By any measure, Rams come up short again in 13-10 loss to the Panthers
The Rams fell to the Panthers, 13-10, for their fourth consecutive loss. Is it time for Jeff Fisher to insert Jared Goff at quarterback?
The boos rained down in the first quarter after a pass deflection and a sack.
They continued into the second quarter as a Rams offense led by quarterback Case Keenum sputtered.
Late in the first half against the Carolina Panthers, some fans at the Coliseum apparently could not take it any longer.
“We want Goff!” they chanted. “We want Goff!”
Jared Goff, the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft, never got off the sideline, but the Rams’ 13-10 loss might have served as a referendum for a team that continues to spiral downward, mainly because of an offense that consistently falls short.
The Rams’ fourth consecutive loss dropped their record to 3-5. In each game during the losing streak, they had opportunities to tie or win with second-half rallies and failed.
“We have to figure out a way to score some points,” Coach Jeff Fisher said.
And run the ball. And reduce penalties.
On Sunday, Panthers quarterback Cam Newton managed to pass for his team’s only touchdown, but that was enough against a Rams team whose offense ranks among the NFL’s worst.
They Rams have reached the season’s midpoint, and they are one game into a four-game stretch against opponents that had been struggling.
But the prospects of returning to their early season winning ways are not encouraging.
Offensive lineman Rodger Saffold declared that “enough is enough” and that the offense must score touchdowns.
“Enough with just sitting around saying, ‘Let’s stick together,’” he said. “It’s time to just go power it in.”
After the Rams’ loss to the New York Giants in London two weeks ago — a defeat that included four Keenum interceptions — Fisher did not wait for questions from reporters.
He said Keenum would remain the starter.
Asked if he would reevaluate that decision after Sunday’s performance, Fisher said, “I don’t think Case’s play [Sunday] was indicative of raising the question.”
Keenum passed for 296 yards and a late touchdown, but he missed open receiver Brian Quick on a deep route and threw short on passes to others.
And with the Rams trailing by seven points late in the third quarter, linebacker Thomas Davis intercepted a Keenum pass, bringing on another onslaught of boos.
It was Keenum’s 11th interception, and fifth in two games.
“It was a bad decision,” he said. “It was a poor decision.”
Keenum heard the boos.
“I can tell they’re frustrated,” he said.
And the chants for Goff.
“They have a right to feel however they want to feel,” Keenum said, adding “We have to score more points, so I understand.”
Keenum was not entirely at fault for the Rams’ lack of production.
Running back Todd Gurley continued to struggle, gaining only 48 yards in 12 carries. Gurley acknowledged hearing boos. The loss “was not the end of the world,” he said.
“We’ve been playing the game for a long time,” he said. “All of us have been booed before, so you’ve just got to ignore it.”
Gurley said he supported Keenum.
“A lot of people want to put the blame on him and, you know, he’s used to that — that’s what quarterbacks do,” Gurley said, adding, “We’re with him and support him and we’re going to keep riding with him.”
Keenum did engineer a late threat.
Trailing 10-0 midway through the fourth quarter, he drove the Rams to the seven-yard line. But tight end Lance Kendricks dropped a pass at the goal line, forcing the Rams to settle for a field goal.
The Panthers added a field goal with 3:18 left before Keenum’s short touchdown pass to Kenny Britt with 34 seconds remaining cut the deficit to three points.
“It was too little, too late,” Keenum said.
The Rams’ dropped to 3-5 after losing to the Panthers, 13-10. They’ve lost four in a row, so why isn’t Jared Goff, their top pick in the NFL draft, playing?
The Panthers recovered a squib kick to secure the victory.
The loss ruined another outstanding effort from a defense that entered the game ranked 11th in the NFL.
A week after Newton complained to the NFL commissioner about alleged illegal hits in the pocket, the Rams sacked the reigning most valuable player five times.
Defensive players would not blame the offense — ranked 30th before Sunday — for the Rams’ struggles.
“We’ve got to finish games and create turnovers on defense,” said cornerback Trumaine Johnson, who returned from a knee injury and started. “I’m not going to point fingers.”
The Rams travel to New York next week to play the Jets and then play the Miami Dolphins at home before a Thanksgiving weekend game at New Orleans.
They have eight games left in a season that is on the verge of going completely awry.
Defensive end Robert Quinn said it was on the players to turn it around.
“Hopefully,” he said, “guys are aware of our situation.”
Twitter: @LATimesklein
Go beyond the scoreboard
Get the latest on L.A.'s teams in the daily Sports Report newsletter.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
