Minnesota QB Teddy Bridegewater scored the touchdown, scrambling in from 6 yards out. He followed up with a bootleg run around the right side on the two-point play, giving the Vikings an 18-15 lead.

Early in the second half, on a late hit from the Rams' Lamarcus Joyner, Minnesota quarterback Teddy Bridgewater has left the game and is being checked for a possible concussion. Former Rams QB Shaun Hill has taken over.

Hill played in nine games, starting eight, for the Rams a year ago.

ZUERLEIN GIVES RAMS 15-10 HALFTIME LEAD

After spotting the Vikings a 10-0 lead, the Rams scored the game's next 15 points to take a five-point lead to the break.

The Rams cut into the Minnesota lead again early in the second quarter as Greg Zuerlein took advantage of a strong wind to boot a 61-yard field goal to make it 10-9 with 10:55 to play before halftime.

The kick, the seventh-longest in NFL history, was a career-best for Zuerlein. His previous long-range kick, a 60-yarder, came at home against Seattle in 2012, Zuerlein's rookie season.

Later in the half, after a drive 12-play, 57-yard drive featuring a steady diet of Todd Gurley and Tavon Austin reached the Minnsota 17, Zuerlein kicked a 35-yarder that put the Rams up 12-10 with 3:23 left in the first half.

The Rams got the ball back with 1:45 to play before halftime and parlayed runs of 13 and 22 yards from Tavon Austin and a 20-yard pass from Nick Foles to tight end Lance Kendricks into yet another Zuerlein field goal, a 45-yarder as time expired that set the visitors to the break with a 15-10 lead.

Some quick halftime numbers:

• Austin has run five times for 48 yards and has two catches for 11 more. Gurley has 34 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries. Foles has completed 11 of 19 for 131 yards; Kenny Britt has two catches for 78 yards.

On defense, Rodney McLeod leads the way with four tackles.

• For the Vikings, Adrian Peterson has 51 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries. Teddy Bridewater has completed nine of 14 passes for 83 yards. Chad Greenway has been in on 11 tackles for the home side.

After a Rams' three-and-out and a 25-yard punt into a strong wind from Johnny Hekker, the Vikings drove for the game's first score — a 34-yard field goal from Blair Walsh with 10:19 to play in the first quarter. The field goal, the 14th consecutive successful kick for Walsh, capped an eight-play, 30-yard drive.

The Vikings added to their lead on their second drive, marching 80 yards on just six plays and going up 10-0 as Adrian Peterson went untouched on a sweep right for a 6-yard touchdown with 5:24 to play in the opening quarter. The Minnesota drive was aided by a pass-interference call on Janoris Jenkins and offsides calls against Michael Brockers and Nick Fairley.

On the play before the touchdown, Minnesota quarterback Teddy Bridgewater rolled right and hooked up on a 6-yard pass to rookie tight end MyCole Pruitt, a Kirkwood High and SIU Carbondale product. The Vikings drafted Pruitt in the fifth round last spring.

Two plays after a 57-yard bomb from Nick Foles to Kenny Britt, Todd Gurley powered his way into the end zone for a 1-yard touchdown with 1:09 left in the first period. On the try for two, however, Gurley was stuffed by Minnesota safety Harrison Smith.

At the end of the first quarter, Minnesota is up 10-6.

QUINN, McDONALD, HAVENSTEIN ARE INACTIVE

MINNEAPOLIS • The Rams' depth will be sorely tested against Minnesota. Pro Bowl defensive end Robert Quinn (knee), starting strong safety T.J. McDonald (foot), and starting right tackle Rob Havenstein (ankle) all were placed on the Rams' pre-game inactive list Sunday.

None of the three practiced Friday, the Rams' final full-scale practice of the week. Havenstein's absence has resulted in further offensive line shuffling for the Rams. Veteran Garrett Reynolds, who has been starting at left guard since Rodger Saffold's season-ending shoulder injury at Green Bay, will start at right tackle according to the team.

