The St. Louis Rams' 2011 first-rounder Robert Quinn picked up a sack to generate a 12-yard loss, and then Matt Cassel found a receiver for a 17-yard gain. That exchange characterized the Kansas City Chiefs' first touchdown of the Governor's Cup game, which cut the score to 14-7 after Sam Bradford and the Rams' first-team offense ran up two early scores.
Bradford finished his stint in the game 6-for-9 for 102 yards and two touchdowns, a major improvement from an efficient-but-listless first preseason appearance; Kellen Clemens went in to replace him, the third New York Jets quarterback to make news Saturday night. Steven Jackson's out as well; he was similarly strong, providing seven carries for 49 yards.
Such was the feel of the Rams' first half—extremely promising, like a Quinn sack or a Bradford bomb, but with enough adversity to prove the Rams, under new head coach Jeff Fisher, have a ways still to go. Jamaal Charles, who also appears to be done, took three carries for 17 yards and picked up two receptions for 18 more, showing that in small doses he still has some of his MVP-caliber 2010 form.