The Sky is Not Falling

    I just finished reading Anthony's recap from Monday's game, and I think he does a good job of summing up the feelings of most Rams fans this week: Disappointed.  Since the moment the game ended on Monday night, the theme from St. Louis sports talk radio, the local newspaper and Rams fans everywhere, has been that of disappointment.  Most observers seem upset with the Rams for blowing the game against the Giants, beating themselves with penalties / turnovers and littering the Monday night stage with mind-boggling (almost wacky) roster decisions.  I won't defend the roster (especially, Brandon Gibson and Craig Dahl,) but I will say that I'm not nearly as upset after this game as others seem to be.

    Yes, the Rams made mistakes.  Yes, they committed far too many drive-extending penalties.  Yes, their turnovers were crucial and back-breaking.  Yes, they squandered an opportunity to win the game.  My excitement comes from the fact that they HAD an opportunity to win the game.  Without key starters.  On the road.  On Monday Night Football.

    Think about that for a minute.  The Rams were playing on Monday Night Football.  The franchise last appeared on the week's showcase game on December 11th, 2006.  2006 was same year that Jeff Weaver, Preston Wilson and Ronnie Belliard helped lead the St. Louis Cardinals to a World Championship.  In other words, it's been awhile.  The 2011 Rams are a total of 18 games removed from a disastrous season in 2009, in which they finished 1-15.   The Rams being scheduled to play this, the 2nd game of the year on Monday Night Football shows that the franchise is working it's way back to relevance.  So, the Rams travel to New York to play another 0-1 team in the Giants.  The Giants were also banged-up, but they were playing at home and they needed a win.  They travel to Philadelphia now in Week 3.  A loss against the Rams on Monday Night would have left the Giants staring at an 0-3 start and Tom Coughlin staring at the beginning of the end of his run as the team's head coach.  All in all, the Giants felt pressure and urgency to win this game.  The Giants came into the game with Vegas favoring them by 7 points, and we all know just how good Vegas is at making predictions.  The Giants had to win, were favored to win, and therefore, SHOULD have won.  And, they did.  But, the game also provided Rams fans reasons to remain optimistic.

     The Rams simply looked like the better team in this game.  They looked more explosive than the Giants, shown through Danario Alexander's 68 yard run and catch in the 1st quarter.    The Rams out-gained the Giants 367 yards to 300.  Sam Bradford threw for a career high 331 yards.  The previously mentioned Alexander had his first career 100 yard game.  Mike Sims-Walker added 92 yards on 6 catches.  It's clear he can help.  The offense overall was impressive.  They did struggle in the red zone and Bradford did complete less than 50% of his passes.  But, the team made plays and moved the ball consistently without the presence of the team's best running back (and best player) Steven Jackson, and last season's leading receiver Danny Amendola. The Rams held Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs to a 3.1 yard / carry average.  The Rams also stifled Eli Manning and the Giants passing attack for most of the game, without the services of starting cornerback Ron Bartell.  A year, or two ago the Rams would have lost this game by 30 points, especially if missing their 2 most most productive skill players and top cornerback.

    My point is this:  The Rams sucked in the red zone, didn't finish drives and constantly beat themselves on Monday night.  While that is disappointing, it's nice to know that they are now at the point of being capable of winning this type of game.  The Rams have put themselves in a position from a talent standpoint, that THEY can actually give away games.  That's not something anyone could have said as recently as 2009.

    If (and it's a big if) the Rams can clean-up their blatant mistakes and get Jackson & Amendola back soon, I still see an 8-8 record ... and an 8-8 record wins the NFC West.  Relax, Rams fans.  There is still plenty to look forward to this season.

Written by: Michael Handshear