He's no stranger to the position having started there four times last season as a Detroit Lion. Meanwhile, rookie Andrew Donnal comes off the bench to start at left guard. The Rams like Donnal's toughness, selecting him in the fourth round of the 2015 draft out of Iowa. He has appeared in only three games this season, all on special teams and a total of just 15 plays.

On the defensive line, Eugene Sims is expected to start in place of Quinn, who has been bothered by a knee issues for the past three weeks. Sims has been with the Rams since 2010 and is one of the team's longest-tenured players, but this is only his fourth NFL start.

At strong safety, Eureka High product Maurice Alexander is expected to start in place of McDonald.

The other Rams inactives are RB/special teamer Chase Reynolds (thigh), DE Chris Long (knee), QB Sean Mannion, and DT Doug Worthington.

With the personnel shortages at defensive end, undrafted rookie Matt Longacre of Northwest Missouri State — promoted from the practice squad Friday — is on the game-day roster.

Minnesota inactives are QB Taylor Heinicke, LB Eric Kendricks, C Nick Easton, DT Sharrif Floyd, OT Jeremiah Sirles, TE Chase Ford, and DE Justin Trattou.

(Jim Thomas of the Post-Dispatch contributed to this report.)

 

[RamBill]

Mike Zimmer calls out Rams DC Gregg Williams after hit on QB Bridgewater
By Ben Goessling
ESPN.com

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/1...water-cheap-shot-points-finger-gregg-williams

MINNEAPOLIS -- Vikings coach Mike Zimmer did little to hide his feelings about the Rams' defensive style of play Sunday, calling the hit that knocked quarterback Teddy Bridgewater out of the game a cheap shot in his postgame news conference.

Zimmer said the Rams went too far and pointed the finger at defensive coordinator Gregg Williams.

"I agree that it was a cheap shot," Zimmer said on KFAN-FM, adding, "[Gregg Williams'] defenses are all like that."

Bridgewater left the game with a concussion when St. Louis cornerback Lamarcus Joyner hit him in the fourth quarter, and he will have to clear the NFL's concussion protocol to return for next Sunday's game against the Oakland Raiders. Bridgewater appeared to be in good spirits in the locker room after Minnesota's 21-18 win, but he had to be replaced by Shaun Hill. After the Vikings won the game in overtime, Zimmer kept walking as he quickly shook Rams coach Jeff Fisher's hand.

Lamarcus Joyner
Rams cornerback Lamarcus Joyner said it was not his intention to injure Teddy Bridgewater: "I know that guy. I grew up across the railroad tracks from him. My mom knows his mom."

"I didn't have much to say to him," Zimmer said in his postgame news conference. Then, when asked about the response of his players to the hit, the coach said, "If we were out in the street, we probably would've had a fight."

Asked about the postgame handshake, Fisher said, "It was really quick, yeah. We're not out to hurt anybody. It's unfortunate. Teddy is playing really well, and Shaun came in and found a way to win a game for them. But it's just part of the game. I'm disappointed that he went out, and I hope that he returns to play as soon as he can."

Joyner said he did not try to hurt Bridgewater, adding: "I know that guy. I grew up across the railroad tracks from him. My mom knows his mom. My dad knows his mom. I would never intentionally do a dirty play like that on Teddy Bridgewater.

"It was a bam-bam play. He's a taller stature guy compared to me, I did not know he was fixing to slide. When I launched, he slid and we connected. If I could take it back, personally, I will take it back because I'm not a dirty player. I wouldn't want to take joy from his mom or his team. So was it intentional? Not at all. I can't fix the problem with what's going on and how they feel, but how I feel inside is not good."

“
If we were out in the street, we probably would've had a fight.

”- Vikings coach Mike Zimmer on his players' reaction to the Rams' hit on Teddy Bridgewater
A league source told ESPN.com Bridgewater was feeling good after the game, adding the quarterback was out to dinner with people close to him.

