Rams Lose 36-17, Continue Their Futility
The Rams needed to make a stand Sunday to show their fans – and themselves – that progress is coming with the New Regime.
They failed dismally. Some faces changed in this defeat, but familiar problems remained.
The Rams staggered to their 13th loss in a row and 30th in 35 games, falling to the Packers 36-17 in their home opener at the Edward Jones Dome on Sunday.
“I was disappointed with the result, but I wasn’t disappointed with the effort,” coach Steve Spagnuolo said after the game, repeating his familiar refrain.
With a horrific offensive start, the Rams fell behind 16-0 less than six minutes into the second quarter. They got a spark when quarterback Kyle Boller replaced starter Marc Bulger — who departed with a bruised shoulder.
The Rams fought back to cut Green Bay’s lead to 23-17 . . . and then their comeback bid ran out of steam.
The Rams got two TD receptions by tight end Daniel Fells, 163 total yards from Steven Jackson, 187 return yards from Danny Amendola and a 53-yard field by Josh Brown.
And now the bad news:
- Bulger and Jackson turned the ball over with first-quarter fumbles. Both mishaps put the Packers into scoring position.
- Brown had a 48-yard field goal attempt blocked.
- Despite his two TD passes, Boller finished with a dreary passer rating of 75.2. He misfired on 15 of 31 passes and threw a late interception.
- Working against the makeshift Packers line, the Rams front seven didn’t apply much pass pressure. These guys let Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers break containment and scramble for 40 yards and a touchdown.
- Overall, the Rams defense allowed 402 yards as Rodgers posted a passer rating of 126.9. He kept bombing away, hitting one big play after another in the Rams secondary.
“You try to bounce back after those big plays, but they kill you,” Spagnuolo said.
Top Rams wide receiver Laurent Robinson left the game with an ankle injury and starting safety James Butler suffered an MCL injury. Those injuries left a bad team even more shorthanded.
“Laurent had done some good things for us in some key situations,” Spagnuolo said. “We’ll have to have other guys step up.”
And Butler, Spagnuolo said, “he kind of runs the show back there.”
So the Rams, 0-3, sank to the very bottom of the NFL. The Detroit Lions won today, so there can be no team worse than this one.
Spagnuolo says he doesn’t want to discuss the past, but he has done nothing to this point to break the three-year pattern of failure.
We are officially the worst team in football. So we have no where but up to go. At least have that to look forward to.
A bad team lost three starters today–3 starters who weren’t all that good anyway. So, the worst team in the NFL just got worse. What amazes me is that Leonard Little bagged a couple of quick sacks against the Packers’ re-grouped offensive line, and then our front 4 was finished for the day. Looks like Rodgers didn’t even have to break a sweat after the 1st quarter. Lousy defensive line, sad sack quarterbacks, not enough wide receivers to fill a roster, and the ones we have are not much good. This is a team extremely thin on talent. I loved that opening kick off return by Amendola, and the response of the home crowd, but it didn’t take our offense and special teams more than a few minutes to pee on it, like they’re good at doing.
We may be flat on our backs ,but we’re looking up
The Rams are a terrible football team. What will make this even more frustrating is when Spagnuolo talks about how the whole team bounced back from this frustrating loss and a had a great week of practice. I’m so sick of hearing this optimism about how Ron Bartell looks good in coverage against the scout team or how Adam Goldberg had a great weight training session..etc. It’s a bunch of garbage. I’m sick of hearing all this political spin. Just admit that we are TERRIBLE. I don’t know why, but that would make me feel better.
I have to go take a Rams, I was at the park and stepped in dog Rams. Rams happens, Wholly Rams, Rams head.
I’m sure you get the picture. This team doesn’t even deserve to be in the NFL.
Perhaps when the inevitable new regime takes over for the current incompetents, we can hire:
1. A General Manager with a track record of success.
2. A head coach with prior head coaching experience.
However, both of the above might actually cost money. The Rams need an owner with big bucks and the desire to actually build a competitive football team.
The current state of the Rams is actually a reflection on what happens when the team is owned for 30 years by a lunatic, 10 times married, octagenarian moron.
I would have to think over/under right now is 2 wins and I would take the under. There is no talent on this team and I am really concerned about current GM and if he can truly evaluate talent. I know it is early but right now he has not drafted anyone to write home about and has passed on some sure fire talent.
Well I have to thank you St. Louis. I will officially sign with the 49es this week because your GM just text me with “Looks like we got first pick next year, and you got your first pick payday.” I’m signing with the 49ers for less money because I am terrified to be drafted by the Rams.
Boy, that Billy Devaney sure can evaluate talent can’t he.Does he play with dolls in his spare time? He should be arrested for picking up his paycheck.If i were him I would feel totally humiliated by how weve gotten outdrafted since he took over.My optimism is gone, my patience spent.
Michael Crabtree-
Don’t rush to sign because we are looking at a blazing fast 5′7″ WR out of Sam Houston State. So even though we respect your talents, we will gracefully pass you up.
Sincerely.
Rams Management