Offense in limited supply, but Rams defeat Jets, 9-6

Rams receiver Tavon Austin fends off Jets linebacker Julian Stanford during the third quarter of a game on Sunday.

(Seth Wenig / Associated Press)

The Rams are still searching for ways to score touchdowns.

On Sunday, the offense continued to struggle, but Greg Zuerlein kicked three field goals and middle linebacker Alec Ogletree intercepted a pass with less than two minutes left as the Rams defeated the New York Jets, 9-6, at MetLife Stadium.

The Rams ended a four-game losing streak to improve their record to 4-5.

It marked the second time this season the Rams won without scoring a touchdown. They defeated Seattle, 9-3, in Week 2.

The Rams defense continued to play well and mostly neutralized second-year quarterback Bryce Petty, who was making his first start.

Rams quarterback Case Keenum completed 17 of 30 passes for 165 yards but could not get the Rams into the end zone.

Todd Gurley rushed for 64 yards in 21 carries.

Kenny Britt caught seven passes for 109 yards.

The Rams trailed, 6-3, in third quarter when Keenum drove them to seven-yard line.

But Gurley was stopped for a two-yard loss, a pass interference penalty against receiver Brian Quick moved the ball back to the 19 and Keenum’s pass on third down fell incomplete. Zuerlein’s 38-yard field goal tied the score.

A Rams drive early in the fourth quarter stalled at the 16, and Zuerlein put the Rams ahead with a 34-yard field goal.

Ogletree sealed the victory when he picked off Petty’s pass with 1:52 left.

The Jets led, 6-3, at halftime after both teams wasted opportunities.

The Rams, as they did on the road at Detroit several weeks ago, started well on offense, moving down the field on their first possession for a first-and-goal situation at the one-yard line.

But running back Benny Cunningham was stopped for no gain and nearly lost a fumble. Keenum’s completion to tight end Land Kendricks lost a yard and Keenum’s pass to Cunningham fell incomplete, forcing the Rams to settle for a field goal.

Late in the first quarter, punter Johnny Hekker pinned the Jets and Petty at the one.

But Petty’s 52-yard completion to Robby Anderson got the Jets out of trouble. On third down at the Rams’ 4, Petty passed to Brandon Marshall in left flat. Marshall lateraled the ball to running back Bilal Powell, who ran into the end zone for a 6-3 lead.

The Rams’ plan to eat the clock late in the fourth quarter can be easily summed up as: Gurley. Gurley. Gurley. Cunningham. Cunningham. Cunningham.

Todd Gurley rushed for two yards, caught an eight-yard pass for a first down, and then ran for his longest gain of the year, 21 yards, but left tackle Greg Robinson was flagged for holding, bringing it back.

Now facing first and 20, Benny Cunningham went six yards on a carry and then caught a pass behind the line of scrimmage for a three-yard loss. All the while, the Jets burned all three of their timeouts with 3:45 left in the fourth quarter.

The Rams were unable to convert the third and extremely long (17) and brought punter Johnny Hekker out. His punt was fair caught at the 23-yard line.

In his first career start, Jets quarterback Bryce Petty had a chance to lead his team on a game-winning drive late in the fourth quarter.

Petty opened the drive with a 10-yard pass to Bilal Powell. Powell got the ball on the next play for a four-yard gain. Matt Forte entered the picture and kept his feet moving, picking up a first down with a seven-yard run up the middle.

Three more passing attempts later, and the Jets were punting instead of scoring.

Tavon Austin has left the game with an injury, giving way to rookie receiver Pharoh Cooper, who immediately ran the end around diversionary route.

On the same play, Todd Gurley was able to run up the middle for a nine-yard gain. Benny Cunningham carried the ball two yards to get the first down before Case Keenum looked deep to receiver Kenny Britt, but the two couldn’t connect.

Gurley, finally getting going, ran 11 yards for another first down followed by a four-yard carry right afterward.

Now, at the Jets 26, Cooper made his second career catch, a six-yard reception on the out route as Darrelle Revis was called for an illegal use of hands on Britt.

Austin re-entered the game after a four-yard rush by Gurley, and was targeted immediately on a crossing route by Keenum. The pass was incomplete, setting up third and six.

The Rams, sniffing the end zone, went for the touchdown on a wheel route by Cunningham, only Keenum’s pass fell incomplete again, leaving Greg Zuerlein with a 34-yard field-goal attempt to take the lead.

The Rams lead the Jets, 9-6, with 6:52 left in the fourth quarter.

This truly is a game of field position... and three-and-outs.

