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Rams come up a bit short in 26-24 preseason loss to visiting New Orleans
• By Joe Lyons
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_24e08a2b-8162-5381-9de3-45973033a43e.html
A pair of late Greg Zuerlein field goal attempts in the game's final five or so minutes went wide left as New Orleans came away with a 26-24 victory over the Rams in the preseason opener for both clubs Friday night at the Edward Jones Dome.
The Rams will host the Green Bay Packers Saturday at 3 p.m.
Down 26-17 after three quarters, the Rams' comeback attempt started early in the final quarter as second-year quarterback Austin Davis hooked up with rookie free agent Austin Franklin on a 15-yard post pattern to make it 26-24 with 11:07 to play.
The five-play, 64-yard drive, aided by a hands-to-the-face call on the Saints, was highlighted by a 20-yard run from rookie Tre Mason, the Rams' third-round draft choice.
The Rams forced a punt and put together another nice drive with Davis leading the way. Key plays on the drive were passes to Alex Bayer, Chase Reynolds and Emory Blake.
But a 46-yard field goal from Greg Zuerlein was hooked to the left with 5:02 to play.
The Rams caught a break early in the next New Orleans' series as a pass through the hands of wideout Brandon Coleman and high into the air before being hauled in by rookie free agent linebacker Johnny Millard near midfield.
But the Rams were unable to move the ball.
The Rams got the ball back with just over two minutes to play and put themselves in position for another field goal at the buzzer. But the 49-yarder from Zuerlein again went to the left.
The Saints took control of the game in the third quarter, following up on a 37-yard field goal from University of Illinois product Derek Dimke early in the second half with an eight-play, 80-yard drive to go up 26-17 with 3:43 to play in the third quarter.
On the touchdown, a 25-yard pass from Ryan Griffin to first-round draft pick Brandin Cooks, New Orleans caught the Rams in a blitz and took advantage. Griffin's quick release, just ahead of a hit from Rams' rookie Ethan Westbrooks, found Cooks in the flat. He made a quick spin move to the inside allowed him to slip away from a pair of Rams' rookies, E.J. Gaines and Lamarcus Joyner.
The Rams responded with a little razzle-dazzle as Chase Reynolds ran 38 yards with on a fake punt to the New Orleans 35. Reynolds, a core special-teamer, made a great cutback move early and followed his blockers downfield.
The drive stalled, however, as rookie Tre Mason was stuffed on a fourth-and-inches play.
ZUERLEIN'S BOOT GIVES RAMS LEAD AT HALFTIME
Greg Zuerlein booted a 45-yard field goal as time expired as the Rams took a 17-16 lead to halftime in their preseason opener against the New Orleans Saints at the Edward Jones Dome.
The field goal capped some solid two-minute execution from the Rams and rookie quarterback Garrett Gilbert. Key plays of the drive included a pair of passes from Gilbert to Tavon Austin and a roughing-the-passer call against the Saints.
The Saints took their first lead of the game, going up 9-7 on a 2-yard scoring run from Khriry Robinson with 8:32 to play in the opening half. Graham's extra point _ from the 15-yard line in the first two weeks of the preseason _ bounced off the upright.
The Rams came right back, moving 71 yards on just five plays to regain the lead at 14-9 on a 24-yard pass from Hill to second-year wideout Stedman Bailey on a well-placed pass to the back shoulder with 5:59 to play in the second quarter. the . It was a well-placed throw to the back shoulder. Key plays on the drive included a pair of passes from Hill to tight end Lance Kendricks and a nifty 19-yard run from Benny Cunningham, who spun away from a defender in the backfield before racing for a first down.
New Orleans responded with a nine-play 80-yard drive to go up 16-14 on a 22-yard run by Mark Ingram with 2:37 left in the half. Ingram, a fourth-year pro from Alabama, made a nice cutback run for the score, bouncing off a Cody Davis' tackle at about the 15-yard-line.
Some quick halftime stats: Hill completed 5 of 7 passes for 84 yards and two touchdowns while Gilbert was 5 of 8 for 46 yards. Benny Cunningham has 24 rushing yards.
Austin has three catches for 20 yards. Kendricks has two for 20. Seven different Rams have caught passes.
RAMS UP 7-3 AFTER ONE QUARTER
Chris Long makes the first big play of the game, picking off a screen pass near midfield to halt the night's first drive.
Six plays later, the Rams' Shaun Hill found a wide-open Cory Harkey in the left flat and the third-year tight end took it the rest of the way for a 16-yard touchdown with 8:10 to play in the first quarter. The key play of the 47-yard drive was a 24-yard pass from Hill to tight end Jared Cook.
The Saints answered with an 11-yard drive that resulted in a 37-yard field goal from Shayne Graham to make it 7-3 with 3:28 to play in the opening quarter.
During that New Orleans' drive, with 5:13 to play, defensive end Michael Sam from Mizzou took the field, becoming the first opening gay player to compete in an NFL preseason game.
RAMS, SAINTS KICK OFF PRESASON
The Rams and New Orleans Saints will kick off their preseason schedule tonight at 7 at the Edward Jones Dome.
It marks the third preseason meeting between the teams. The Rams are 2-0 against the Saints in preseason and own a 40-32 regular-season action against New Orleans. Because the two were division rivals prior to the 2002 realignment, the two haven't met in the preseason since 1968.
The Saints make the trip to St. Louis for the third time in four seasons. The Rams have won both previous meetings, including a 27-16 victory that featured huge games from defensive end Robert Quinn (two sacks, one forced fumble, one recovered fumble) and running back Zac Stacy (133 rushing yards, touchdown).
Rams are wearing their all-blue uniforms. The Saints have white jerseys with gold pants.
