RAMS SUCK

Though Sunday’s 30-10 loss at Arizona dropped the Rams to 5-8 and eliminated them from postseason contention, the final three weeks of the season will still carry a considerable weight for a team in search of its first .500 season in seven seasons

In addition to the Rams’ pursuit of their first 8-8 record since 2006, a number of Rams have plenty to accomplish in the season’s final three games. From offensive rookies to defensive veterans and potential Pro Bowl specialists, the Rams have a host of players closing in on regular season milestones.

Despite boasting the league’s seventh-ranked defense, Arizona has seen three tight ends post games of seven or more receptions and more than 100 yards receiving. San Francisco’s Vernon Davis posted the biggest day of all against Arizona, with nine catches for 180 yards in Week 6. Cook has begun to regain his footing in the passing game in recent weeks while establishing a rapport with QB Kellen Clemes Cook has scored   in two of his last four games, including a four-reception, 80-yard game two weeks in Chicago.

RAMS WEEK 14

After a pair of convincing victories over the past three weeks, the Rams traveled to San Francisco in search of making a comeback for an early-season home loss to the 49ers. Instead, the Rams saw their two-game winning streak come to a end in a 23-13 loss in their final visit to San Francisco.

The loss came despite a much improved showing against the run. After allowing RB Frank Gore a season-high 153 yards rushing in the two teams’ first meeting, Gore was held to just 42 yards on 15 carries on Sunday. Which is one of the reasons that the Rams did not lose that bad

            After initially falling in a 13-0 hole, the Rams countered with a 43-yard, Greg Zuerline field goal on their final drive of the first half. Following a three-and-out 49ers possession to open the third quarter, Zuerlein booted a 34-yard field goal to bring the Rams within a single possession. The Rams would be unable to narrow the score further.

            “Credit to their defense and credit to the quarterback,” Head Coach Jeff Fisher said following Sunday’s loss. “He did a nice job extending plays.”

RAMA WEEK 12

In week 12 the Rams had a by week but with six weeks remaining in the NFL season, the Pro Bowl voting period is coming up, and two Rams with a banner seasons appear make their Pro Bowl debuts.

Defensive end Robert Quinn and punter Johnny Hekker have each performed among the best in the league at their positions, and have positioned themselves in reach of the NFL’s all-star game.

In Quinn’s third NFL season he enters this week with 12 sacks, a figure that leads the NFC and ranks second in the NFL to Indianapolis’ Robert Mathis, who has 13.5. Hekker, in just his second NFL season, leads the NFL in net punting yardage at 43.5. Led by his efforts, the Rams have excelled in the area of punt coverage, and have allowed just 73 return yards this year, which ranks second-fewest in the NFL. Only 23 of Hekker’s 53 punts this year have been returned.

If named to the roster, Hekker would become the first Rams punter to be selected for the Pro Bowl since Dale Hatcher in 1985.

RAMS WEEK 9

  Midway through the third quarter of Sunday’s 28-21 loss to the Tennessee Titans, the Rams appeared headed for their third home victory of the season and a positive start to the second half of schedule. Instead, the Rams were saddled with their first loss of the year when holding a second-half lead.

            The loss  gave standout performance from rookie RB Zac Stacy who made the team’s first two rushing touchdowns of the season. In just his fifth NFL start, Stacy surpassed 100 yards on the ground for the second straight game, finishing with 127 yards on 27 carries. Included in his day was a 32-yard run that set up a game-tying, 10-yard touchdown pass to TE Jared Cook with 6:15 remaining in the fourth quarter.

            

QB Kellen Clemns keyed the Rams’ early success offensively, as he started the afternoon by completing his first seven passes for 75 yards. He finished the game 20 of 35 passing for 210 yards and a touchdown, and completed passes to seven different receivers. The lone blemish on the day for Clemens was a fourth-quarter fumble that led to the Titans’ game-winning drive. For the second straight week, Clemens led a last-minute drive into scoring range, but saw his final pass of the day glanced off WR Austin Pettis’ hands in the corner of the end zone.

RAMS WEEK 8

With QB Sam Bradford at the main of the offense through the season’s first seven weeks, the Rams were among the league’s best in limiting turnovers. Bradford threw just four interceptions this year, and the Rams played consecutive games without a turnover in Weeks 5 and 6.  Despite their three turnovers last week in Carolina, the Rams are tied for the eighth-fewest giveaways this year.

QB Kellen Clemens will now be tasked with providing a spark against the league’s second-ranked defense, as well as continuing the Rams’ steady turnover ratio. This week will be Clemens’ first start since 2011, though he has gained a penchant for his ability to protect the football. In 17 games, including four starts, since 2010, Clemens has thrown just two interceptions.

Despite grabbing an early 3-0 lead with a 33-yard field goal by Greg Zuerlein in the Rams’ second possession of the game, two costly interceptions limited what could have been a sizeable early advantage. Positioned within the Zuerlein’s range in their next possession, Clemens was picked off by LB Bruce Irvin to halt the drive. Seattle CB Richard Sherman later ended another promising Rams possession in the second quarter.

RAMS

Clemens, who began the year in his third season as Sam Bradford’s backup, was called upon after Bradford left Sunday’s game in the fourth quarter with a torn ACL in his left knee. In less than a week, Clemens will assume the role of starter as the Rams take on Seattle on Monday night Clemens, who began the year in his third season as Sam Bradford’s backup, was called upon after Bradford left Sunday’s game in the fourth quarter with a torn ACL in his left knee.

ST. LOUIS – An MRI conducted late Sunday evening confirmed that Rams QB Sam Bradford suffered a torn (ACL) in his left knee during the team’s Week 7 contest against the Carolina Panthers. Bradford will miss the remainder of the 2013 season. 

In a move to improve the team’s depth at the quarterback position, the Rams signed Austin Brown and Brady Quinn on Tuesday. In a  roster move, the Rams released G Brandon Washington and practice squad LB Jonathan Stewart. QB  Sam Bradford was moved to the injured reserve.

Davis begins his second duty with the Rams. He served as the Rams’ third-string quarterback in 2012, and competed with current starter Kellen Clemens during training camp this year for the team’s backup quarterback job. Davis was released on August 31.

Rams

 Sam Bradford attempted 16 passes against Houston on Sunday, but he made the all count as he completed 12 for 117 yards and three touchdowns. The result was a career-high quarterback rating of 134.6.

The Rams have found something in Zac Stacy at running back the past two weeks. The position is getting at least some semblance of stability. That doesn't mean the Rams have a definitive answer at the position for the long term, but Stacy looks to be pleading a decent case.