On the series before Bridgewater was injured, he also took a low hit from Rams defensive end William Hayes, who was not called for a penalty because Bridgewater was out of the pocket when Hayes hit him.

Williams' name already draws a strong reaction in Minnesota stemming from his role in the New Orleans Saints' "Bountygate" scandal, which peaked in the 2010 NFC Championship Game when Saints players angered the Vikings with a number of low hits on quarterback Brett Favre. The game helped trigger an NFL investigation into the Saints' conduct, and Williams was suspended for the 2012 NFL season.

Asked if the Rams were targeting Bridgewater on Sunday, Zimmer said: "I don't know about that. I do know there is a history there with their defensive coordinator. I'll leave it at that."

 

[raised_fisT]

"I'm not into making statements," coach Jeff Fisher said afterwards. "I'm just into winning games."

LOL. Sure you are, Jeff. You are a .500 coach. Nothing more, nothing less. You opted to play pussy ball and play for the tie instead of going for the win on the road. And came up short. Story of your coaching career, buddy.

 

[Mikey Ram]

"I didn't have much to say to him," Zimmer said in his postgame news conference. Then, when asked about the response of his players to the hit, the coach said, "If we were out in the street, we probably would've had a fig

If Zimmer ws involved he probably would have hidden behind guys players so as not to get his raving ass kicked..Parting shot directed at Harrison...There is no statute of limitations on the hits like the late and cheap shots he put on defenseless players his entire career...What a hypocritcal asshole...

 

[RamBill]

Nick Foles: I Have to Play Better, Keep Growing As A QB

Rams Quarterback Nick Foles talks to media members about Sunday’s overtime loss to the Minnesota Vikings.

Watch Foles Presser

 

[RamBill]

Dani Klupenger’s Postgame Report: Rams at Vikings

Join reporter Dani Klupenger from TCF Bank Stadium for an instant recap of the Rams 21-18 overtime loss to Minnesota.

Watch Dani's Post Game Report

 

[RamBill]

Jeff Fisher: I Have Confidence We’ll Bounce Right Back

Head coach Jeff Fisher discusses Sunday’s 21-18 overtime loss to the Minnesota Vikings.

Watch Fisher's Presser

 

[RamBill]

Mistake-prone Rams can't spring Todd Gurley in loss to Vikings
By Nick Wagoner

http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-ra...ms-cant-spring-todd-gurley-in-loss-to-vikings


MINNEAPOLIS -- The opportunity for a St. Louis Rams renaissance was there. Entering overtime against the Minnesota Vikings, a team without a winning season in more than a decade stared a prime opportunity to get to 5-3 for the first time since 2003 right in the face. But the Rams couldn't get out of their own way to make it happen.

The mistake-prone Rams of years gone by showed up again at TCF Bank Stadium, and the result was a 21-18 loss in an eminently winnable game against a Vikings team that also is trying to enjoy a return to the land of success.

After fighting back to tie the game with a 53-yard field goal that sent it to overtime, the Rams had the ball and a chance to win with the Vikings employing backup quarterback Shaun Hill.

Instead, the Rams, who couldn't get running back Todd Gurley going until it was too late, ran three plays, went backward 6 yards and had to punt. Minnesota promptly moved the ball on the ground with running back Adrian Peterson to set up the winning field goal.

Gurley finished with 24 carries for 89 yards and a touchdown, but against a stacked box for most of the day, there was little room to operate. His 6-yard loss on second down in overtime led to the Rams' punting from the shadow of their end zone.

Ultimately, the offense couldn't do enough without Gurley carrying the freight, and the Rams came up short in a game that could have sent a resounding message about their place in the playoff picture.

What it means: At 4-4, the Rams are right on pace for yet another mediocre season under coach Jeff Fisher. Yes, the schedule is light again for the next couple of weeks, but this was a chance to make a statement that it's time to take the Rams seriously in the NFC.

