Rams beat Buccaneers in possible final game in St. Louis

(AP Photo/L.G. Patterson). St. Louis Rams running back Todd Gurley, left, runs with the ball as Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive end William Gholston tries to make the tackle during the second quarter of an NFL football game on Thursday, Dec. 17, 2015, i… However, when you consider that the Buccaneers are fighting to keep their slim playoff hopes alive and that this may be the Rams’ final home game in St. Louis, you have the makings of an entertaining Thursday Night matchup.

The defensive star of the game, and perhaps the favorite for Defensive Player of the Year, was the Rams’ Aaron Donald, who had five tackles (two for losses, including a key fourth-down stop) and three hits on Winston. After all, the Rams entered the contest averaging an anemic 14.4 points per game.

Running back Benny Cunningham added a 102-yard kickoff return to the Tampa Bay three to set up a 19-yard field goal by Greg Zuerlein in the fourth quarter. Jameis Winston completed 29 of 50 passes for 363 yards, two touchdowns, no sacks and one interception, with nearly all of that production coming in the second half. Winston completed three consecutive long passes en route to a touchdown in the fourth quarter. They outgained St. Louis 509-319, won the first down battle 30-16, had almost three times as many pass attempts, and none of that mattered.

“There’s no telling what will happen, but the fans today were incredible”, said Rams quarterback Case Keenum. But while most fans were worrying about the team’s uncertain future in St. Louis, they were enjoying a throwback offensive performance reminiscent of the franchise’s “Greatest Show on Turf” points-scoring machine led by Kurt Warner, Marshall Faulk, Torry Holt and others.

“The crowd was into it. It was a lot of fun”.

Keenum found Austin on the Rams’ first drive of the game for a 17-yard touchdown that gave St. Louis a quick lead that they would never relinquish.

It was a good night on the field for the Rams. There will be a vote among the owners in January, and the fans were well aware of that fact-in what may have been the last home game at the Edward Jones Dome, the people inside the half-full stadium shouted “Keep the Rams” at full throat all the way through the game.

Owner Stan Kroenke, who wants to move the Rams (6-8) to the Los Angeles area, attended the finale but kept a low profile. The team announced 51,295 tickets had been distributed for the 66,000-capacity dome.

With 1:34 to play, Winston threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to Seferian-Jenkins to cap a 10-play, 81-yard drive that brought the Buccaneers within a touchdown and two-point conversion at 31-23. Keenum and Kenny Britt would connect on a 60 yard bomb early in the first quarter, and would also connect with the likes of Jared Cook and Lance Kendricks. “We were protecting good enough, I just have to make the throws”. The Rams lead the Buccaneers 7-3.

“He got a late start as we all know”, coach Jeff Fisher said. “Being close just doesn’t do it on a night like tonight”. Running back Doug Martin collected 91 yards on 18 carries, and wide receiver Mike Evans grabbed nine passes for 157 yards. Gurley became the 3rd rookie in Rams history to reach 1,000 rushing yards.

Tavon Austin also became the first player since Gale Sayers in 1965 to score at least four rushing touchdowns, five receiving touchdowns and one touchdown on a punt return in a season.