Riding a 9 game win streak into the playoffs, the St Louis Rams took white hot to a new meaning today, travelling to Chicago for their Wildcard matchup in the 2015 NFL Playoffs. The league leading run defense did their job.
The Rams held Matt Forte to 65 yards on 23 carries, and other than a FG in the 1st half, shut out the Bears offense. Chicago only managed 183 yards total offense in the snow, also forcing 3 turnovers.
St Louis had no such problems, however, tallying 350 yards of offense, most on the back of HB Isiah Pead, who ran 21 times for 118 yards and a score on a 21 yard scamper up the middle. Starting QB Tim Cheatham was sacked and knocked out of the game with a concussion in the 2nd quarter, but backup Ryan Fitzpatrick stepped in and played well, completing all 10 of his pass attempts. TE Jared Cook looked in his early season form before his injury knocked him out for 7 games, catching 7 balls for 139 yards and 2 TDs, including a couple long ones on play action. The Bears LBs had a hard time covering him 1 on 1, and the Rams took advantage.
The Rams will likely play at Tampa Bay next round, and carry their 10 game streak with them.
With their win over the playoff bound Chicago Bears today, the Rams finish with an 11-5 record, after starting 2-5, and are entering the playoffs on a high note. A season riddled with injuries, when the rams lost their 5th game, many chalked the season up as a loss. Now however, the Rams are the hottest team in the league, and at the right time.
Starters for both teams only playing 1 Quarter, it was a tight game throughout. The Rams D held strong tho, one again holding a team below 100 rushing yards, giving up 76 yards on the ground. They will lead the league in rushing yards allowed. They also held the Bears to 159 yards passing.
"We just look forward to knowing who we play," said Coach White after the game. "We wanted to get out of here with no injuries. I know that probably pissed off alot of fantasy owners tho, so sorry for that," he chuckled.
The Rams ROLB Robert was held to zero sacks again, so his league leading number stays at 20. Janoris Jenkins managed an interception, finishing 1 short of the league leader at 11.
Rookie WR Evander Lucious with a TD catch in St Louis' 27-14 win over Seattle
With huge playoff implications on the line, the Rams looked to do for the 2nd straight game something for the first time. Beat Division rival Seattle for the first time in 4 meetings, just as they did the 49ers last week. Mission accomplished.
The Rams defense held strong again, as the league leading rush defense limited "Beastmode" Lynch and the 'Hawks to just 90 yards on the ground, keeping St Louis with the only sub 100 yd avg in the league. The defense also kept the streak of forcing turnovers going, picking off Russell Wilson 5 times, helping to keep Seattle off the field. The Seahawks only managed 258 yards total offense on the day, and that included a couple long passes to Percy Harvin to keep them in the game.
The Rams offense played conservative once they had a double digit lead. Pead was a work horse, carrying the rock a season high 32 times in the game for 122 yards and 1 TD. Playing yet again without their top 2 receivers in stars Tavon Austin and Jared Cook, the Rams spread the ball around to 5 different players, catching the ball at least twice each. Rookie QB Tim Cheatham, still undefeated in his injury shortened season, managed the game well, throwing 2 TDs and only 1 Intereption.
The Rams move to 7-5 on the season and are now in the drivers seat for a NFC wildcard. They will play their last division game against the Arizona Cardinals next week, and follow that up with 3 out of division games against the Bengals, Saints, and Bears.
Kaleb Comardelle intercepts his 2nd pass of the day, this one to clinc the game 35-14.
Plagued by injuries all season, some people would have not blamed the Rams for throwing in the towel. They lost their starting rookie QB Tim Cheatham in the 1st quarter of the season for 8 games, followed by various other lengthy injuries to starters such as Chris Long, Chris Givens, Tavon Austin, Jared Cook, Michael Brockers, and starting MLB Darren Bates. All of those listed here missed 5+ games, and they lost a backup LB for 21 games.
With a 2-5 start against a really hard schedule (Combined record of those first 7 games is 43-30) the Rams circled the wagons. A last minute win over 2013 playoff team Washington started this streak, and the division leading and defending champion 49ers are the latest to add to it, after a 35-14 win today in St Louis.
"We had a really nice win against a very good Cleveland team early in the season," Coach White said after the game today. "I used that win to show the team what CAN be accomplished, injuries or not, if they just believe. I think they now believe."