Starting at their own eight-yard line, Case Keenum and Co. were unable to pick up a first down.

Keenum’s first pass went incomplete to Kenny Britt. Todd Gurley rushed for one yard on the next play to set up a third and nine.

Keenum was able to connect with Britt on an eight-yard pass. On the same play, center Tim Barnes suffered an injury.

Johnny Hekker’s punting ability must never be underestimated.

The punter sent the ball to the Jets’ five-yard line and was returned 10 yards to the 15.

Given equally bad field position to start, Bryce Petty threw two incomplete passes and Matt Forte rushed for two yards before Gang Green also punted the ball.

A short punt from Lachlan Edwards was fair caught by Pharoh Cooper at the L.A. 48.

Matt Forte has been the Jets’ best offensive player thus far.

The final play of the third quarter was an eight-yard pass to Bilal Powell.

After the break, Forte rushed for a four-yard gain, but as the Jets offense tried to clear the pile off of their running back, Dominic Easley took offense and shoved a player, earning a 15-yard unnecessary roughness call.

Forte caught a seven-yard pass on the next play, ran for a one-yard loss and then watched as Bryce Petty’s pass to Robby Anderson fell incomplete on third and four.

Forte has 89 yards in 18 carries and has 11 yards on two catches.

The Rams and Jets are tied, 6-6, with just over 13 minutes left in the fourth quarter.

Run-game, activate.

Rams running back Todd Gurley rushed for 13 and five yards to get L.A. going. Case Keenum, looking to pass, was forced to scramble up the middle, gaining seven yards on second and five.

Keenum targeted Tavon Austin on his next short throw, but couldn’t connect with the receiver. The next play, Keenum stepped up in the pocket, then took another and another until he was seven yards farther than where he started.

Facing a third and three after failing to convert their last five tries, the referees blew the play dead to adjust the game clock.

Let’s try this again, now with 10 seconds left on the play clock, Keenum hiked the ball and handed the ball off to Benny Cunningham, who bounced to the right side of the line to pick up the first down.

Gurley got the next carry, rushing for six yards as Austin ran behind the line for the potential end around. Another run up the middle, this time Gurley runs for one yard.

Facing another third and three, Keenum throws short to Cunningham, who picks up another first down.

Bubble screen alert: Austin catches a pass in the left flat from Keenum, but runs into his own blocker ending the play.

Let’s try that again.

Bubble screen alert: Austin catches a pass in the right flat from Keenum, but goes 20 yards for a first down and gets into the red zone.

Back to Gurley, two-yard loss.

These aren’t the gadgets you were looking for.

Austin and Gurley cross behind the line of scrimmage to set up a pass to the running back, but a flag is thrown on Kenny Britt for offensive pass interference.

Backed up to the 19, Keenum is sacked by defensive tackle Steve McLendon.

On third and 20, Keenum throws deep down the middle to Austin, but the receiver falls down and the ball goes incomplete.

A little controversy here as the defender grabbed Austin just before he turned to eye the ball, causing his fall, but the back judge who had the best few grabbed at his flag, but never fired.

A 38-yard field goal later and we’re all tied up, 6-6, with 24 seconds left in the third quarter.

Johnny Hekker’s punt went 52 yards to the Jets 12-yard line, and then Jalin Marshall helped him with a two-yard loss on the return. But that’s not all. Brandon Marshall also got in on the play with an illegal block to the back.

So the Jets had to start at their own five-yard line.

Matt Forte quickly reversed directions for the Jets. Forte ran for five yards up the middle to set up an easy third-down conversion for the Jets, and Bilal Powell got the yardage with an eight-yard reception.

The Jets went after the middle of the Rams’ defensive line again with Forte; this time he went 23 yards before he was tackled by safety T.J. McDonald.

But just when the Jets seemed to have some momentum going for them they stalled. Forte tested the middle again and lost a yard. Charone Peake caught a short pass for a four-yard gain to set up third and seven.

The next play, an incomplete pass to Brandon Marshall. Here we punt again.

Oh.

Gadget plays? Gadget plays? Coming out of the break Jeff Fisher told sideline reporter Peter Schrager the Rams would explore all options for their offense including gadget plays.

The first play of the half: a batted down pass from Case Keenum.

The second play of the half: Tavon Austin lines up as a running back and rushes for four yards.

The third play of the half: Keenum throws a short pass to the right side to Kenny Britt for a three yard gain.

The fourth play of the half: a punt.

The Jets received the kick out of the half, a touchdown starting them at their own 25-yard line. In total, New York would gain two more yards before punting.

