SB Nation St. Louis - St. Louis Rams Hold On, Beat Broncos, 36-33, On Road

NFL Scores: St. Louis Rams Take First In NFC West With Seattle Seahawks Loss

2010-11-29T00:51:22Z

The Seattle Seahawks were clobbered by the high-scoring Kansas City Chiefs, and the St. Louis Rams took a narrow victory over the Denver Broncos, leading the Rams to the top of a virtual tie in the embattled NFC West. It’s the Rams’ second stint atop the division, but their first time there under .500.

The Seahawks couldn’t withstand a Chiefs attack that got Dwayne Bowe three touchdowns and saw Jamaal Charles rush for 173 yards. Close most of the afternoon, the Chiefs broke away with 21 points in the fourth quarter to make it 42-24.

The St. Louis Rams were up as much as 20 points over the Denver Broncos, but they’ll be happy to leave Colorado with a 36-33 victory. Sam Bradford had a career performance, topping 300 yards for the first time in his career and throwing three touchdowns without an interception.

The Arizona Cardinals and the San Francisco 49ers will play at 7:10 tonight to determine who’ll be alone in third place in the West.

Week 12, Rams vs. Broncos Final: St. Louis Rams Hold On 36-33, Win First Road Game In Year

2010-11-29T00:41:10Z

The St. Louis Rams looked like they might fumble a lead that was as wide as 33-13 in the third quarter, but they held on even after a furious Kyle Orton comeback and a blocked punt put the Broncos within three points, taking the win—their first on the road in 13 months—36-33 in Denver.

Kyle Orton, who finished 24-for-41 for 347 yards and three touchdowns, was a man possessed in the fourth quarter, where he put up 129 yards and two of those touchdowns. A blocked Donnie Jones punt with just a minute left in regulation put the Broncos back in control of the ball with no timeouts remaining.

Rams DE Chris Long was a difference-maker in that final Broncos drive. On first and 10 he sacked Kyle Orton for a six yard loss and—crucially—20 seconds off the clock. After two deep incompletions he got to Orton again, forcing an awkward pass on fourth-and-16 and ending the game.

Sam Bradford had a career game for the Rams. Bradford finished 22-for-37 with 308 yards and three touchdowns, carrying the Rams while Steven Jackson struggled for consistent yardage. Danario Alexander, returning from another left knee surgery, was outstanding early, picking up four receptions for 95 yards.

With the Seattle Seahawks’ 42-24 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs the Rams move into first place in the NFC West, at 5-6.

Kyle Orton Puts Denver Broncos In Comeback Position, St. Louis Rams Reeling

2010-11-29T00:22:48Z

The St. Louis Rams defense is reeling following a series of long passes from Kyle Orton, who converted a fourth down in the process of throwing his second touchdown pass in three minutes, putting the Denver Broncos within a field goal of tying the St. Louis Rams, who led 33-13 at halftime. The score is now 36-33.

Kyle Orton now has 347 passing yards and three touchdowns, having hit five receivers for plays of at least 24 yards. Eddie Royal and Brandon Lloyd are the most recent benefactors, collecting touchdown passes of 16 and five yards. The Rams have just one field goal in the fourth quarter, after scoring four times in the second and picking up a touchdown in the third.

The Rams have 2:35 to burn in the game after a failed onside kick. No strangers to fourth quarter collapses, they’ll hope this game doesn’t turn out like previous heartbreaking losses in a 4-6 season that could have been much more than that.

Week 12: Denver Broncos Get Closer With Third Down Rebound, Trail 36-26

2010-11-29T00:14:08Z

The Denver Broncos looked backed against a wall, stuck at third and 17 with the pass rush bearing in on Kyle Orton, but the line held and Orton found Eddie Royal on the left side for 24 yards, starting a run of 57 yards in three plays for an Orton-to-Royal touchdown. The St. Louis Rams defense looked unprepared for that kind of run.

The Broncos missed the ensuing two-point conversion, leaving them down 10 points. Orton is 20-for-31 with 285 yards and two touchdowns, in the process of having an outstanding fourth quarter.

The Rams’ kicking has left four potentially crucial points on the board. Josh Brown missed a point-after in the second quarter, and couldn’t convert a 45 yard field goal attempt in the third.

But their main problem in the fourth quarter has been an inability to run clock with their running backs. Steven Jackson has been only intermittently effective, and the Broncos have the ball back down 36-26 with almost five minutes left in the fourth quarter.

