Yes, you read that right. The St. Louis Rams won today. But once again, the Rams opened up a game with a big lead going into the half leading the Seattle Seahawks 21-6. Then, I looked back at their first five games. They have led at the half in three of the games including today…and are 1-4. Just think if they could have played a complete game against Dallas and San Francisco, we could be looking at a 3-2 team. If they finished off that comeback against Philadelphia, 4-1. So, forgive me if I didn’t feel comfortable with that big lead at the half today.
In a game that of course included a late game rally by the Seahawks, the Rams held on to win 28-26. Chalk the win up to the special teams though because they were a force all day. Rams punter Johnny Hekker, a former high school quarterback, caught Seattle off guard and gave the Rams a first down after an 18 yard completion to Benny Cunningham with 2:55 to play. That was followed by a Tre Mason fumble that would have put Seattle in great field position to try for a winning field goal. But somehow Rams tight end Cory Harkey recovered the fumble, and the Rams took a kneel down to finish the game.
The return game was brilliant today. Benny Cunningham started things off with a 75-yard kickoff return to lead to an early Rams touchdown by Tre Mason on a 6 yard run. Then Stedman Bailey had a 90-yard return on a trick play that even had the camera man fooled as Tavon Austin drew most defenders to the other side of the field. Austin sold it perfectly as he looked to be settled under the imaginary ball to catch it as he fell to the ground.
Rams quarterback Austin Davis had a quietly productive day going 18-21 for 152 yards and two touchdown passes to Cunningham and tight end Lance Kendricks. Tre Mason finished the day with 18 carries for 85 yards and one rushing touchdown.
Russell Wilson staged an admirable comeback for the Seahawks but came up short, finishing with 419 yards of total offense. Wilson had 313 yards in the air with two passing touchdowns along with 7 carries for 107 yards and one rushing touchdown.
The win brings the Rams to 2-4, while the Seahawks drop two straight and fall to 3-3.
Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images
