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Rams at Cardinals: First and 5 From the Arizona Loss
First...
While the St. Louis Rams once again found a way to lose a game late, the Arizona Cardinals showed why they are the NFL's best at closing out games, turning on the turbo in the final period to soundly defeat the Rams 31-14.
It doesn't hardly seem possible now, but St. Louis was still leading 14-10 at the eight minute mark of the fourth quarter. From then on, however, it was all Arizona -- as the Rams were outscored 21-0 over the final 7:49.
St. Louis was rolling along nicely well into the fourth period until an erroneous illegal block call against tight end Lance Kendricks knocked the Rams out of scoring range and ultimately altered the game's momentum.
Of course, the best teams tend to find a way to overcome poor officiating. St. Louis, though, is among the league's youngest club's for a third consecutive campaign and certainly not yet one of the NFL's upper echelon squads at 3-6.
In looking back at the incredible turn of events that followed that ill-fated flag, it is hard to deny that it was not in fact a game-changing infraction.
Did it have to be a critical turning point in the action? No, of course not. But did it end up being something that significantly impacted the affair, nonetheless? Yes, it absolutely did.
It is a shame that the NFL's officiating this season, in Rams games at least, has been officially offensive.
And 5...
1. The Cardinals entered week 10 action with the second best turnover differential in the NFL at +10. Without having the benefit of a high potency offense or defense-- just fourteenth in the league on either side of the ball entering the Rams contest -- Arizona's ability to win the turnover battle has been a critical key to their success.
Against St. Louis, the Big Red bettered their season's turnover differencial by finishing +2 and now stand tied with the Patriots for the league's best rate in the category at +12.
Good teams with good records typically win the turnover battle. Decades of statistical data offers undeniable proof in that regard.
On the other hand, lesser teams like the Rams usually struggle in relation to this stat. Thus, it is no surprise to see St. Louis at -5 in regard to the giveaway/takeaway numbers through the fall's first nine games.
2. It was a tale of two halves for St. Louis and quartback Austin Davis.
(For much more on Austin Davis, the defense, the physicality and potential of the Rams secondary and the steal that was/is E.J. Gaines, please check full read below. Thanks for all the great support, ROD):
http://www.insidestl.com/insideSTLc...dinals-First-and-5-From-the-Arizona-Loss.aspx
First...
While the St. Louis Rams once again found a way to lose a game late, the Arizona Cardinals showed why they are the NFL's best at closing out games, turning on the turbo in the final period to soundly defeat the Rams 31-14.
It doesn't hardly seem possible now, but St. Louis was still leading 14-10 at the eight minute mark of the fourth quarter. From then on, however, it was all Arizona -- as the Rams were outscored 21-0 over the final 7:49.
St. Louis was rolling along nicely well into the fourth period until an erroneous illegal block call against tight end Lance Kendricks knocked the Rams out of scoring range and ultimately altered the game's momentum.
Of course, the best teams tend to find a way to overcome poor officiating. St. Louis, though, is among the league's youngest club's for a third consecutive campaign and certainly not yet one of the NFL's upper echelon squads at 3-6.
In looking back at the incredible turn of events that followed that ill-fated flag, it is hard to deny that it was not in fact a game-changing infraction.
Did it have to be a critical turning point in the action? No, of course not. But did it end up being something that significantly impacted the affair, nonetheless? Yes, it absolutely did.
It is a shame that the NFL's officiating this season, in Rams games at least, has been officially offensive.
And 5...
1. The Cardinals entered week 10 action with the second best turnover differential in the NFL at +10. Without having the benefit of a high potency offense or defense-- just fourteenth in the league on either side of the ball entering the Rams contest -- Arizona's ability to win the turnover battle has been a critical key to their success.
Good teams with good records typically win the turnover battle. Decades of statistical data offers undeniable proof in that regard.
On the other hand, lesser teams like the Rams usually struggle in relation to this stat. Thus, it is no surprise to see St. Louis at -5 in regard to the giveaway/takeaway numbers through the fall's first nine games.
2. It was a tale of two halves for St. Louis and quartback Austin Davis.
(For much more on Austin Davis, the defense, the physicality and potential of the Rams secondary and the steal that was/is E.J. Gaines, please check full read below. Thanks for all the great support, ROD):
http://www.insidestl.com/insideSTLc...dinals-First-and-5-From-the-Arizona-Loss.aspx