Rams win back to back, Still no playoff hopes

The St. Louis Rams have now won back-to-back games. Last Sunday they beat the Detroit Lions 21-14 and then beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on national television, 31-23, on Thursday Night Football sporting bright yellow uniforms. And, by the way, I liked the mustard-looking uniforms.

In the 31-23 win, Rams QB Case Kennum had nearly a perfect performance. He only had three incompletions and threw two touchdown passes, one a 60-yard strike to wideout Kenny Britt and the other to Tavon Austin who also contributed a touchdown run.

Interim offensive coordinator Rob Boras called a good game. The Rams played with some tempo on offense. It looked like a completely different offensive unit. This was the best performance by the Rams’ offense all year long. They scored touchdowns on two of the first two drives, and I’m telling you I almost didn’t believe it when I saw it. Tampa Bay won the stat column in total yards, passing and rushing, yet that wasn’t enough to beat the Rams.

Even though the Buccaneers had more rushing yards than the Rams, the Rams’ run game was effective enough to allow their passing game to flourish in the win. And you also got to give credit to the Rams receivers for hanging onto the football. As happy as I was to see this happening, one could only wonder where this season would be had a few more passes been caught. 

The Rams are now 6-8 and have two games remaining on the schedule, both games on the road against NFC West teams in the Seattle Seahawks and the San Francisco 49ers. In the unlikely event the Rams win both games and finish 8-8, they wouldn’t qualify for the postseason, mainly due to their 3-7 record in nonconference games.

Rookie Todd Gurley had a quiet game, only rushing for 48 yards, but he did contribute a rushing touchdown and he also went over the 1,000 yard mark. The last time that occurred was with former Rams RB Steven Jackson, who recently signed with the New England Patriots.

Gurley has a good chance of making his first Pro Bowl. I also hope Tavon Austin gets some consideration. As bad as the Rams have been scoring points this season, Austin had produced a total of 10 touchdowns. He’s produced over 1,000 all-purpose yards and would have more if it wasn’t for penalties and erratic QB play.

On defense Aaron Donald is no doubt a Pro Bowler and quite arguably up there with the likes of a J.J. Watts of the Houston Texans, where you are talking pure dominance from a defensive lineman. What makes Donald so special is he’s doing it from the interior of the line, splitting double teams in half with ease like a dry wishbone from a holiday turkey. Donald constantly broke through the line of the Buccaneers and made his presence felt with five tackles, two of them for loss.

Cornerback Trumaine Johnson led the defense with nine tackles and an interception and is turning in one of his best seasons since the Rams drafted him in 2012. Johnson also leads the Rams defense with six interceptions. People are still talking about the game he had against the Detroit Lions, shutting down one of the best wideouts in the NFL in Calvin Johnson. He also had a pick six in that 21-14 win.

After the Rams win last Thursday, several members of the team paid a visit to wideout Stedman Bailey, who is recovering from being shot in the head while visiting family in Miami, Florida. It was cool to see the bond, friendship and kinship by his teammates. And we all wish him a speedy recovery.

Have a safe holiday. Merry Christmas.

For more Rams Roundup, please subscribe to youtube.com/stlamericanvideo.You can also now hear me Monday through Thursday on The Charlie “Tuna” Edwards Show on 590 TheFan and my weekly podcast @NTheZone with Arlington Lane II.