Page 18 - ATD19DEC2015
P. 18
A18
SPORTSSaturday 19 December 2015
Austin, Gurley lead Rams past Buccaneers, 31-23
R.B. FALLSTROM (6-8) to Los Angeles, at- St. Louis Rams running back Benny Cunningham (36) returns a kickoff 102 yards during the fourth
AP Sports Writer tended the finale but kept quarter of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday, Dec. 17, 2015,
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Tavon a low profile.
Austin scored twice and The team announced in St. Louis. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
Todd Gurley topped 1,000 51,295 tickets had been dis-
yards rushing as the Rams tributed for the 66,000-ca- Austin Seferian-Jenkins’ 1:34 to play, but the Rams’ gaining 48 yards on 21 car-
beat the Tampa Bay Buc- pacity dome.
caneers 31-23 on Thursday Up 31-13, the Rams be- 9-yard scoring catch cut Bryce Hager recovered the ries.
in what could be the club’s came conservative and
final game in St. Louis. Jameis Winston took ad- the deficit to eight with onside kick. Austin is the first player
The 31st-ranked offense vantage with two touch-
had an inspired effort in down passes in a big fourth
front of another half-filled quarter. He had just 125
but spirited Edward Jones yards passing the first three
Dome crowd, rolling to a quarters, but finished with
21-3 halftime lead behind a career-best 363, his first
Case Keenum’s two touch- 300-yard effort, for Tampa
down passes. Bay (6-8).
Fans chanted “Keep Our The halftime deficit was
Rams! Keep Our Rams!” the Buccaneers’ largest
and carried signs, one of since they were down 35-7
them reading “We Don’t against the Titans in their
Need Kroenke, We Just opening 42-14 loss.
Want our Rams.” Mike Evans had nine re-
Owner Stan Kroenke, who ceptions for 157 yards and
wants to move the Rams topped 1,000 yards.
Benny Cunningham had since Gale Sayers in 1965
a 102-yard kickoff return to score at least four rush-
to the Tampa Bay 3 in the ing touchdowns, five re-
fourth quarter and a 44- ceiving touchdowns and
yard return on the opening one touchdown on a punt
kickoff capped by Austin’s return in a season. He leads
17-yard scoring reception. the Rams with 10 total TDs.
Gurley needed 25 yards Kenny Britt’s 60-yard catch
to become the first Rams was the first by a Rams
rookie to rush for 1,000 wide receiver since Sted-
yards since Jerome Bettis man Bailey against Arizona
and didn’t get it by much, in Week 4.q
Week 15 Preview fense led by Ryan Fitzpat-
rick throwing to Brandon
Continued from page 17 Marshall and Eric Decker,
and Chris Ivory’s tackle-
The key matchup here breaking runs.
could be Cardinals star But the Jets haven’t won
receiver Larry Fitzgerald four in a row since 2010.
against a team that never The action began on Thurs-
slows him down. He has 47 day with the St. Louis Rams
catches for 802 yards and beating the Tampa Bay
11 touchdowns in seven Buccaneers 31-23 in what
games vs. Philadelphia. could be the franchise’s fi-
The New York Jets prob- nal game in St. Louis.
ably need to win their re- Fans chanted “Keep Our
maining three games, in- Rams! Keep Our Rams!”
cluding at the Dallas Cow- and carried signs, one of
boys in the only game on them reading “We Don’t
Saturday, to grab an AFC Need Kroenke, We Just
playoff wildcard. Want our Rams.” Owner
Stan Kroenke wants to
They have won three move the team back to
straight with a solid defense Los Angeles.q
and surprisingly strong of-
