SB Nation St. Louis - Rams Vs. Bengals: Rams Fall 20-13 In Kellen Clemens's Surprise Debuthttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49009/stl-fave.png2011-12-19T08:00:46-06:00http://stlouis.sbnation.com/rss/stream/24005352011-12-19T08:00:46-06:002011-12-19T08:00:46-06:00St. Louis Rams Lose Again; At Least Chris Long's Great
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/udxen_CkerNq9S-Cf1G8gw1rd5g=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828135/large_stlouis.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/st-louis-rams">St. Louis Rams</a> continue to struggle in what was supposed to be their breakout season, and would-be defensive genius Steve Spagnuolo has watched last year's stout D give way to one of the worst rushing defenses football has ever seen. But at least <span>Chris Long</span> is really good! The Rams' former second overall pick crashed into <span>Andy Dalton</span> for his 13th sack of the season in the Rams' 20-13 loss to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.cincyjungle.com/">Cincinnati Bengals</a>, which is already 4.5 sacks more than he had all through his 2010 breakout.</p>↵<p>After two indifferent seasons to start his career, Long has clearly arrived—those 13 sacks are the most a Ram has had since <span>Leonard Little</span> pulled it off in 2006. (In case you were wondering, the last time any Ram had more was Little's 14.5 in 2001.) </p>↵<p>With Long and <span>Robert Quinn</span>, who blocked another punt in his hyperactive rookie season, the Rams appear to be set as far as quarterback-terrifying defensive ends go. Past that—well, whoever's coaching in St. Louis in 2012 will be able to make the team over in his own image without too much trouble. </p>↵
https://stlouis.sbnation.com/2011/12/19/2645074/st-louis-rams-chris-long-sacksDan Moore2011-12-18T19:50:16-06:002011-12-18T19:50:16-06:00Brandon Lloyd Fantasy Update: Rams WR Remains Top Option
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/udxen_CkerNq9S-Cf1G8gw1rd5g=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828135/large_stlouis.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>Despite the fact the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/st-louis-rams">St. Louis Rams</a> started their third quarterback since his arrival from the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.milehighreport.com/">Denver Broncos</a>, <span>Brandon Lloyd</span> continued to be a primary receiving option. While Steven Jackson and <span>Danario Alexander</span> both ended up with more receiving yards in the 20-13 loss to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.cincyjungle.com/">Cincinnati Bengals</a>, Lloyd still managed to make five catches for 42 yards. Lloyd has now made 10 catches over the past two weeks.</p>
<p>Even with <span>Kellen Clemens</span> making the start in the place of the injured <span>Sam Bradford</span>, the Rams still were forced to throw the ball as they tried to come back from an early deficit. Clemens threw the ball 36 times, which could be a good sign for the coming weeks, as the Rams face the possibility that Bradford will miss the remainder of the season.</p>
<p>The Rams will not be in a favorable situation next weekend, as they will be traveling to Pittsburgh. The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/">Steelers</a> pass rush should have a field day against the battered St. Louis offensive line, which could make for a difficult day for Lloyd and the other WR options.</p>
https://stlouis.sbnation.com/st-louis-rams/2011/12/18/2645485/brandon-lloyd-fantasy-stats-updateMax Mandel2011-12-18T15:15:44-06:002011-12-18T15:15:44-06:00Rams Vs. Bengals Final Score: St. Louis Falls 20-13, Steven Jackson Has Big Afternoon
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/udxen_CkerNq9S-Cf1G8gw1rd5g=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828135/large_stlouis.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>The St. Louis Rams’ starting quarterback had less than two weeks to learn Josh McDaniels’s notoriously complex offense, and the result looked remarkably like Pat Shurmur’s 2010 gameplan for Sam Bradford. Kellen Clemens reacted well to the low-risk offense, but the reward was just as low, and the Rams fell 20-13 to the Cincinnati Bengals. Steven Jackson had 143 total yards as the Rams’ offensive weapon of first and last resort in the lost, ending the game just 34 yards short of his seventh straight 1000-yard rushing season.</p>
<p>Danario Alexander caught his second touchdown pass of the season in the fourth quarter, ending the game with three receptions for 52 yards; Jackson, Brandon Lloyd, Austin Pettis, and Lance Kendricks all had at least three receptions from Clemens, whose lob-shot to Alexander was his first passing touchdown in nearly four years.</p>
<p>Sam Bradford is done for the season, so this is what the Rams and their fans have to look forward to. Coming up in Weeks 16 and 17: A tug of war between the Rams’ dignity and their draft position.</p>
https://stlouis.sbnation.com/st-louis-rams/2011/12/18/2644956/rams-vs-bengals-final-score-steven-jackson-kellen-clemensDan Moore2011-12-18T15:06:02-06:002011-12-18T15:06:02-06:00Rams Vs. Bengals Score: Danario Alexander Makes Outstanding Touchdown Catch, Rams Trail 20-13
