Well, this was certainly something different. The Los Angeles Rams and Tampa Bay Buccaneers played the role of unlikely gunslingers on a muggy Central Florida late afternoon, combining for an almost unimaginable 69 points. Great news of course coming in the way of the visiting Rams scoring 37 and holding on, barely, for a very fortunate 37-32 win over the Bucs in Tampa’s home opener for their 2016 National Football League season.
The Rams move above the .500 mark for the first time this season, at 2-1 while the Buccaneers slip to 1-2. In a game that came up with many varying story lines, one major component was the visitors showing the fortitude to withstand a lightning storm delay that all but killed the buzz at Raymond James Stadium at the two minute warning in the fourth quarter. L.A came back from the almost 90 minute delay, punted the ball back to Tampa Bay then stood by, almost pedestrian like, as quarterback Jameis Winston marched his Buccaneers 46 yards to the Rams ten yard line.
As fans and players chewed on towels or whatever else they could release their tension with, Rams defensive end Robert Quinn came from behind Winston to tackle him at the LA ten yard line with no time left on the clock. The visitors from Southern California escape with a capital E, to hold on to a victory, their first road win in two attempts this season.
Los Angeles Rams Week Three Takeaways
Todd Gurley is back in business
Most so called NFC West experts believe the Rams will only go as far as their defence and running back Todd Gurley takes them. Week two’s 9-3 home victory over the Seattle Seahawks did not reflect the latter of these two typical team needs, but today Gurley came to play.
Statistically it was not vintage Gurley. He finished up with 85 yards on 27 carries (just 3.1 yards per carry) but more importantly, he scored two touchdowns. Also, with the game entering crunch time in the fourth quarter, Gurley was the go to guy in churning out important first downs that kept Ram’s drives alive and Winston with his improved offence off the field. Gurley, it is important to recall, started rather similarly last season as well, only to find his stride as the season reached into the second half. It is fair to assume that this should again be the case of onward and upward for the star Rams running back as this year moves into the nitty-gritty days of autumn.
This Defence is Still a Work in Progress in 2016
Statistically, this was a weak game on the defensive side of the pigskin for the Rams. They have not played to their capabilities in both away tilts so far this season and this could become worrisome if not corrected in time for next Sunday’s ultra important divisional match up with arch rival Arizona in Phoenix (1:25pm Pacific). Winston was able to penetrate the Los Angeles secondary throughout the game and finished up an impressive 36 of 58 for 405 yards with three touchdown passes and one interception. The interception cam from Rams linebacker Mark Barron.
The pass rush was better than it was in the season opener against San Francisco. However, it missed the bite it possessed at the Coliseum opener last weekend against the Seahawks. Safety T.J McDonald and Quinn both recorded sacks. Lineman Aaron Donald was a factor at times. More often than not, the secondary needed to help in the clean-up of missed tackles close to the line of scrimmage. In spite of the victory, the Rams defensive line came in second place in their match-up with a decent sized Tampa Bay offensive line. Definitely, cause for concern but with the talent throughout the 11 starters, no need to be in panic mode quite yet.
The NFC West is More Competitive Than Most Thought
The NFL is always an unpredictable league. We learned that even more today with shocking wins by teams like Philadelphia and Buffalo who were able to rough-house contenders Pittsburgh and Arizona, respectively. The latter of these two results in upstate New York being great news for members of Rams nation. As L.A. prepare for the short flight to Phoenix for the October 2nd matinee match up in the desert; it is the Rams and Seattle Seahawks who sit atop the topsy-turvy west at 2-1. The Seahawks exploded on San Francisco this afternoon but they have showed inconsistency as well. The Niners take up the basement of the division with the Cardinals, both at 1-2.
What have we learned in three weeks that we might not have known back in the pre-season? The Rams, admittedly a team with more than just minor deficiencies, may be able to compete competitively with 2016 playoff teams such as Arizona and Seattle. More will be known on this subject seven days from now when the Rams and Cardinals wrap up their first meeting of the season, but after a stalwart defensive performance against the Seahawks last weekend, everything and anything is possible. Just don’t go too heavy on an over/under wager. After games of 12 and then 69 total points, who knows what number pops up in next Sunday’s game? Only in the NFL they say.
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