Rams Win What Could Be Final Home Game
Published on December 18 2015 6:12 am
Last Updated on December 18 2015 6:13 am
Rams players saw the signs, heard the chanting, noticed the volume was turned up. The effort was inspired on what could have been the final home game for the franchise in St. Louis.
"It was a great atmosphere," quarterback Case Keenum said after the Rams beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 31-23 on Thursday night. "I think it was a great atmosphere for the nation to watch.
"The crowd was into it. It was a lot of fun."
Tavon Austin scored twice, Todd Gurley topped 1,000 yards rushing, and Keenum threw two touchdown passes in the first quarter. The 31st-ranked offense rolled to a 21-3 halftime lead.
"It was just great for them to come out and show the support tonight and it was a beautiful thing," defensive end William Hayes said. "We haven't been putting the best product on the field the whole year."
Fans chanted "Keep Our Rams! Keep Our Rams!" and carried signs, one of them reading "We Don't Need Kroenke, We Just Want our Rams."
Owner Stan Kroenke, who wants to move the Rams (6-8) to Los Angeles, attended the finale but kept a low profile.
The team announced 51,295 tickets had been distributed for the 66,000-capacity dome.
Up 31-13, the Rams became conservative, and Jameis Winston took advantage with two touchdown passes in a big fourth quarter. He had just 125 yards passing the first three quarters, but finished with a career-best 363, his first 300-yard effort, for Tampa Bay (6-8).
Saturday, December 19 Schedule (Time Central)
New York at Dallas, 7:25 p.m.
Sunday, December 20 (All Times Central)
Chicago at Minnesota, noon
Atlanta at Jacksonville, noon
Houston at Indianapolis, noon
Carolina at New York, noon
Tennessee at New England, noon
Buffalo at Washington, noon
Kansas City at Baltimore, noon
Cleveland at Seattle, 3:05 p.m.
Green Bay at Oakland, 3:05 p.m.
Denver at Pittsburgh, 3:25 p.m.
Miami at San Diego, 3:25 p.m.
Cincinnati at San Francisco, 3:25 p.m.
Arizona at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m.
Monday, December 21 (Time Central)
Detroit at New Orleans, 7:30 p.m.
