RamView, December 30, 2012, Game #16: Seahawks 20, Rams 13, by Mike Franke
From the Couch
Report and opinions on the game.
The Rams don't finish 2012 in the win column, but coming up just a couple of plays short against the league's hottest team in Seattle, there's little doubt they've returned to respectability. For too rare a time in St. Louis, instead of saying this season couldn't end soon enough, next season can't start soon enough.
Position by position:
* QB: Sam Bradford (25-42-252, 74.7 PR) had a respectable game, though the Ram offense once again took a long time to get going. Bradford struck in the middle of the 2nd with a couple of slant passes. He and Chris Givens took advantage of an out-of-position corner for 37 on 3rd-and-5. The throw led Givens perfectly to help create the big play. That set up a 2-yard TD to Austin Pettis that somehow got to him through a Seahawk lineman's hands. Bradford had a lot of things working this week. He got very good protection. The Seattle secondary was down a starter. He worked checkdowns well throughout the game. Before halftime, after several nibbles, he hit Brandon Gibson for 21 to set up a (missed) FG attempt. The bootleg pass that confounds this offense even worked multiple times this week. Bradford made an excellent play to find Givens deep on the sideline for 17 while on the boot in the 3rd to set up a FG. After Seattle took a 13-10 lead, Bradford led the Rams right back. He hit Gibson for 12 on each sideline, hanging in forever while on the roll the second time. Quickly in the red zone, Bradford then made a perfect pre-snap read to hit Lance Kendricks over the middle for 10, down to the Seattle 5. Familiar story from there, though, as the Rams failed to punch it in. He had Kendricks open on 2nd-and-goal, but never looked there and tried to force one to Danny Amendola in a crowd instead. The Rams settled for a FG, which wouldn't be enough. Bradford tried to rally one last time down 20-13 with 1:30 left. He hit Kendricks with a marvelous sidearm throw for 15, and scrambled for 6 on 4th-and-5, to get inside the Seattle 30. That would be the closest he'd get, though, as he fired into traffic in the end zone again and got picked off by Ryan Braun, ER, Richard Sherman, to end the season. By all accounts, Sam Bradford had a good 2012. He set career bests for TDs and passer rating. He was one of the best QBs in the league under pass pressure and under game pressure, leading the team on several 4th-quarter comebacks. This week, he again was tough in the pocket and made many good throws and good decisions. Half of this year's playoff teams, though, will be led by QBs drafted since the Rams drafted Bradford to be their franchise QB. Sam Bradford's worked his way down the road. Next season, the Rams need him to finish the trip.
full report: http://www.nflfans.com/rams2/article.ph ... 1154433514
From the Couch
Report and opinions on the game.
The Rams don't finish 2012 in the win column, but coming up just a couple of plays short against the league's hottest team in Seattle, there's little doubt they've returned to respectability. For too rare a time in St. Louis, instead of saying this season couldn't end soon enough, next season can't start soon enough.
Position by position:
* QB: Sam Bradford (25-42-252, 74.7 PR) had a respectable game, though the Ram offense once again took a long time to get going. Bradford struck in the middle of the 2nd with a couple of slant passes. He and Chris Givens took advantage of an out-of-position corner for 37 on 3rd-and-5. The throw led Givens perfectly to help create the big play. That set up a 2-yard TD to Austin Pettis that somehow got to him through a Seahawk lineman's hands. Bradford had a lot of things working this week. He got very good protection. The Seattle secondary was down a starter. He worked checkdowns well throughout the game. Before halftime, after several nibbles, he hit Brandon Gibson for 21 to set up a (missed) FG attempt. The bootleg pass that confounds this offense even worked multiple times this week. Bradford made an excellent play to find Givens deep on the sideline for 17 while on the boot in the 3rd to set up a FG. After Seattle took a 13-10 lead, Bradford led the Rams right back. He hit Gibson for 12 on each sideline, hanging in forever while on the roll the second time. Quickly in the red zone, Bradford then made a perfect pre-snap read to hit Lance Kendricks over the middle for 10, down to the Seattle 5. Familiar story from there, though, as the Rams failed to punch it in. He had Kendricks open on 2nd-and-goal, but never looked there and tried to force one to Danny Amendola in a crowd instead. The Rams settled for a FG, which wouldn't be enough. Bradford tried to rally one last time down 20-13 with 1:30 left. He hit Kendricks with a marvelous sidearm throw for 15, and scrambled for 6 on 4th-and-5, to get inside the Seattle 30. That would be the closest he'd get, though, as he fired into traffic in the end zone again and got picked off by Ryan Braun, ER, Richard Sherman, to end the season. By all accounts, Sam Bradford had a good 2012. He set career bests for TDs and passer rating. He was one of the best QBs in the league under pass pressure and under game pressure, leading the team on several 4th-quarter comebacks. This week, he again was tough in the pocket and made many good throws and good decisions. Half of this year's playoff teams, though, will be led by QBs drafted since the Rams drafted Bradford to be their franchise QB. Sam Bradford's worked his way down the road. Next season, the Rams need him to finish the trip.
full report: http://www.nflfans.com/rams2/article.ph ... 1154433514