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/udxen_CkerNq9S-Cf1G8gw1rd5g=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828135/large_stlouis.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>The St. Louis Rams haven’t had a lot to cheer about in Week 15—or 2011 as a whole—but Danario Alexander’s enigmatic career continued with another remarkable catch, a leaping touchdown grab that put Kellen Clemens and company on the board with their first touchdown of the game. Clemens’s lofty pass into the end zone gave him his first touchdown since 2007; he’s 25-for-36 with 229 yards and a touchdown Sunday, 11 days after joining the Rams as their third-string quarterback.</p>
<p>The Rams were unable to get the ensuing onside kick, but as dignity-savers go Alexander’s catch would have been great, if the Rams had any dignity left. Alexander has three catches for 52 yards to go with the touchdown, giving Rams fans no closure at all from the former Mizzou star, whose chronic knee injuries have left the most dynamic receiver on the Rams roster on the sideline constantly and seemingly at random.</p>
<p>With Sam Bradford shut down for the remainder of the season, this is all the Rams have to look forward to: In Clemens, a potentially useful backup quarterback who isn’t A.J. Feeley; in Steven Jackson, a running back approaching an impressive milestone; in Danario Alexander, an incredibly frustrating role player.</p>
https://stlouis.sbnation.com/st-louis-rams/2011/12/18/2644932/rams-vs-bengals-score-danario-alexander-touchdown-catchDan Moore2011-12-18T14:33:30-06:002011-12-18T14:33:30-06:00A.J. Green Injury Update: Green Finally Targeted Following Shoulder Injury
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/udxen_CkerNq9S-Cf1G8gw1rd5g=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828135/large_stlouis.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>A.J. Green’s shoulder injury has proven to be one of the strangest storylines in a depressingly predictable St. Louis Rams-Cincinnati Bengals contest. Green returned quickly after falling painfully on his shoulder on a questionable pass interference call near halftime, but he continued to favor his shoulder while playing—including a third-quarter route in which he held his right arm down entirely and blocked, perfunctorily, with his left hand.</p>
<p>But in the fourth quarter Bengals fans finally got the answer they wanted from Green and Andy Dalton, who targeted him downfield for a perfectly normal-looking pass play and received, in return, a perfectly normal-looking reception for a first down.</p>
<p>Green has six receptions for 115 yards altogether, including a 55-yarder. On the year the rookie, whom the Rams were supposedly targeting heavily in their ultimately unsuccessful <span class="caps">NFL</span> Draft pursuit of an offensive playmaker, has 55 catches for 891 yards and seven touchdowns, which would—well, you’d be better off just not comparing those numbers to what the Rams’ receiving corps has done this year.</p>
https://stlouis.sbnation.com/st-louis-rams/2011/12/18/2644859/a-j-green-injury-update-green-finally-targeted-following-shoulderDan Moore2011-12-18T14:27:03-06:002011-12-18T14:27:03-06:00St. Louis Rams Update: Steven Jackson Approaches 1000 Yards For Seventh Straight Season
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/udxen_CkerNq9S-Cf1G8gw1rd5g=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828135/large_stlouis.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>The St. Louis Rams are losing again in Week 15, with third-stringer Kellen Clemens unable to show any more offensive promise than the injured Sam Bradford or the boring A.J. Feeley, but there is some good news: Steven Jackson continues to close in on a seventh consecutive 1000-yard rushing season. Jackson has 17 rushes for 72 yards, which puts him 33 away from 1000 with most of a quarter and Week 17 left.</p>
<p>Jackson’s seventh straight season would put him in a <a href="http://stlouis.sbnation.com/st-louis-rams/2011/12/17/2642347/fantasy-football-update-steven-jackson-is-still-all-the-rams-have/in/2400535">very prestigious group</a>, of which LaDainian Tomlinson is the only other active member. Former Rams all-time rushing leader Eric Dickerson is another member, along with Emmitt Smith, Barry Sanders, Thurman Thomas, and Curtis Martin.</p>
<p>Prior to Sunday’s game Jackson had 202 rushes for 895 yards. He’s received fewer carries per game than in his disappointing 2010 and has done more with them, averaging a career-high 4.4 yards per carry. Unfortunately, nobody else on the Rams’ offense decided to come anywhere near a career high in 2011.</p>
https://stlouis.sbnation.com/st-louis-rams/2011/12/18/2644843/st-louis-rams-update-steven-jackson-1000-yard-seasonDan Moore2011-12-18T14:26:53-06:002011-12-18T14:26:53-06:00Bengals Vs. Rams Score Update: Cincinnati Leads 13-6 After Three Quarters
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/udxen_CkerNq9S-Cf1G8gw1rd5g=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828135/large_stlouis.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/st-louis-rams">St. Louis Rams</a> are hosting the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.cincyjungle.com/">Cincinnati Bengals</a> at home on Sunday, but a field goal early in the third quarter and a touchdown in its final minute have helped to put Cincinnati up 13-6 going into the fourth quarter. </p>
