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Todd Gurley Surges St. Louis Rams Past Arizona Cardinals 24-22

By Matt LaPan

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It was a tale of two very different half’s for the St. Louis Rams offense. After gaining just 98 total yards in the opening half, the Rams surged to finish with 328 total yards and a 24-22 win over the Arizona Cardinals. The win moved the Rams back to 2-2 on the season.

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The Rams got started early as they forced a fumble on the opening kickoff. Arizona rookie David Johnson broke to his left and had just one player to beat to get a big gain. That player was Mark Barron – who wrapped Johnson and poked the ball free. The ball fell to the feet of Darren Bates, who recovered and gave the Rams offense amazing field position at the Cardinals 17 yard line.

Oct 4, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; St. Louis Rams wide receiver Tavon Austin (11) scores a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Just three plays later the Rams cashed-in on the turnover as Nick Foles found Tavon Austin on a crossing pattern for a 12-yard touchdown. It was Austin’s second touchdown of the season, and his first through the air. The score gave the Rams a 7-0 lead.

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After the teams exchanged failed drives, the Cardinals get themselves on the board for the first time in the game. Carson Palmer led Arizona on an 8-play, 62-yard drive that ended in a 21-yard Chandler Catanzaro field goal. The big play on the drive was swing pass to David Johnson, who broke through multiple tackles en route to a 20-yard gain. The drive stalled, but the field goal cut the deficit to 7-3

The Rams went three-&-out on their next drive, giving the Cardinals good field position. They converted the drive into another Catanzaro field goal, this time from 27 yards away. John Brown played a key role on the drive, as he converted a big first down on a bubble screen. The field goal cut the deficit to one, 7-6.

The drive also took the teams through the end of the 1st Quarter. Even though the Rams held the lead, they manager just four rushing yards and 24 total yards in the quarter as their offensive struggles continued.

The Rams offense went three-&-out for the third consecutive drive. The Cardinals took over, but again the Rams defense helped the offense out. This time it was Janoris Jenkins who made a great interception off of Palmer, making the juggling interception in front of John Brown.

The Rams finally were able to sustain a drive as Nick Foles found Jared Cook and Tavon Austin on consecutive pass plays – with the play to Austin going for 47 yards. That completion was the longest play of the season for the Rams. Despite that, the Rams stalled in the Red Zone and they were forced to settle foe a 30-yard field goal to extend the lead to 10-6.

The Cardinals answered that drive with a scoring drive of their own, but it was another field goal after driving deep into St. Louis territory. The passing attack moved Arizona 52 yards on nine plays, but they had to settle for another Catanzaro field goal – this time from 42 yards. The field goal cut the deficit back down to one, with the Rams leading 10-9.

Neither team was able to do anything else on offense before the half, leading into halftime with the Rams leading 10-9. The Rams were out gained 201 yards to 98 yards, and were out gained on the ground 60 yards to nine yards. Despite that, the Rams had all 10 of their points off of turnovers and led 10-9.

The Rams finally started to sustain some success on offense at the start of the 2nd half, going on a nine-play drive. An illegal shift penalty ended the drive, however, and they were forced to punt the ball away. Just four plays later, the Rams defense forced the third turnover of the day from the Cardinals – giving the Rams terrific field position at the 42 yard line.

Oct 4, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; St. Louis Rams quarterback Nick Foles (5) passes the ball against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

The Rams converted the turnover to points for the third time, going 58 yards in five plays. Todd Gurley finally got the run game going for the Rams, ripping off a 23-yard run.

The drive was capped by a beautiful pass to the corner of the end zone from Nick Foles to Stedman Bailey. It was his first touchdown reception of the season, and gave the Rams the 17-9 lead.

The next drive on defense was a huge loss for the Rams. Despite a solid effort, they lost Alec Ogletree to an injury. Ogltree led the team with 40 tackles entering the game, and was playing some of the best football of his career before he was carted off the field.

The Cardinals moved the ball, but got another stop and forced a 38-yard Catanzaro field goal. A TJ McDonald sack ended the drive for Arizona, his first of the season.

The Rams next drive was one where they narrowly avoided disaster twice. First, Todd Gurley fumbled the ball down the middle of the field, but Rob Havenstein somehow recovered the ball in a pile of Cardinals.

Then, on third down, Benny Cunningham fumbled a screen pass inside his own 15 yard line and Arizona recovered, but the referee had ruled forward progress stopped before the fumble. The Rams were forced to punt, but the result could have been far worse.

The Cardinals offense was shut out of the end zone again on the drive, but they did get a fifth field goal from Chandler Catanzaro. This time, he hit from 29 yards to cut the deficit to 17-15, Rams.

The Rams run offense started to open up with Todd Gurley and Tavon Austin working well to move the line. Austin started with a 12-yard run before Gurley took a run 52 yards. The run was the longest of the season for the Rams, and move the Rams deep into Arizona territory. Three plays later, Nick Foles found Austin in the end zone for his 2nd 12-yard touchdown reception of the day. Foles delivered the pass with extreme pressure in his face and hit Austin in stride to give the Rams the 24-15 lead.

The Cardinals would once again answer, this time with an 8-play, 80 yard touchdown drive. David Johnson was a major part of the drive as he hauled in two passes for 35 yards and the touchdown. The Rams nearly forced a touchdown when James Laurinaitis got a strip-sack on Palmer, but Arizona recovered. The score cut the Rams back down to two, 24-22.

The Cardinals had another chance to get their first lead of the game after the Rams went 3-&-out. They got into Rams territory, but then the Rams defense forced a turnover on downs with 1:44 remaining in the game.

Oct 4, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; St. Louis Rams quarterback Nick Foles (5) calls plays against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

The Rams closed out the game on the legs of Todd Gurley, who ran for 20 yards on the first play of the drive. He then ripped off a 30 yard run to seal the game. He made a veteran move as he took a knee 30 yards down field to help finish off the Cardinals with a 24-22 win.

Gurley carried the Rams in the 2nd half, picking up 144 of his 146 rushing yards after half time. Avon Austin was also huge for the Rams, finishing with two runs for 20 yards and six receptions for 96 yards and two touchdowns. Nick Foles finished 16-of-24 for 171 yards and three touchdowns. With the win, the Rams moved to 2-2 – with both wins coming against NFC West foes.

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