NFL Preseason Postgame: St. Louis Rams Defeat Cleveland Browns In Week Two

Cleveland, OH (Sports Network) – Josh Brown kicked four field goals, including the game-winning 28-yard boot late in the fourth quarter, as St. Louis grabbed a 19-17 preseason win over Cleveland.

A.J. Feeley led the Rams on a 65-yard touchdown drive on St. Louis’ opening possession of the night. He finished the game 5-of-6 for 45 yards, but departed with a right thumb injury during the first quarter. He finished the scoring drive with a nine-yard TD pass to tight end Daniel Fells, giving the Rams a 7-0 edge.

Sam Bradford, this year’s No. 1 overall draft pick, connected on 6-of-14 passes for just 24 yards for the Rams.

Jake Delhomme fought through the raindrops to complete 12-of-16 passes for 127 yards, including a six-yard score to tight end Benjamin Watson in the second quarter. Joshua Cribbs caught a 15-yard TD pass from Seneca Wallace in the third quarter.

After Brown’s final field goal of the night gave the Rams the lead with 3:29 left, Colt McCoy took over for Cleveland but threw two incompletions before running for two yards. Brett Ratliff tried to drive the Browns on their next series, but his third-down pass was picked off by Bobby Carpenter with just over a minute left.

Rams running back Steven Jackson played his first game since having back surgery in April and ended with four carries for 20 yards.

NFL Preseason: St. Louis Rams Win Nailbiter As Sam Bradford Struggles

The St. Louis Rams won a nailbiter against the Cleveland Browns in game two of the preseason despite Sam Bradford’s sophomore struggles. Josh Brown kicked four field goals, including the game-winner late in the fourth quarter, and a good thing, too—running back Steven Jackson, making his first start of the preseason, carried the ball just four times, and the Rams’ non-A.J. Feeley quarterbacks combined to go 9-28 with 70 yards.

NFL Preseason: A.J. Feeley, Steven Jackson Lead St. Louis Rams To First Offensive Touchdown Of 2010

Ostensible first-string quarterback A.J. Feeley and heretofore unseen running back Steven Jackson led the Rams to their first offensive touchdown of the preseason during Saturday night’s preseason contest against the Cleveland Browns.

Midway through the first quarter A.J. Feeley connected with Daniel Fells for a nine yard touchdown pass. Through that drive Feeley was 5-for-6 with 45 passing yards; Steven Jackson had carried the ball four times for 20 yards.

NFL Preseason Preview: St. Louis Rams Take On Cleveland Browns In Pretend Week Two

The St. Louis Rams, still reeling from their pretend-week-one drubbing from the Minnesota Vikings, will find week two opponents the Cleveland Browns more to their liking—if only their offensive line (and Sam Bradford) can recover from their turf-bound debut. 

In the Browns the Rams find at least one uncomfortable reminder that nothing in the NFL is guaranteed—the Browns' franchise quarterback of the future, prepackaged multimedia superstar Brady Quinn, is currently fighting for the chance to be the Denver Broncos' backup. 

The Browns the Rams will face today in Cleveland are much changed from the dysfunctional 2009 squad, which was bounced between Quinn and long-term suspect Derek Anderson while bouncing themselves to a 5-11 record. Quinn and Anderson are gone, replaced by former Carolina Panther Jake Delhomme, itinerant quarterback/wide receiver Seneca Wallace, and third-round draft choice Colt McCoy. 

McCoy, who threw two interceptions in his first game with the Browns and left with a throwing-hand injury, was cleared to appear in today's game after the injury was revealed to be a sprained thumb. His Rams counterpart, Sam Bradford, will remain A.J. Feeley's official backup but can be expected to get much of the playing time for a second week in a row.

Rookie wide receiver Mardy Gilyard will make his Rams debut after being scratched from the Vikings game with a hand injury. Steven Jackson, who also didn't play, is unconfirmed but may also appear—according to an article from the Associated Press he's "preparing as if [he's] going to play."