The St. Louis Rams have now posted back-to-back wins and presently are sitting one game over .500 with a record of 4-3. The Rams are now 3-0 in the NFC West for the first time since 2004.
This past Sunday the Rams upended their NFC West division rival San Francisco 49ers by the score of 27-6. This marks the second straight game that the Rams defense hasn’t given up a touchdown. The Rams defense is starting to really warm up.
All afternoon the Rams hit, hurried, and harassed 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick. The Rams defense also recorded a safety. Rams defensive coordinator Gregg Williams called a fantastic game. It sometimes looked like the Rams knew exactly what the 49ers were trying to do. The Rams were extremely disciplined in not allowing the mobile QB beat him with his legs. Rams defenders also made sure to get their hands up in the throwing lanes and batted down several throws by the 49ers QB.
After the game I talked with Rams DE William Hayes.
“Our goal is that it’s just one game at a time,” Hayes said. “We don’t want to focus on the record and look ahead of the schedule. You know that’s one of the things that’s been kind of hurting us for a long time. We’ll say, well, if we do this right here and these next couple of games, we can potentially make it to the playoffs. The only thing that matters this week is Minnesota.”
And even though the Rams won by three touchdowns, Head Coach Jeff Fisher knows that they can play better. That goes for all three phases of the game.
The Rams hit a couple of home runs on offense with the emerging explosive duo of rookie RB sensation Todd Gurley and WR Tavon Austin. Gurley posted another game over 125 rushing yards, including a 71-yard dash that brought the crowd to its feet and chants rang out all through the Edwards Jones Dome. Gurley! Gurley! Gurley!
Not to be outdone by the Rams rookie, Tavon Austin scored twice in the game, his first was a two-yard run where Austin had to use all of his speed and length to get the ball to the pylon for the score. The second touchdown was just as electric as he caught a swing pass from QB Nick Foles, broke a tackle at midfield and was gone.
If you think Austin looks fast on television you should see it in person. He is the most improved of the receivers. I watched him on the Rams bench after every possession talking with receivers coach Ray Sherman looking at images sent down to the sideline. His route running has improved greatly, and he’s only going to get better.
Often criticized TE Jared Cook made a tough end zone catch for a two-point conversion. And then he also contributed a big 49-yard catch and run. The offensive line played a solid game up front. I’ve got to give them credit, they gave Foles plenty of time to make throws. Foles was decent. He didn’t turn the ball over, but he did throw a couple of lollipop Tecmo Bowl bombs downfield that were either overthrown or underthrown.
The Rams are going to have to start executing better on offense. This is championship-caliber defense that’s been playing lights out with the exception of a hiccup game against the Washington Redskins earlier this season.
The last two times the Rams faced the Minnesota Vikings, their offensive coordinator Norv Turner stymied the aggressive pass rush with quick throws and misdirection. I’m very interested in how the Rams plan on attacking the Vikings offense led by Adrian Peterson and QB Teddy Bridgetwater.
This is another tough game for the Rams. Scratch that – this is going to be a tough game for the Vikings.
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