What were they thinking? On third-and-10 from the Vikings' 34, the Rams called for a run, clearly settling for a long field goal attempt. Even kicking with the wind, it was too conservative a call to put kicker Greg Zuerlein, who has struggled outdoors, in position to try to tie it from 48 yards. Zuerlein still should have made that kick, but offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti did him no favors on the third-down call.

One reason to panic: You'd think at some point, just based on the law of averages, the Rams would stop being a penalty machine. But it's what Fisher-coached teams do and it continues to come at a great cost. The Rams had multiple infractions that cost them field position and first downs. They finished with 12 penalties for 87 yards. If this team wants to show it has grown up, it has to cut down on the silly mistakes.

Ouch: The Rams didn't have any major injury issues during the game, at least none that were evident as it was going on, but they were without some key pieces. End Robert Quinn (knee), safety T.J. McDonald (foot), right tackle Rob Havenstein (ankle) and end Chris Long (knee) did not play after missing most of the practice week.

What's next: The Rams head back to the Edward Jones Dome to face the Chicago Bears next Sunday.

 

[RamBill]

Rams are blown off course at Minnesota
• By Jim Thomas

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_663fee54-8bd2-5009-8044-8dbaf7942c78.html

MINNEAPOLIS • It was all there for the taking Sunday, and on more than one occasion.

A chance to win three games in a row for the first time since 2012.

A chance to move into a wild-card spot in terms of playoff seeding.

A chance to go two games above .500 in November for the first time since 2003.

And a chance to make a statement that this was a maturing, improving team that could win a high-stakes game against a good opponent on the road.

No such luck. When Minnesota kicker Blair Walsh blasted a 40-yard field goal through the uprights with 9 minutes, 20 seconds left in overtime, those Rams victory hopes were gone with the wind.

Winds that gusted up to 26 mph at TCF Stadium, and some decisions made as a result of that wind, had a lot to say with the result — a 21-18 loss that evened the Rams’ record at 4-4.

It played into coach Jeff Fisher’s decision to go for a 2-point conversion on the Rams’ one and only touchdown. It’s a decision rightfully second-guessed since it was unsuccessful — and came on a day when a conventional extra point might have given the Rams a 19-18 victory in regulation.

Fisher cited strategy and weather conditions in defending the decision, which came late in the opening quarter with the Rams down 10-6.

“I felt like we were gonna need as many scoring opportunities as we possibly can,” Fisher said. “And it was indicative of how the wind was. I liked what we had up, and I let the coaches know after I observed the wind.

“It’s a long kick, and it was pushing the ball around. Whether it worked out or not, I would do it again.”

Under the new extra-point rule, the conventional PAT isn’t such a gimme — it’s the equivalent of a 33-yard field goal. And the wind was a factor. There wasn’t one field goal or extra point attempted into the wind Sunday.

In fact, with the exception of Todd Gurley’s 1-yard touchdown run, all of the day’s scoring came on the other end of the field — the end of the field where kickers and quarterbacks had the wind to their backs.

“It was very strong, as you could see,” kicker Greg Zuerlein said. “I don’t think even the offenses were doing a whole lot going into the wind. We scored that one touchdown, which was good for us, but it just seemed that going that way (into the wind), not a whole lot was getting done unless you were running the ball.”

Even so, Zuerlein was kicking field goals into the wind from 45 yards out during pregame warm-ups. In addition, the Rams had tried only one 2-pointer previously all season — converting on a Nick Foles-to-Jared Cook pass last week against San Francisco. It’s not like it’s something they do all the time.

So was Zuerlein surprised when he wasn’t called out to kick following Gurley’s TD run with 1:09 left in the first quarter?

“No,” he replied. “I’m never surprised by anything Coach Fisher does. It’s his call, and so I just go with it, and I’m happy to do whatever he tells me to do. I just do it.”

