LOL I think we have had this discussion a few times this year.
I hear you but, at if the Rams are losing yards, or gaining 2 yards or less then they are putting themselves in a hole. I just rewatched the 3rd quarter and the Rams were getting nowhere running the ball. They still had the play action. Goff slipped on the wide open pass to Gurley. Then ran Gurley for half yard lose and then a delay of game. Here are the plays of the second half before the Vikings went up 21-7.
- 1st and 10 at LAR 26
(13:45 - 3rd) T.Gurley up the middle to LA 28 for 2 yards (D.Hunter; T.Johnson).
- 2nd and 8 at LAR 28
(13:14 - 3rd) (No Huddle) J.Goff pass short middle to S.Watkins to LA 43 for 15 yards (X.Rhodes).
- 1st and 10 at LAR 43
(12:36 - 3rd) (Shotgun) J.Goff pass incomplete short right to T.Gurley.
- 2nd and 10 at LAR 43
(12:32 - 3rd) (No Huddle, Shotgun) T.Gurley left guard to LA 43 for no gain (T.Johnson; E.Kendricks).
- 3rd and 10 at LAR 43
(11:43 - 3rd) (Shotgun) PENALTY on LA-J.Goff, Delay of Game, 5 yards, enforced at LA 43 - No Play.
- 3rd and 15 at LAR 38
(11:20 - 3rd) (Shotgun) J.Goff pass short right to R.Woods to LA 46 for 8 yards (M.Alexander).
- 4th and 7 at LAR 46
(10:46 - 3rd) J.Hekker punts 40 yards to MIN 14, Center-J.McQuaide, fair catch by M.Sherels.Rams punt
This series was on Goff slipping and delay of game. They ran Guley enough for the play action to work. Here is the second series of 2nd half.
- 1st and 10 at LAR 29
(6:17 - 3rd) J.Goff pass incomplete deep left to S.Watkins.
- 2nd and 10 at LAR 29
(6:10 - 3rd) T.Gurley up the middle to LA 31 for 2 yards (S.Stephen; E.Kendricks).
- 3rd and 8 at LAR 31
(5:30 - 3rd) (Shotgun) J.Goff pass incomplete short right to R.Woods [E.Kendricks]. NOT REAL SHORT
- 4th and 8 at LAR 31
(5:24 - 3rd) J.Hekker punts 40 yards to MIN 29, Center-J.McQuaide, out of bounds.
They took a shot deep that failed. A Gurley run could only gain two yards and then pressure on third down. A bad series. Who knows maybe running would have been better than a long pass.
- (14:15 - 4th) K.Forbath kicks 70 yards from MIN 35 to LA -5. P.Cooper to LA 29 for 34 yards (J.Kearse).
- 1st and 10 at LAR 29
(14:10 - 4th) T.Gurley up the middle to LA 37 for 8 yards (S.Stephen).
- 2nd and 2 at LAR 37
(13:36 - 4th) J.Goff pass short left to S.Watkins to MIN 49 for 14 yards (A.Harris).
- 1st and 10 at MIN 49
(13:03 - 4th) J.Goff pass incomplete deep middle to R.Woods (H.Smith) [E.Kendricks].
- 2nd and 10 at MIN 49
(12:56 - 4th) (Shotgun) J.Goff pass incomplete short right to T.Higbee (H.Smith).
- 3rd and 10 at MIN 49
(12:51 - 4th) (Shotgun) J.Goff pass incomplete deep right to C.Kupp.
- 4th and 10 at MIN 49
(12:45 - 4th) (Punt formation) J.Hekker punts 42 yards to MIN 7, Center-J.McQuaide, downed by LA-J.Reynolds.
After the good run by Gurley and 14 yard gain to Watkins the Rams went deep. I didn't like the call. They were moving the ball. IIRC the deep pass to Woods was audibled at the line. He may have gotten out of the run. Maybe, they should have run here but they were committed . Things would have been different had Kupp made the catch. The Vikings waiting for the Rams to commit and then moving the defense changed some calls. Looking back the long incompletions put the Rams in a hole as much or more than the running game failing. Give the Vikings credit for making the right moves.