The Rams defense believed that they could slow down the potent 49ers running game with their league leading Rush defense, and they did. Gore only had 66 yards on 15 attempts, and the Rams intercepted Colin Kaepernick 8 times in the win. The only offense the 49ers really managed was a couple of long jump balls thrown to Vernon Davis, who ended up with 6 catches for 168 yards. "Holding Vernon to 6 receptions, thats a win," White said. "That was the gameplan, to force Kaep to throw to other WRs to beat us."8
Rookie standout SS Kaleb Comardelle followed his 4 Interception performance last game with 2 more picks today, as he is now up to 8 on the season, just 2 off the lead. He also had a fumble recovery. Robert Quinn added 4 sacks and 5 TFL to his totals, and he now leads the league in sacks with 17.
Rookie Tim Cheatham threw for 300 yards and 4 TDs, and Isiah Pead ran for 126 yards on 19 carries.
The Rams (6-5) take on division oppoent Seattle (6-4) next in a huge game with playoff implications.
Rams rookie SS Caleb Comardelle with his 4th pick of the game.
Sitting at 2-5 on the season, amidst a plague of injuries that had cost them their starting QB the entire year so far, the Rams were almost ready to throw in the towel and start looking to next season. Coach White, however, had other plans... giving his team a pep talk the morning before the week 8 game against the Redskins.
"I told them, you guys have lost a couple games you shouldn't have, but at the same time, you have had the hardest schedule in the league as well," he said. "It doesn't get MUCH easier, but it does get slightly easier. Let's see what we can do."
After beating those Redskins on a last second FG, then following a BYE week and getting their QB back in week 10 against the Giants, also winning on a last second FG, the Rams were feeling good heading into a division game against the Arizona Cardinals. The Defense stepped up, in a big way.
Rookie Safety Kaleb Comardelle had 4 interceptions, and the team a total of 6, as the Rams came from behind early and went on to win handily against Arizona. Robert Quinn added 3 sacks as well, giving him a total of 13 on the season. The Rams also only allowed 45 rushing yards, and held the Cards to under 300 total yards in the game (60 of those coming on a last second hail mary as time expired)
In his 2nd game back, rookie QB Tim Cheatham threw for 196 yds and 2 TDs in the win. Isiah Pead put in yet another 100 yd game, tallying 139 yards and TD. Zac Stacy added 60 more.
At 5-5 on the year, St Louis looks to make a playoff push down the stretch, with several winnable games remaining. They know they will need to win at least 4 of their last 6 to get it done. Next week they take on NFC West juggurnaut San Francisco.
Larry Fitzgerald scores a late TD to pull the Cards, once down 24 points, within 3.
Breathless.
That is how star rookie HB Andre Ellington described his feeling as he watched, from the locker room, his team pull off one of the greatest comebacks in Cardinal history. Ellington was hit early in the game, and carted off to the locker room. He didn't return. "They are saying its day to day, so I fully intend to be back next week against Seattle," he said after the game.
Candlestick Park didn't start out too hospitably for Arizona early on. Two stalled drives, after both of which the 49ers scored, and two Interceptions in the first half, led to a 24 point deficit. Dropped passes, a fumble, 3 dropped Ints... if you name it, it likely happened. Vetern QB Carson Palmer kept trying to keep everyone calm. "Hell, I threw two picks, missed a couple passes. But I kept telling the guys, dont give up, let the defense make a play like they have all year. And they did," he said.
Chipping the lead down to 17, the Cardinals then intercepted a quick curl route on the 49ers side of the field with a few minutes til half. Antoine Cason intercepted it and returned it for the quick TD, to make it a 10 point game at the break.
The 49ers however rolled right back down the field, on the back of Frank Gore, taking a 38-21 lead after the first drive of the 3rd quarter. Fast forward to a Larry Fitzgerald TD catch late in the 4th, and its a 3 point game. The defense stepped up, forcing a San Francisco punt, which sailed high into the endzone.... only to watch star Return man Patrick Peterson suddenly decide to bring it out, and muff it, for a safety, and a 5 point game with 4 minutes to go.
The 49ers drove down the field, eating clock, and while the Zona D held firm to force a FG, the 8 point lead seemed insurmountable with under a minute to go.
"Sometimes, we really click in the 2 minute drill," Palmer said after the game. "The defense had played so well in the 2nd half we couldn't let them down."
After several passes down the field, including a huge jump ball to Larry Fitzgerald, the Cards spiked the ball with 13 seconds left. They ran a flag to the corner of the end zone, but Palmer overthrew a wide open Andre Roberts. With time for 1 more play, Palmer called a different look, but sent Floyd to the same spot, hoping the 49er safety was playing back in zone. He was, and he caught the TD with 5 seconds left on the clock. A converted 2 point pass to TE Rob Housler later, and we were all tied at 43, and headed to OT.