NFL Week 12, Rams Vs. Broncos: Denver Broncos Strike On First Play Of Fourth Quarter

2010-11-28T23:49:48Z

The Denver Broncos struck on the first play of the fourth quarter after being quiet throughout the third Sunday afternoon; Kyle Orton’s 41 yard pass to Brandon Lloyd was good for their first passing touchdown of the day. For Lloyd, the NFL leader in receiving yards, it was his third reception of the afternoon, for 71 total yards.

Orton had been struggling since the opening drive. Now he’s 15-for-24 with 213 passing yards and the one touchdown. It ended a streak of five unanswered scores for the St. Louis Rams since early in the second quarter.

Orton’s famous understudy, Tim Tebow, has not made an appearance in this afternoon’s game. The Broncos trail the Rams 33-20, thanks to a career performance from rookie Rams quarterback Sam Bradford, who has 308 passing yards and three touchdowns in 34 pass attempts. As well as the Broncos have managed to stifle Steven Jackson, despite their trouble defending the run to date, the passing game has been left wide open.

Steven Jackson Comes Alive In Third Quarter, St. Louis Rams Take 33-13 Lead

2010-11-28T23:24:20Z

The St. Louis Rams have a season-high 33 points, and after a first half in which he did nothing at all Steven Jackson broke free of the Denver Broncos in the third quarter, getting the Rams to the one yard line for a Kenneth Darby touchdown. Jackson now has 49 yards on 18 carries, after picking up just 20 in his first 14. It’s only the second time all season that the Rams have broken 30 points, and it comes with first place in the NFC West on the line.

The Rams’ drive was built on a Knowshon Moreno fumble, forced by O.J. Atogwe and recovered by Na’il Diggs at the Broncos’ 31. From there Jackson rushed for 20, four, and six yards on consecutive attempts. After an incomplete pass attempt to Jackson left him slow in getting up Darby had no trouble walking in for the touchdown. The touchdown was Kenneth Darby’s first carry of the afternoon.

St. Louis Rams Vs. Denver Broncos Halftime: Rams Look Tough In 26-13 First Half

2010-11-28T22:59:33Z

The St. Louis Rams looked as good as they have all season and the Denver Broncos struggled after a hot start; at halftime, the Rams lead the Broncos 26-13. Sam Bradford has led the way; he’s 15-for-23 with 216 yards and three touchdowns, all to tight ends. Danario Alexander’s reappearance has been crucial, but Michael Hoomanawanui left the game after scoring his third touchdown of the season.

The Broncos were keyed on Steven Jackson from the beginning, and they’ve stuffed him almost completely; he has 14 carries for 20 yards and was stopped twice at the goal line. But they’ve been unable to adjust to a surprisingly agile Rams offense, which has responded to Jackson’s invisibility with a brand-new deep passing game and even some Danny Amendola end-arounds. Bradford’s 9.39 yards per attempt would be a career-high by a wide margin.

Alexander has played in three games as a Ram and he’s been their dominant force at wide receiver in two of them, which shows just how important it is that his knee hold up this season. He’s got three receptions for 71 yards today, after picking up four for 72 and a touchdown in his debut.

Kyle Orton looked tough early, but he’s struggled since; he’s 9-for-18 with 112 yards passing. Knowshon Moreno has eight carries for 47 yards and a touchdown.

St. Louis Rams Vs. Denver Broncos: Sam Bradford, Billy Bajema Score Again, Lead 20-13

2010-11-28T22:37:12Z

Sam Bradford and the St. Louis Rams’ tight ends have victimized the Denver Broncos today; Billy Bajema caught his second touchdown of the day—and his career—to put the Rams up 20-13. (Josh Brown missed the extra point, his first miss since the 2005 season.) Bradford is 12-for-17 with 176 yards and three touchdowns.

The Rams’ three primary tight ends have combined for seven touchdowns in Sam Bradford’s rookie season—Michael Hoomanawaui has three and Daniel Fells and Bajema each have two.

A major factor has been the return of enigmatic rookie wide receiver Danario Alexander. After missing four weeks following the fifth knee surgery of his career, Alexander—who’s played in just three NFL games—has emerged as the Rams’ primary wide receiving threat again, picking up three receptions for 71 yards. If he can stay healthy he could be the deep threat Bradford’s rookie season has lacked thus far.

The Broncos’ offense has slowed down considerably after a hot start that saw them look almost unstoppable while they scored their first touchdown.