Matt Forte rushed up the gut for a loss of one before Bryce Petty missed an open Quincy Enunwa with a pass.

Brandon Marshall caught the next ball thrown his way as he crossed the middle of the field, but his three-yard gain was well short of the 11 on third down.

The Jets had one last chance to put points on the board and they... didn’t.

Bryce Petty has been moderately effective through the first half, completing 10 of 14 passes for 112 yards and one touchdown.

Petty connected with Matt Forte on a four-yard pass to start the final drive of the half and then hit Brandon Marshall with a five-yard toss, only to see the play called back for illegal hands to the face.

On second and 17, Forte ran up the left side for a 15-yard gain with 15 seconds left on the clock.

Marshall converted the third down with a short reception, and then instead of going for the big pass, the Jets handed the ball to Bilal Powell, who ran out the clock on his way to a 16-yard gain.

At the half, Case Keenum is nine-of-15 passing for 118 yards. Kenny Britt leads all receivers with five catches for 96 yards and a long 46.

Todd Gurley has gone 10 yards in 10 carries, while Benny Cunningham has 23 yards in two.

Matt Forte is the game’s top rusher at the half with 56 yards in 11 carries.

The Rams trail the Jets, 6-3, at halftime.

The two-minute offense is supposed to be fast. The Rams got theirs done in about 30 seconds. That’s too fast and instead of a touchdown the result was a punt.

Quarterback Case Keenum threw three straight passes. He completed only one, a four-yard toss to Benny Cunningham on first down.

Punt. Hekker sends the Jets to their own 31-yard line.

A brief summary of the last three drives: Punt. Punt. Punt. Two-minute warning.

After holding the Jets to essentially zero yards on two plays, William Hayes finally got the quarterback Bryce Petty. The big defensive end sacked Petty for a six-yard loss bringing up third and 14.

On the next play, Petty overthrew his favorite receiver Robby Anderson on what would have been a sure touchdown. Instead, the Jets punted away to the Rams with just over a minute left in the first half.

The Jets lead the Rams, 6-3.

The Rams had their biggest play of the day erased with a delay of game.

Kenny Britt caught a 46-yard pass to get the Rams into Jets territory, but it didn’t count and they lost five yards instead.

What better time than now for Todd Gurley? Gurley ran for two yards, got stuffed and then Case Keenum got sacked for a six-yard loss before it was time to punt again.

The Jets were about as effective on this drive as the Rams were.

Bryce Petty completed a seven-yard pass to receiver Quincy Enunwa to pick up a first down on third and six.

The Jets were headed to another short drive, but cornerback Lamarcus Joyner was flagged for defensive holding on third and two giving New York a free first down.

Matt Forte had his number called the next three plays, but couldn’t pick up the requisite 10 yards needed to get a first down.

The big yardage plays seem easy. It’s the short ones that are hard.

Case Keenum’s first pass was a big one, 34-yards to Kenny Britt.

It’s too bad that from there the Rams went three-and-out, punting the ball to the 14-yard line.

Watch out for the long ball with Bryce Petty.

The Jets quarterback went deep down the left side of the field to Robby Anderson for a 52-yard gain against cornerback E.J. Gaines.

Anderson and Gaines tangled over the ball with the receiver appearing to step out of bounds as he secured the ball. No matter. It still counted.

The Jets ran Bilal Powell on back-to-back plays for four and three yards before getting Brandon Marshall his first touch of the afternoon. Marshall’s catch was good for a first down on six yards.

Matt Forte showed he’s still got a lot left in the tank on the next play, running 28 yards to the five-yard line.

The Jets went to the screen pass on the left side to Marshall two plays later, but there was more to it. Marshall lateralled the ball to Powell, coming out of the backfield on a wheel route.

Powell scored to give the Jets a 6-3 lead, but when it came time for the PAT, Nick Folk went wide left.

The Jets lead the Rams, 7-3, with 12:40 left in the second quarter.

Tavon Austin fielded his first punt of the day at the 21-yard line and went 11 yards.

Getting Todd Gurley involved early again, the running back lined up in the wildcat and took the direct snap three yards over the left guard.

Quarterback Case Keenum targeted Austin on his next pass, but the ball fell incomplete. Facing a third and seven, Keenum went to the Kenny Britt well, connecting with the highly covered receiver for a nine-yard gain.

Brian Quick extended the drive on another third-down conversion with a 10-yard reception when the Rams needed just four yards.