Zuerlein ended up making four of five field goal attempts at the other end of the field — with the wind at his back. Among them was a franchise record 61-yarder early in the second quarter, and a 53-yarder with 12 seconds left to send the game into overtime tied 18-18.

Minnesota, now 6-2, won the coin toss in overtime, and Vikings coach Mike Zimmer decided to take the wind, which meant the Rams had the ball first. After a 3-and-out to start overtime, Johnny Hekker launched a 63-yard punt into the wind — an amazing boot on a day when three punts in that direction by Hekker and Minnesota counterpart Jeff Locke traveled 29 yards or less.

But Vikings return man Marcus Sherels, one of the league’s best punt returners, managed to tightrope the right sideline for 26 yards to the Minnesota 49.

“I was hoping it would get over his head and get down before he had a chance to run it down,” Hekker said. “But (the ball) swung back around to the middle, and you saw what he did with it.

“We had him pinned up against the sideline really well, and he’s a dangerous returner. You never count those guys down until they’re knocked out of bounds or on the ground, and the refs blow it dead. We were a couple inches away here and there from flipping the field really big-time for our team.”

Referee Ronald Torbert’s crew missed an obvious block into the back of Rams coverage man Cory Harkey near the end of the return, but it was that kind of day for the Rams.

With Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater knocked out of the game with a concussion early in the fourth quarter on a controversial sliding hit by nickel back Lamarcus Joyner, the Rams knew Minnesota would rely heavily on the running game down the stretch.

Even so, they couldn’t prevent Adrian Peterson from running the Vikings into field goal range in overtime. An 11-yard run on third-and-11 from the St. Louis 42 all but sealed the Rams’ fate. Three more running plays got Minnesota 9 yards closer before Walsh’s game-winner.

“It definitely hurts,” Gurley said. “It’s an NFC game. We definitely wanted it. It would’ve put us at three (wins) in a row. It would’ve had us a little hot streak going. But like I said, we didn’t finish. So on to next week.”

With Minnesota stacking the box with extra defenders, Gurley was held under 100 yards rushing for the first time in five NFL starts. He had 89 yards on 24 carries, with Peterson getting the better of the matchup with 125 yards and a touchdown on 29 carries.

As such, Peterson was only the second ballcarrier to gain 100 yards or more rushing against the Rams this season; Washington’s Matt Jones was the other, with 123 yards in Game 2.

“To lose it that way is rough,” linebacker James Laurinaitis said. “It would’ve put us in really good shape. We’ve gotta learn from it in the next 24 hours and really just move on.”

 

[RamBill]

Hochman: Foles looks like weak link
• By Benjamin Hochman

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/colu...cle_0fa0b530-9fb1-5fbd-b790-4a2e2a898f11.html

MINNEAPOLIS • The truth was in the dare.

“I was telling the boys — ‘Are they serious, do they really want to give us the ball?’” recalled Rams receiver Kenny Britt, in what surely sounded like loquacious squawking.

But they were serious — the Vikings dared Nick Foles to try to beat them with a touchdown ... and Nick Foles responded like Nick Foles.

Yup, the Rams signed a guy to be a franchise quarterback, and Rams opponents want him to have the ball in overtime.

Even an overtime win Sunday wouldn’t have masked the overall issue — Foles is flimsy and fallible, and the Rams’ offense has been reduced to surviving with him at the helm.

“I put a lot on myself, and I just have to keep playing better and growing as a quarterback,” he said after going three-and-out in overtime, as his Rams then lost, 21-18, on an ensuing field goal. “We have to get touchdowns, especially on the road. We have to get touchdowns and get in the red zone.”

Ugh, it’s hard to hear that the franchise quarterback, who’s paid as such, needs to continue to grow. But on Sunday, the Rams entered their biggest game since 2006 — they were in the playoff picture, but it appeared they didn’t have a playoff quarterback.