Of course, who else would win the game for the Cardinals at that point, but their defense? Antoine Cason scored his second TD of the game, returning the Interception on 3rd down in OT.
Final score Arizona 49 - San Francisco 43
3 more interceptions leads Arizona to another win in a defensive battle.
Today in Arizona, the Cardinals turned up the heat on Carolina, as the Cards win 20-6. Arizona held Cam Newton to 98 yards passing, and while Deangelo Williams had a good game overall, the Panters only tallied 84 yrds rushing as well.
Star CB Patrick Peterson picked off Newtwon twice, and Tyrann Mathieu added one more, as the stellar defense of the Cardinals continued. One of the top defenses in the league, Owner Gus Fring expected a tough battle. "Cam is a different animal," he said. "The Read option, the scrambling, the passing.... you only contain him, you don't stop him."
Andre Ellington continued his outstanding rookie campaign, rushing for 178 yards on 31 carries, and was a workhorse down the stretch as Arizona milked the clock with a 7 point lead. A Rob Housler TD catch with minute to go on 3rd and 7 from the 12 yard line sealed the deal.
The 5-0 Cards will face division rival 5-0 San Francisco next week in what should be a tale of the tape for both teams.
The Arizona Cardinals came into Tampa Bay as a surprising 3-0 team, facing a downtrodden 0-3 Bucs team. The line on the game was a whopping 22 points in Vegas. What couldn't be predicted, however, was a shaky Carson Palmer and a stellar performance from the Bucs Offensive line.
Palmer threw 3 Interceptions in the game, the first bad game he has had all season. The Cards offense was carried by Rookie Hb Andre Ellington again, rushing for 141 yards on 22 carries.
TB HB "Teach me how to" Dougie Martin ran for 151 yards on 29 carries, as the Bucs Oline just kept grating the road for him up the middle. The Rams were throwing the kitchen sink at them, trying to force passing downs so that their stellar secondary could make a play.
And a big play was made with just over 2 min to go in the game. After a TD drive and 2 point conversion to tie it up, Cardinal MLB Daryl Washington stepped back into zone on a 2nd down play, leaping into the air to pick the ball off, and proceeded to run it down the sideline for a score, in what would end up being the game winning TD.
The Cards (4-0) face Carolina (2-1) next week.
The 2-0 Arizona Cardinals looked forward to their matchup against Drew Brees and the high octane Saints, to see if their defense was really one of the NFL's elite, or had just been playing well against two other elite offenses in the Rams and Lions.
Coach Fring answered that after the game. "Well, the defense has given up 3 points, 10 points, and 3 points. Our one TD given up was a long one to Megatron on a missed tackle in a 1v1 situation. I think thats pretty good, wouldnt you?" he asked after the game today.
The Arizona defense only gave up 53 yards rushing, and still held the potent Saints offense to 241 yards passing... most of that coming late on no huddle hurry up drills.
The Cards scored on their first two drives of the game, mounting a 14-3 lead, and never really looked back. They were able to add on another td in the third quarter, then rarely passed the ball in the 4th as they ate clock. The Final was 21-3.
Rookie sensation Andre Ellington continued to carry the rock well, toting the ball 33 times for 165 yards and 2 TDs. Palmer again didn't have to do much, as he threw the ball 21 times but most where short routes, as they played it safe for the most part. He had 144 yards passing, 1 TD and 1 Int.
The Cards (3-0) take on the Bucs (0-3) next week.
After Arizona's 45-3 win against the Rams in week 1, Cardinals star Cb Patrick Peterson was asked if he thought he would shut down Megatron in week 2. Peterson gave his team the credit. "Calvin is a monster man, but Im not intimidated. He might get his, but I like my unit's chances as a team to win the game," he said.
Boy did they ever. Six interceptions, one of which was returned for a TD, and a special teams TD later, the Arizona Cardinals sent the Detroit Lions packing, winning by a final of 48-17. The Card offense sat most of their starters the whole 4th quarter, trying not to run up the score.
"It was a great win," said rookie HB Andre Ellington, who posted his 2nd straight 100 yard game. Ellington ran the ball 20 times for 124 yards and 2 scores. "A team you respect, like those Lions, you feel great to get a win like that."
Carson Palmer managed the game well yet again, showing that age isn't slowing him down. He only threw for 172 yards, but he only had 1 interception and the Cards were in run clock mode most of the 2nd half. Larry Fitzgerald chipped in 53 yards and a score, a nice leaning grab in the endzone from 2 yards out.