• By Joe Lyons
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_24e08a2b-8162-5381-9de3-45973033a43e.html
A pair of late Greg Zuerlein field goal attempts in the game's final five or so minutes went wide left as New Orleans came away with a 26-24 victory over the Rams in the preseason opener for both clubs Friday night at the Edward Jones Dome.
The Rams will host the Green Bay Packers Saturday at 3 p.m.
Down 26-17 after three quarters, the Rams' comeback attempt started early in the final quarter as second-year quarterback Austin Davis hooked up with rookie free agent Austin Franklin on a 15-yard post pattern to make it 26-24 with 11:07 to play.
The five-play, 64-yard drive, aided by a hands-to-the-face call on the Saints, was highlighted by a 20-yard run from rookie Tre Mason, the Rams' third-round draft choice.
The Rams forced a punt and put together another nice drive with Davis leading the way. Key plays on the drive were passes to Alex Bayer, Chase Reynolds and Emory Blake.
But a 46-yard field goal from Greg Zuerlein was hooked to the left with 5:02 to play.
The Rams caught a break early in the next New Orleans' series as a pass through the hands of wideout Brandon Coleman and high into the air before being hauled in by rookie free agent linebacker Johnny Millard near midfield.
But the Rams were unable to move the ball.
The Rams got the ball back with just over two minutes to play and put themselves in position for another field goal at the buzzer. But the 49-yarder from Zuerlein again went to the left.
The Saints took control of the game in the third quarter, following up on a 37-yard field goal from University of Illinois product Derek Dimke early in the second half with an eight-play, 80-yard drive to go up 26-17 with 3:43 to play in the third quarter.
On the touchdown, a 25-yard pass from Ryan Griffin to first-round draft pick Brandin Cooks, New Orleans caught the Rams in a blitz and took advantage. Griffin's quick release, just ahead of a hit from Rams' rookie Ethan Westbrooks, found Cooks in the flat. He made a quick spin move to the inside allowed him to slip away from a pair of Rams' rookies, E.J. Gaines and Lamarcus Joyner.
The Rams responded with a little razzle-dazzle as Chase Reynolds ran 38 yards with on a fake punt to the New Orleans 35. Reynolds, a core special-teamer, made a great cutback move early and followed his blockers downfield.
The drive stalled, however, as rookie Tre Mason was stuffed on a fourth-and-inches play.
ZUERLEIN'S BOOT GIVES RAMS LEAD AT HALFTIME
Greg Zuerlein booted a 45-yard field goal as time expired as the Rams took a 17-16 lead to halftime in their preseason opener against the New Orleans Saints at the Edward Jones Dome.
The field goal capped some solid two-minute execution from the Rams and rookie quarterback Garrett Gilbert. Key plays of the drive included a pair of passes from Gilbert to Tavon Austin and a roughing-the-passer call against the Saints.
The Saints took their first lead of the game, going up 9-7 on a 2-yard scoring run from Khriry Robinson with 8:32 to play in the opening half. Graham's extra point _ from the 15-yard line in the first two weeks of the preseason _ bounced off the upright.
The Rams came right back, moving 71 yards on just five plays to regain the lead at 14-9 on a 24-yard pass from Hill to second-year wideout Stedman Bailey on a well-placed pass to the back shoulder with 5:59 to play in the second quarter. the . It was a well-placed throw to the back shoulder. Key plays on the drive included a pair of passes from Hill to tight end Lance Kendricks and a nifty 19-yard run from Benny Cunningham, who spun away from a defender in the backfield before racing for a first down.
New Orleans responded with a nine-play 80-yard drive to go up 16-14 on a 22-yard run by Mark Ingram with 2:37 left in the half. Ingram, a fourth-year pro from Alabama, made a nice cutback run for the score, bouncing off a Cody Davis' tackle at about the 15-yard-line.
Some quick halftime stats: Hill completed 5 of 7 passes for 84 yards and two touchdowns while Gilbert was 5 of 8 for 46 yards. Benny Cunningham has 24 rushing yards.
Austin has three catches for 20 yards. Kendricks has two for 20. Seven different Rams have caught passes.
RAMS UP 7-3 AFTER ONE QUARTER
Chris Long makes the first big play of the game, picking off a screen pass near midfield to halt the night's first drive.
Six plays later, the Rams' Shaun Hill found a wide-open Cory Harkey in the left flat and the third-year tight end took it the rest of the way for a 16-yard touchdown with 8:10 to play in the first quarter. The key play of the 47-yard drive was a 24-yard pass from Hill to tight end Jared Cook.
The Saints answered with an 11-yard drive that resulted in a 37-yard field goal from Shayne Graham to make it 7-3 with 3:28 to play in the opening quarter.
During that New Orleans' drive, with 5:13 to play, defensive end Michael Sam from Mizzou took the field, becoming the first opening gay player to compete in an NFL preseason game.
RAMS, SAINTS KICK OFF PRESASON
The Rams and New Orleans Saints will kick off their preseason schedule tonight at 7 at the Edward Jones Dome.
It marks the third preseason meeting between the teams. The Rams are 2-0 against the Saints in preseason and own a 40-32 regular-season action against New Orleans. Because the two were division rivals prior to the 2002 realignment, the two haven't met in the preseason since 1968.
The Saints make the trip to St. Louis for the third time in four seasons. The Rams have won both previous meetings, including a 27-16 victory that featured huge games from defensive end Robert Quinn (two sacks, one forced fumble, one recovered fumble) and running back Zac Stacy (133 rushing yards, touchdown).
Rams are wearing their all-blue uniforms. The Saints have white jerseys with gold pants.