Sunday, December 19, 2004
By Nick Wagoner
Staff Writer
TEMPE, Ariz. – Just when it appeared things couldn’t get much worse for the Rams after the debacle in Carolina last week, they might have topped it Sunday.
At the end of the first quarter, the score was 10-0 Arizona. It might as well have been 7-0, as in first downs gained for the Cardinals and first downs (or lack thereof) by the Rams. Another option would have been 108 to negative 20, as in the total yardage for Arizona versus total yardage for St. Louis.
A stunningly bad first quarter set the stage for a shockingly awful performance that led to Arizona’s 31-7 win at Sun Devil Stadium on Sunday. The loss was the Rams’ first to the Cardinals since they became divisional opponents two years ago.
More important than any of that, though, St. Louis missed a prime opportunity to take back control of the NFC West Division and its playoff hopes. Before Sunday’s game even began, the Jets drubbed Seattle and Carolina had lost to Atlanta. A win for the Rams would have moved them to 7-7 and into a tie with the Seahawks for first place in the division.
Instead, St. Louis fell to 6-8 and has two difficult home games coming up to save its playoff hopes. Arizona improved to 5-9 on the season.
Perhaps the worst part about losing to a team that had lost its four previous games was the fact that it seemed that Arizona, not St. Louis was the team playing for a playoff spot. The Rams came out as flat as can be and were punished for it early and often.
Without quarterback
Marc Bulger because of a sprained right shoulder, Chris Chandler made his second straight start. Chandler was coming off a six-interception debacle on Dec. 12 against Carolina. In that game, at least, Chandler had a number other than zero in his quarterback rating statistic afterward. Because of that performance, Chandler entered Sunday’s game on a short leash.
That leash was pulled in after another rough performance. Chandler barely made it out of the first quarter after going one-of-six for 1 yard, an interception and two sacks. Jamie Martin replaced Chandler on the Rams’ first possession of the second quarter.
But St. Louis’ hopes for a win appeared dashed in that first quarter. Compounding Chandler’s continued struggles were a lack of running game (two carries for negative 1 yard) and a poor defensive performance (108 yards allowed).
After the Rams’ second straight three-and-out, Arizona promptly marched 73 yards on 10 plays, capped by quarterback Josh McCown’s 1-yard touchdown sneak. Kicker Neil Rackers’ extra point made it 7-0. Rackers added a 48-yard field goal on the Cardinals’ next possession to make it 10-0, after Chandler was picked off by cornerback David Macklin.
Martin, who was out of football entirely a little over two weeks ago, had slightly more success as the second quarter started, but not much. By the time he took the field, Arizona had scored again on an 8-yard touchdown toss from McCown to receiver Larry Fitzgerald. By the time the game was over, Martin was 15-of-30 for XXX yards.
One player the Rams hoped to get back this week was rookie running back
Steven Jackson. Jackson dressed for the game and practiced most of the week, but did not play because of a sprained knee. It was the second week in a row that Jackson didn’t play, leaving St. Louis with a severely depleted backfield.
The Rams’ defense proved to be its best (and only) offense. Down 17-0 at the end of the first half, defensive end Anthony Hargrove burst around end and nailed McCown, jarring the ball loose. Fellow end
Leonard Little scooped it up and raced 60 yards for a touchdown. Jeff Wilkins’ extra point made it 17-7 Arizona. That play seemed like it might give the Rams some momentum and hopes for the second half, but it was not to be.
Fitzgerald and McCown went to work again. McCown hit the rookie receiver again in the third quarter for a 4-yard touchdown to make it 24-7 Arizona. McCown tacked on a 9-yard touchdown run with 10:54 left to make it 31-7 Arizona.
Even when the Rams’ offense finally got something going, something else went wrong. Martin hit receiver
Torry Holt over the middle and, as Holt fought to get in the endzone, the ball came loose. Safety Ifeanyi Ohalete forced and recovered the ball in the back of the endzone for a touchback, thus ending the Rams’ chances at getting back in the game.
With so many opportunities passing it by, St. Louis now finds its hopes for any kind of postseason play on life support. Perhaps the return of Bulger and/or Jackson can be the type of shock the Rams need, but will it be too late?
Any more quarters like the first one in Arizona on Sunday and that question answers itself.
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