Maybe it’s on the receivers, too. And the offensive line. But Foles infuriates with ill-timed passes and floppy floaters toward St. Paul. From the very first play of the game, when the quarterback missed a preposterously wide-open Britt, Foles didn’t seem all there.

And later, it appeared that even coach Jeff Fisher lacked confidence in Foles.

Down 18-15 late in the fourth, Todd Gurley galloped down field, unleashing a trio of tributes, if you will, to the angry rushing style of Adrian Peterson. The Rams were barely within field goal range. After two more run plays, they faced a third-and-11 play, but Fisher had Foles hand it off to Gurley, setting up a field goal attempt. Somewhere, even Donald Trump was thinking: Man, now that’s conservative.

Of the third-down call, Fisher said: “Big picture, we felt fairly confident that defensively we’d get the ball back and have a chance to win in regulation. And then we missed the kick.”

Greg Zuerlein redeemed himself with a field goal in the final ticks, sending it to overtime.

But then came the game-changing coin toss.

Now, heading into Sunday’s game, the mind wandered.

If the Rams win, they’re 5-3. ...

And five of their final eight games are against teams with losing records. ...

Could the Rams make the playoffs? ...

Could the Rams, just so dominant since the Gurley emergence, actually go to the Super Bowl? All you have to do is get in the tournament. ...

Could the NFL owners then have the audacity to allow a Super Bowl team to move to another city?

OK, OK, let’s reel it back in.

The Rams are now 4-4.

And the onus is on Foles to change games with his arm, and not just get through them by not messing up too badly. It’s not working the way it is. He can compliment Gurley, but he must also complement Gurley.

On Sunday, Foles finished 18 for 33 for 168 yards, 55 of those from one deep connection to Britt, which led to the Rams’ lone touchdown. The Rams converted just two third downs, on 16 tries.

Two third downs.

And in the second half as a whole, the Rams only garnered six total first downs.

The Vikings loaded the box on Gurley. The Vikings started sniffing out the handoff to receiver Tavon Austin. The Vikings dared Foles to win it with his arm.

“When it came down to it, we weren’t able to keep drives alive,” Fisher said. “We’re not as productive as we’d like to be on offense.”

In overtime, Fisher didn’t expect Minnesota to kick to the Rams, who would then have to march into the wind. Britt clearly didn’t expect it. Neither did even some of the Vikings.

Asked about the decision, “First thing was — I was surprised,” said Minnesota defensive end Brian Robison. “Second thing was — that tells me he has confidence in us to go get the job done. Any time your coach has that type of confidence in the defense, you don’t want to disappoint.”

Perhaps the Rams win the next two games because the Rams’ next two opponents stink. Maybe two Sundays from now, they’re 6-4 and we’re again talking playoffs. Maybe some weak defenses are all Nick needs to to discover deep-ball braggadocio.

Here’s hoping that Foles finds what he needs to find, because, frankly, it’s been fun talking about the Rams without also having to talk about Los Angeles.

But January looms. Both the playoffs and the owners’ decision.

 

[RamBill]

Rams notebook: Joyner calls hit on Bridgewater unintentional
• By Jim Thomas

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_d748c5ea-0de7-54e1-92c0-bb5ac89aa3c2.html

MINNEAPOLIS • The Rams’ Lamarcus Joyner delivered his shot during the game. Minnesota coach Mike Zimmer delivered his afterward.

Zimmer was none too happy with a sliding hit by Joyner that knocked Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater out of the game with a concussion early in the fourth quarter.

In his postgame remarks following the Vikings’ 21-18 overtime victory over the Rams, Zimmer said he considered the Joyner hit a cheap shot.

“I would say if we were out on the street, we probably would have had a fight,” Zimmer said.

When asked if he thought the Rams were “targeting” Bridgewater, Zimmer replied: “I don’t know about that. I do know that there is a history there of their defensive coordinator. I’ll leave it at that.”