On the Lions first score of the game, Calvin Johnson caught a curl on the outside, with only Peterson to stop him. Peterson whiffed, and Johnson ran down the sideline for the 42 yard score. Raging on the sideline during the extra point attempt, Peterson vowed to his teammates he would make it up to them.
On the next kickoff, he did just that, running it back 99 yards for the TD, spinning off a would be tackle by the kicker. Peterson later went on to intercept a pass.
The Cards (2-0) will host the Saints (0-1) Next week.
Cards open season with a 48-3 win over rival Rams.
Before the game, new Cardinals owner Gustavo Fring seemed confident. "We are going to show the fans a new brand of football today," he said. "We aren't the same ole Cards anymore."
Boy, was he right.
Arizona started early and scored often, as their ball hawking defense took advantage of a spiraling Rams offense to the tune of 6 turnovers. Newly acquired free agent Tome Zbikowski had a forced fumble and 2 interceptions to lead the way. The Cards 3-4 defense put pressure on Sam Bradford, forcing bad throws into their zone blitz schemes, and they were able to shut down the high powered Rams offense from the end zone.
Arizona had no problems scoring, however. Capitalizing on all but 1 turnover, they scored 48 points. Carson Palmer only threw 16 passes, but compelted 12 of them for 210 yds and 4 TDs. Star WR Larry Fitzgerald caught 7 of those balls for 155 yards and a score.
Rookie HB out of Clemson, Andre Ellington, ran the ball 25 times for 139 yards and TD as well.
The Cards (1-0) face the Lions in week 2.
After getting decimated and embarassed at home by the Dallas Cowboys in week 1, St. Louis looked to get back to .500 on the road in Pittsburgh. They started the 1st of 8 games without rookie QB Tim Cheatham, so Coach White tasked the Defense to bring it home.
"I just told them that I wanted to see more pressure, more turnovers, and better execution on defense," White said after the game. "It doesn't hurt to have your offense clicking as well," he chuckled.
Clicking it was, to the tune of 459 yards, including 232 rushing yards. HB Isaiah Pead ran the ball 29 times for 202 yards, and 3 TDs. Zac Stacy added 30 yds and a score of his own.
Backup QB Ryan Fitzpatrick looked good in his first start of the season, throwing for 245 yards on 17 of 23 passing, 2 TDs and 2 Ints. But it was 2 of his turnovers that helped the Steelers stay in the game. Fitzpatrick threw a pick 6, and fumbled the ball on a sack that Pittsburgh scooped up for a score.
The Rams defense however, played pretty well. The new 3-4 defense racked up 7 sacks on QB Ben Rothlesberger, ROLB Robert Quinn tallying 3 of those. The Rams defense also forced 4 Interceptions from the Steelers, and dropped a handful more. They were all over the place at times, much to Coach White's credit.
"We saw some things in the filmroom we thought we could exploit, on both offense and defense. The guys executed the gameplan. Simple as that," White said.
The Rams (1-1) face division foe and defending world champion San Francisco next week, in what will be a measuring stick for the Rams season.
The 2014 season is a crossroads for the St Louis Rams. After finishing 8-8 and just missing the playoffs in 2013, Coach Walter White circled the wagons.
Gone, is the Sam Bradford era in St Louis. The Rams traded Bradford for 3 draft picks, in a move to dump his salary. They then drafted their QB of the future, Tim Cheatham, in the 2nd round. Cheatham was spotty in his preseason appearances, but has a strong arm and will develop around his young receiving corp.
The Rams also turned to the draft to allow them to implement their new 3-4 defensive scheme. They drafted LSU stud DT Jerel Guidry, who they promptly moved to Left DE in the 3-4 scheme. He looked fantastic in the preseason in his 2 quarters played. He should be a monster on the front of that new defense.
With their next 1st round pick, they selected Kaleb Comardelle, a fast and hard hitting SS to help in the new scheme. They then moved star DEs Robert Quinn and Chris Long to OLB, completing the transition. The Rams defense, at least on paper, looks to not only be much improved, but one of the better defenses in the league.
On Offense the Rams took WR Evander Lucious in the 1st round, a nice possession type of WR that can play slot for them. The dual threat in the backfield of Zac Stacy and Isiah Pead will continue to provide a bulk of the offense, as the young QB Cheatham earns his wings and develops. Star WR Tavon Austin will help that transtion with his masterful open field running after the catch.
So now we sit back and see which road the Rams take in 2014. With a daunting schedule, they will play 9 of their 16 games against 2013 playoff teams, as they continue to play in the toughest division in football. Only time will tell if the drastic changes will be for the better.