Okay, so maybe the parade was already in the works… but it was for the team playing about half a mile south on Broadway. That being said, after watching and analyzing them through six games, what the St. Louis Rams accomplished on Sunday against the New Orleans Saints seemed about as likely as the Cardinals winning the World Series did back in August.
Suited up in throw backs from when the St. Louis Rams and New Orleans Saints were once division rivals, the Rams appeared to bring back the intensity that once defined the rivalry between the two teams. Sunday served as a reminder of the competitive games these teams once played and offered a glimpse of the Rams team so many fans and analysts anticipated back in August.
Playing as a team with nothing to lose, the Rams came out fast and aggressive on both sides of the ball. Perhaps catching New Orleans off guard. Though both passes went incomplete, Josh McDaniels called two deep routes from AJ Feeley to Brandon Lloyd on the Rams’ first possession. This was a statement. A statement that the Rams would not be content playing to keep the game close but came out playing to win. And even without their future star quarterback, they were prepared to take the game right to the Saints.
Perhaps the most shocking thing about this afternoon’s Rams win over the Saints was that there was nothing fluky, nothing lucky about it. Each team lined up, eleven on eleven, and the Rams simply beat the team opposite them.
Steven Jackson awoke like a sleeping giant accounting for 191 yards of total offense. Jackson finished the day rushing for 159 yards and two touchdowns in his first 100-yard game in three seasons. His leadership could be seen though out the game. Most notable as he barked at Roger Saffold after a costly false start late in the game. This passion, this hunger was something noticeably missing from the Rams up until Sunday.
The Rams offense reversed an offensive early season streak, going 3/3 in the red zone with three touchdowns. It was a feat not lost on Rams fans or media. But it was the Rams’ defense, not its offense, that set the tone.
Led by Chris Long’s impressive performance, Drew Brees was sacked six times and intercepted twice. Rookie Robert Quinn made sure his name appeared in the post game analysis as well with a sack of his own and a blocked punt setting up the Rams score just before half. And the secondary, having lost its top four cornerbacks to injury, started 97-year-old Al Harris and a fellow former Packer just signed off the street — and made the Saints’ vaunted WRs into non-factors.
One week after New Orleans took the inept Indianapolis Colts behind the woodshed to the tune of 62 points, they simply got shut down by the Rams. The Saints were held scoreless in the first half for the first time since 2007, mustering just 94 yards total offense and going one for six on third down. Drew Brees had his least impressive passing day in recent memory, and Jimmy Graham had his five game streak of games with 100 yards or a touchdown scored halted.
Many of the issues that have plagued St. Louis all season were non-existent. Holding the Saints to just two offensive scores, and, going against their trend of giving up the big play as they have all season, see Baltimore Ravens and Dallas Cowboys for prime examples, the Rams did not surrender a play of more than 25 yards.
At 0-6 the Rams did not come into this game fighting for a spot in the playoffs. They came in fighting for themselves, their coaches, their fans and their pride.
And for the first time all season it showed as the Rams made the big plays when they needed to and got the big stop when it was needed. Taking advantage of opportunities St. Louis turned two interceptions into 14 points and just may have turned a lost season into one with hope.
Blue Kool-aid for everyone.
