The last time Los Angeles Rams fans saw a victory on home turf was November 1994. It is now September 2016; that is quite a long time since Los Angeles has had the sweet taste of victory. The result of the Rams’ first game left nothing but disgust in the mouth’s of their fans. A 28-0 defeat at the hands of the 49ers left much to be desired to say the least. The matchup for Sunday’s game?
The Seattle Seahawks. The average Joe would predict another beat down. I know I had the Rams chalked up as going 0-2, oh ye of little faith, ya I know.
Those that had more faith than me might’ve held onto the fact that the Rams beat the Seahawks twice last season and have won 3 out of the last 4 matchups. On top of this the Seahawks entered Sunday with a squeaker of a victory over the Miami Dolphins 12-10. Regardless of how much hope you had, or didn’t have, the Rams needed something positive to cling to going into Sunday’s home game.
Lets get to the recap shall we?
Rams receive the kickoff and off they go. Case Keenum completes a pass good for 4 yards, another for 4 yards, and another for 7 yards before his first incompletion. A 15 yard facemask penalty on Seattle help boost the drive along during a 2nd and 10 run by Todd Gurley.
Rams News: The Chargers will not be joining the Rams in Los Angeles
Keenum however continued to do his thing completing a pass for 17 yards to Tavon Austin and another 8 yard pass to Lance Kendricks on the drive. Keenum’s numbers on the drive came to 5-7 for 40 yards…that ain’t bad. With that kind of production and the help of the penalty the Rams were able to send Greg ‘the leg’ Zuerlein onto the field for a 39 yard field goal. It’s good! Rams get their first points of the season and take a 3-0 lead.
If you like high scoring, offense driven, gobble up the yardage kind of games, you should’ve changed the channel, because this was not one of those. With that being said, how about that Rams defense? Seattle’s first drive lasted a whole 1:45 for 3 plays and -4 yards. Please take note of the negative sign in front of that four.
The Seahawks would tie the game on their second drive, 14 plays, and three key penalties on the Rams later, the score would become 3-3. If the Rams want to compete for the playoffs, discipline has to be instilled. A neutral zone infraction gave the Seahawks another shot at 3rd down after they initially threw an incomplete pass on 3rd and 10.
The self defeating penalties continued with a 15 yard penalty on Alec Ogletree for a late hit on Russell Wilson. The third penalty came by way of a face mask on Trumaine Johnson. With that penalty, the Seahawks had the ball at the Rams 4 yard line, 1st and 10. The Rams defense buckled down and kept the Seahawks to a field goal. Lamarcus Joyner came up with a huge defensive play to hold the Seahawks to 3 points.
The Rams and Seahawks would exchange possession until late in the second quarter where the Los Angeles Rams got the ball with 4:19 left. A 19 yard screen pass to Todd Gurley sparked a bit of life in the running back. Gurley received the hand off on the next two plays, toting the rock for 5 and then 8 yards.
The play following those runs…just a 44 yard pass to Kendricks down the sideline to the Seattle 4 yard line. The next two plays would end up going backwards for the Rams. 3rd and 10 from the Seattle 10, Keenum sets up for a pass, rolls out and throws to Kenny Britt in the end zone. Richard Sherman reaches out and grabs Britt, clear pass interference, 1st and 10 half the distance to the goal line right? Wrong, the call is missed setting up a 4th down for the Rams and forcing them to set up for the field goal.
With a minute left in the first half, Seattle started their drive looking for at least a tie going into the locker room. Seattle was able to move the ball to the Rams’ 43 yard line before a sack, fumble by Robert Quinn ended any hope of a 6-6 ball game.
The start of the second half picked up where the game left off, with each team exchanging possession via punt. The Rams’ second possession of the half led to another 3 points however. Highlighted by a 27 yard pass to Austin and an 18 yard pass to Kenny Britt, Zurlein was able to nail a 47 yard field goal, making the score 9-3.
Lets move to the 4th quarter, score still 9-3 Rams. Rams take possession with 12:41 left in the game. After a defensive pass interference and a few plays that saw positive gains, the Rams found themselves in field goal range with a little over 11:30 left. If the Rams held their position, they could have drilled home another field goal, making it a two score game. Instead Keenum takes two sacks, knocking the Rams out of field goal range and forcing them to punt.
The score remains 9-3 Rams. Seattle took possession with 9:14 left in the game and began to find holes in the defense, but not enough. Seattle ended up punting with 6:41 left.
A holding on the Rams during the punt return, left the Rams deep in their own territory. A completion to Britt gave the Rams space to work with. Unfortunately Gurley continued to get shut down. After a run for no gain by Gurley, the Rams were faced with a 3rd and 8 with 4:03 left in the game.
Orlando Pace: “I think they should go with Goff”
Keenum and an outstretched Britt kept the drive alive thankfully on an 11 yard completion. The clock should keep running right? Wrong, Rams get called for too many men in the huddle, stopping the clock. Penalties continue to plague the Rams. After a couple unsuccessful plays, the Rams faced a 3rd and 13 with 2:39 left in the game.
3rd and 13 at the Los Angeles 38 yard line, Keenum drops back, sack by Seattle….but wait, flag on the play. Penalty on Seattle for a face mask, 15 yards and a first down. The Rams extend their drive and are able to milk more time off of the clock. But wait, the Rams stall and the ball is being punted to the Seahawks at the two minute warning. Seahawks are down 9-3 with one timeout left and 1:53 left in the game. A holding penalty on the Rams with 2:18 left in the game stopped the clock again, saving Seattle a timeout.
Who better to lead you down the field than Russell Wilson? Fresh off a game winning drive last week, and 19 total game winning drives under his belt, Wilson took the field poised to make it 20 drives. At their own 12 yard line, Wilson starts Seattle’s drive with a 53 yard pass to Tyler Lockett. Oh boy. Two plays later, Seattle faced a 3rd and 10 at the LA 35. Wilson dropped back and connected with his receiver Christine Michael for 8 yards. Mark Barron and Alec Ogletree combined for the tackle…FUMBLE. Ogletree comes up with the recovery!
In a game that saw two defenses make stop after stop, the Rams’ D came up with the biggest stop. With the old saying, ‘defense wins championships’, ringing in my head, the victory this week tastes sweeter than ever. At 1-1, the Rams sit atop their division tied with everybody else for first place.
The Rams offense has not found the end zone in two games though and a touchdown would do wonders to their confidence.. The Rams will travel to Tampa Bay next week to take on the Buccaneers, who are coming off of a dreadful 40-7 defeat to the Cardinals. Here’s hoping the Rams continue to shine on the defensive side of the ball and are able to find the slightest hint of a glow on the offensive side.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
