Rams defensive linemen heard Cam Newton loud and clear.
The Carolina Panthers quarterback last week complained publicly and to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell about alleged illegal hits in the pocket that have not been called penalties. He said he did not feel safe and that the situation was taking the fun out of the game for him.
In the days leading up to their game against the Panthers, the Rams said they would continue to play aggressively.
On Sunday, they sacked Newton five times in a 13-10 defeat at the Coliseum.
Aaron Donald had two sacks, and Cam Thomas, Eugene Sims and Mark Barron one each.
“Of course everybody talked about it,” Sims said when asked about Newton’s complaints. “We had fun with it.
“They only scored one touchdown and that was it, so I think we affected him.”
Said defensive end Robert Quinn: “We’d like to get the ball out and score on defense, but we rattled him in the pocket to give ourselves a chance.”
Newton completed 20 of 32 passes for 225 yards, including a touchdown pass to tight end Greg Olsen.
Newton complimented the Rams defensive line.
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Rams tight end Tyler Higbee stretches out to catch, but misses, a pass in the end zone while he’s defended by Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis during the second half.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 2/26
Rams cornerback Lamarcus Joyner, right, commits pass interference while defending Panthers receiver Devin Fuchess in the first quarter. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Rams quarterback Case Keenum is sacked by Panthers defensive tackle Mario Addison during the third quarter. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
4/26
Panthers safety Colin Jones dives to down a punt at the one-yard line during the first quarter.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 5/26
Rams quarterback Case Keenum fumbles the ball as Panthers Thomas Davis hits him in the second quarter.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 6/26
Rams quarterback Case Keenum fumbles the ball after Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis hit him during the second quarter, but running back Benny Cunningham catches it.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 7/26
Panthers defensive backs James Bradberry, left, and Kurt Coleman, celebrate after preventing a long pass from Rams quarterback Case Keenum to receiver Brian Quick, left, late in the fourth quarter.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 8/26
Rams tight end Tyler Higbee can’t hold on to a pass as he’s brought down by Panthers safety Tre Boston during the second half.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 9/26
Rams cornerback E.J. Gaines, center, and linebacker Mark Barron try to bring down Panthers receiver Kelvin Benjamin during the second quarter.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 10/26
Rams running back Todd Gurley is taken down after a long run during the second quarter.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 11/26
Panthers quarterback Cam Newton delights a young fan by tossing him the ball he threw for a touchdown to tight end Greg Olsen in the first quarter.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 12/26
Rams receiver Kenny Britt catches a touchdown pass in front of Panthers James Bradberry for a 10-yard score late in the fourth quarter
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 13/26
Panthers cornerback James Bradberry has position on Rams receiver Tavon Austin on a long pass from quarterback Case Keenum. The pass was incomplete.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 14/26
Rams tight end Lance Kendricks misses a Case Keenum pass at the goal line at the Coliseum on Nov. 6 (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Rams tight end Lance Kendricks is upended by Panthers safety Michael Griffin after a short gain during the second half.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 16/26
Rams backup quarteback Jared Goff watches from the sidelines during the second half.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 17/26
Rams running back Benny Cunningham eludes Panthers safety Kurt Coleman as tackle Greg Robinson tumbles nearby during second-quarter action.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 18/26
Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis intercepts a pass in front of Rams receiver Tyler Higbee during the third quarter.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 19/26
Rams defensive lineman Aaron Donald sacks Panthers quarterback Cam Newton early in the fourth quarter. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Panthers kicker Graham Gano hits a 37-yard field goal to give Carolina a 13-3 lead over the Rams midway through the fourth quarter.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 21/26
Rams quarterback Case Keenum scrambles from the Panthers’ rush during the second quarter.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 22/26
Rams defensive lineman Eugene Sims, 97, and teammate Ethan Westbrooks celebrate after sacking Panthers quarterback Cam Newton during the second quarter.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 23/26
Panthers receiver Kelvin Benjamin can’t make the catch in the end zone in front of Rams cornerback Trumaine Johnson in the fourth quarter.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 24/26
Rams kicker Greg Zuerlein twists his body as he misses a 55-yard field-goal attempt in the first quarter.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 25/26
Rams tight end Tyler Higbee hauls in a 31-yard pass over Panthers linebacker A.J. Klein during first-half action.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 26/26
Kicker Greg Zuerlein and long snapper Jake McQuaide walk past a mural of Rams players hours before their game against Panthers.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) “I don’t think they get enough credit for how good those guys are,” he said.
Dropped opportunity
Tight end Lance Kendricks had another big game, catching seven passes to tie the career best he set against the New York Giants in London two weeks ago.
Kendricks totaled 90 yards, including a 25-yard catch over the middle with 9 minutes 30 seconds to play.
But it was the one that got away that Kendricks will remember most. Four plays after his 25-yard catch, on a third and goal from the seven, quarterback Case Keenum found Kendricks wide open on a stop route at the goal line.
Just as Kendricks turned, the ball hit him in the chest and bounced to the ground. The Rams had to settle for Greg Zuerlein’s 25-yard field goal that cut Carolina’s lead to 10-3.
“He put some mustard on that thing,” Kendricks said of the pass. “I was trying to read the coverage, I was running the right route. The ball was on me, but I still have to make the catch somehow, I have to come down with it. That’s what being a pro is. You have to make the tough ones.”
Coach Jeff Fisher seemed a little perturbed when asked about Kendricks’ drop.
“Tough catch, ball surprised him,” Fisher said. “Lance had [seven] catches, tough catches, and we’re going to bring up the drop? That’s tough on Lance, but the ball was thrown in a good position.”
Streak ends
Zuerlein was a question mark coming into the season after he made only 20 of 30 field-goal attempts in 2015.
He entered Sunday’s game 10 for 10, including one from 54 yards against Buffalo.
But he missed two of three attempts against the Panthers, both from 55 yards.
After the opening drive stalled at the Panthers’ 37-yard line, Fisher opted for the field-goal try rather than punt. Zuerlein’s kick had enough distance, but missed wide right.
“I felt like we were going to need points and Greg felt really comfortable there,” Fisher said. “He just miss-hit it.”
Zuerlein’s second miss, at the end of the first half, also sailed wide right.