<p>It's been a bit of a back and forth game between the Cincinnati Bengals and St. Louis Rams so far, with the teams trading leads after each quarter. The Bengals led 3-0 after the first quarter, the Rams came back to take a 6-3 lead into halftime, and now the Bengals are once again leading as the two teams go into the fourth quarter. </p>
<p>The Bengals tied the game at 6-6 early in the third quarter on a <span>Josh Brown</span> field goal. After trading scoreless drives, a monster punt return helped to put the Bengals in a position to score the game's first touchdown. <span>Bernard Scott</span> scored the touchdown for Cincinnati, his second touchdown of the season, with just 17 seconds left in the third quarter.</p>
<p><i style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Stay tuned to <a style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #703600; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://stlouis.sbnation.com/">SB Nation St. Louis</a> for more information, and for in-depth analysis on the <a style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #703600; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://stlouis.sbnation.com/st-louis-rams/2011/nfl/teams/st-louis-rams">St. Louis Rams</a> be sure to visit <a style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #703600; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://www.turfshowtimes.com/">Turf Show Times</a>. For more on the <a style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #703600; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://stlouis.sbnation.com/st-louis-rams/2011/12/nfl/teams/cincinnati-bengals">Cincinnati Bengals</a>, check out <a style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #703600; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://www.cincyjungle.com/" target="_blank">Cincy Jungle</a>. Visit <a style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #703600; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" target="_blank" href="http://sbnation.com/nfl">SB Nation NFL</a> for more news and notes around the league.</i></p>
https://stlouis.sbnation.com/st-louis-rams/2011/12/18/2644822/bengals-vs-rams-score-update-nfl-2011-bernard-scottSatchel Price2011-12-18T13:35:55-06:002011-12-18T13:35:55-06:00Bengals Vs. Rams Score Update: St. Louis Leads 6-3 After Two Field Goals
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/udxen_CkerNq9S-Cf1G8gw1rd5g=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828135/large_stlouis.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/st-louis-rams">St. Louis Rams</a> may be starting <span>Kellen Clemens</span> at quarterback today in place of injured starter <span>Sam Bradford</span>, but that hasn't stopped the Rams from taking a 6-3 lead into halftime on Sunday against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.cincyjungle.com/">Cincinnati Bengals</a>. The Bengals had the lead early in the game following a quality drive, but their offense has totally stagnated since then while the Rams offense showed some signs of life late in the second quarter.</p>
<p>The Bengals took the lead early in the first quarter while completing a 77-yard drive, but they've accumulated just 55 yards of total offense outside of that drive. It's not like the Rams have been much better on offense, though; both teams had exactly 132 total yards apiece in the first half. But St. Louis has been able to take advantage of good field position, getting close enough to allow kicker <span>Josh Brown</span> to knock a couple of field goals through the uprights.</p>
<p>Kellen Clemens was actually not that bad for the Rams in the first half, completing 9 of 15 passes for 82 yards in addition to being sacked once. The offensive numbers have been pretty underwhelming so far, but Bengals rookie wide receiver <span>A.J. Green</span> does have four catches for 94 yards so far today.</p>
<p><i style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Stay tuned to <a style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #703600; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://stlouis.sbnation.com/">SB Nation St. Louis</a> for more information, and for in-depth analysis on the <a style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #703600; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://stlouis.sbnation.com/st-louis-rams/2011/nfl/teams/st-louis-rams">St. Louis Rams</a> be sure to visit <a style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #703600; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://www.turfshowtimes.com/">Turf Show Times</a>. For more on the <a style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #703600; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://stlouis.sbnation.com/st-louis-rams/2011/12/nfl/teams/cincinnati-bengals">Cincinnati Bengals</a>, check out <a style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #703600; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" target="_blank" href="http://www.cincyjungle.com/">Cincy Jungle</a>. Visit <a style="outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #703600; font-weight: bold; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://sbnation.com/nfl" target="_blank">SB Nation NFL</a> for more news and notes around the league.</i></p>
https://stlouis.sbnation.com/st-louis-rams/2011/12/18/2644701/bengals-vs-rams-score-update-nfl-2011Satchel Price