Rams defensive coordinator Gregg Williams was suspended for the 2012 NFL season for his role in the “Bountygate” scandal in New Orleans, in which Saints players allegedly were given “bounty payments” for hard hits against opposing players.

Zimmer praised his team for not retaliating after the Joyner play.

“We’re a disciplined football team. We do things right,” Zimmer said. “That’s why we are the least penalized team in the league, because we play by the rules ... Just because other teams don’t do it, doesn’t mean we’re going to do it.”

In the visitors’ locker room, Joyner gave an impassioned defense of his actions on the play.

“I know that guy,” Joyner said. “I grew up across the railroad track from him (in Miami). My mom knows his mom. My dad knows his mom. I would never intentionally do a dirty play like that on Teddy Bridgewater.

“It was a ‘bam-bam’ play. He’s a taller-structured guy compared to me. I did not know he was gonna slide. When I launched, he slid and we connected. If I could take it back, personally I would take it back because I’m not a dirty player.

“And I wouldn’t want to take joy from his mom or from his team. So was it intentional? Not at all. I can’t fix the problem with what’s going on — how they feel. But how I feel inside — it’s not good.”

Joyner added that he and Bridgewater even went on college recruiting trips together coming out of high school.

“We know each other pretty well,” Joyner said. “I’d never try to do anything like that to Teddy.”

The play occurred with 13½ minutes remaining in the fourth quarter and the Vikings leading 18-15. On second-and-1 from the Minnesota 19, Bridgewater dropped back to pass, and then scrambled around left end for a 5-yard gain.

Bridgewater gave himself up by sliding feet first on the turf at TCF Bank Stadium. Joyner, who was in pursuit, dived in an attempt to avoid contact. But his forearm made contact with Bridgewater as Joyner was going by, and he was flagged 15 yards for unnecessary roughness.

“I hope Teddy’s OK,” Rams coach Jeff Fisher said. “There was some feeling that Lamarcus did something on purpose. Lamarcus went into his dive the same time Teddy went into his slide. It’s just one of those things that happen.

“(Lamarcus) is not that type of player. He’s a classy kid. ... We’re not out to hurt anybody.”

LINEUP CHANGES

Defensive end Robert Quinn (knee), strong safety T.J. McDonald (foot) and right tackle Rob Havenstein (ankle) were all pregame scratches for the Rams.

“They should be OK this week,” Fisher said. “Our sense on (all) of them going into today was if they did go, and they wanted to go, that we’d probably set ’em back another three or four weeks. So they’ll definitely benefit from their rest today.”

Eugene Sims started in place of Quinn at right defensive end. Eureka High product Maurice Alexander made his first NFL start, replacing McDonald. And rookie Andrew Donnal, a fourth-round pick from Iowa, made his first NFL start at left guard.

The Rams moved veteran Garrett Reynolds from left guard to Havenstein’s spot at right tackle.

“Garrett’s played against these guys (Minnesota) at right tackle,” Fisher said. “And I felt like Andrew would be just fine there at guard; did a good job communicating all week with Greg.”

 

[RamBill]

Lamarcus Joyner: I’m Not A Dirty Player

Defensive back Lamarcus Joyner talks to media members after Sunday’s overtime loss to the Minnesota Vikings.

Watch Joyner's Presser

 

[RamBill]

Fisher: The Offense Failed to Execute

Rams coach Jeff Fisher says his offense failed to execute in a 21-18 loss to the Vikings. He talks with Steve Savard and D’Marco Farr right after the game.

Listen to Fisher's Comments

 

[RamBill]

Joseph, Austin get game balls from Vikings-Rams Game

Vikings reporter Ben Goessling gives his game ball to nose tackle Linval Joseph for helping slow down Todd Gurley, while Rams reporter Nick Wagoner gives his game ball to WR Tavon Austin for carrying the offense when the Vikings contained Gurley.

Watch Game Ball Discussion