Then Gurley broke off his biggest run of the day up the middle for nine yards. That seemed to give the team confidence in his abilities so he got the next two carries, but couldn’t pick up that last yard for a first down.

Punter Johnny Hekker came out for the punt, only to run under center and start yelling out calls to provoke the Jets into going offside. It didn’t work, but after taking a five-yard penalty for delay of game, Hekker’s punt pinned the Jets on their own one-yard line.

Quarterback Bryce Petty is making his first career start today against the Rams.

So the Jets’ first two plays... handoffs.

Matt Forte picked up six yards in two carries to set the Jets up with a third and four. But then an illegal substitution brought them back five to make it third and nine.

Petty then targeted rookie receiver Robby Anderson out of Temple on the next play for a nine-yard gain and an apparent first down. Only it wasn’t.

Rams Coach Jeff Fisher challenged the play and after a review the receiver was ruled short of the mark, bringing out the Jets’ punting unit for the first time today.

The Rams’ opening drive went 74 yards to the one-yard line, but they just couldn’t punch it in for a touchdown, instead settling for a field goal.

The Rams began with two handoffs to Todd Gurley, who can only hope they aren’t representative of his afternoon. Gurley rushed for one yard in two carries before Case Keenum had to go to the air.

Working against the man formerly known as Revis Island, Darrelle Revis, Kenny Britt caught a 12-yard pass for a first down.

Again, against Revis, Britt picked up another first down on third and four with a six-yard grab to the middle of the field before he found open grass on the left-side of the field for a 25-yard gain to the Jets’ 25.

Running back Benny Cunningham then took off for a 24-yard gain to get to the one-yard line, getting pushed out of bounds right at the one-yard line.

The Rams went back to Cunningham on the next play, but he fumbled the ball. Luckily, tight end Lance Kendricks was there to scoop it back up. L.A. tried two more passes, but couldn’t score, bringing out kicker Greg Zuerlein for a 20-yard field goal.

The Rams lead the Jets, 3-0.

The Jets won the coin-toss and have elected to defer. The Rams will receive the kick to start the game.

(Stephen Dunn / Getty Images)

Now that voters in San Diego have resoundingly rejected the idea of a downtown stadium, it’s two-minute-drill time for the Chargers.

They need to decide by January whether they’re going to make one last-ditch effort to stay in San Diego or move to Los Angeles, where they would be a tenant in the Inglewood stadium being constructed by Rams owner Stan Kroenke.

Nobody thought the Chargers would get the requisite two-thirds majority to pass Measure C, the ballot initiative asking the public to approve an increase in the hotel occupancy tax that would provide $1.15 billion for a proposed $1.8-billion stadium. But the vote became a referendum on the Chargers themselves, and something close to 50% approval would have been a positive sign.

Instead, Measure C got an underwhelming 43%, further eroding any leverage the franchise once had. The clearest options for the Chargers over the next two months are to go back to the city and put all options back on the table — including the idea of a stadium in Mission Valley — or to walk away for good, understanding that they will be “the other” L.A. team and that there’s a decent chance the league would eventually put another team in San Diego.

The NFL has been publicly mum on the matter, and makes it clear that the choice belongs to the Chargers, whose one-year option to join the Rams expires in January and rolls over to the Oakland Raiders. Meanwhile, the Raiders have turned their attention to the possibility of relocating to Las Vegas.

Read More

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

It sounds almost like a mantra every time Todd Gurley says it. And the Rams running back has said it over and over and over again this season.

“Just stay patient,” Gurley repeated Friday.

That is how the second-year pro has coped with a disappointing season — and little running room — while awaiting and working toward a breakout performance.

Gurley was the NFL’s offensive rookie of the year in 2015 when he rushed for 1,106 yards and 10 touchdowns in 13 games. He ran for at least 128 yards five times.

Through eight games this season, he has rushed for 451 yards and three touchdowns. He’s surpassed 80 yards in a game only once, running for 85 in the 37-32 road victory over Tampa Bay on Sept. 25.

It won’t get any easier Sunday when the Rams, losers of four games in a row, play the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.

Read More

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

As the Rams began preparations for the second half of the season, Coach Jeff Fisher delivered a simple message. It was a call to action for a team that has lost four games in a row and is spiraling downward.

It’s time, Fisher told players, to “flip the switch.”

The phrase came up repeatedly this week as the Rams readied for Sunday’s game against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium.

The meaning for players varied.

“Gear it up and have a sense of urgency,” safety T.J. McDonald said.

“Find a way,” middle linebacker Alec Ogletree said, “to finish games.”

Read More