Los Angeles 37, Tampa Bay 32
When: 4:05 PM ET, Sunday, September 25, 2016
Where: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida
Temperature:
91°
Head Official:
Ed Hochuli
Attendance:
55009
By The Sports Xchange
TAMPA, Fla. -- Even after a 70-minute lightning delay before the final two minutes, the Los Angeles Rams held on Sunday night, getting one last stop for a 37-32 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium.
The Rams, held to nine points in their first two games, exploded for five touchdowns and needed all of them in the end.
"It was a great win for us, especially coming off the emotional win and the emotions from last Sunday at home, the long trip and the circumstances," Rams coach Jeff Fisher said. "When you score points, which we did, you've got a chance."
The game's wild finish included the field and stadium being cleared by a lightning delay with 2:00 remaining. The game resumed after a delay of 69 minutes. The Rams punted the ball back to the Bucs for one last shot, and the Bucs drove to the 15-yard line and had four chances there, with quarterback Jameis Winston tackled at the 5-yard line after time expired to end the rally.
"That was dumb on my part," Winston said. "I have to try a pass there. ... In that moment, I have to give somebody a chance in the end zone."
The Rams (2-1) trailed 20-10 in the second quarter but scored 21 straight points, leading 31-20 after Ethan Westbrooks took a Winston fumble and returned it 77 yards for a touchdown early in the fourth quarter. The Bucs (1-2) had driven to the Rams' 13, but Robert Quinn stripped the ball from Winston for a key turnover.
"We got two big plays on defense, the return for the touchdown and the interception by Mark (Barron)," Fisher said. "That kind of balanced things out."
Winston would answer, however, driving the Bucs 75 yards for a 1-yard touchdown to tight end Cameron Brate. The two-point conversion failed and the Rams led 31-26.
The Bucs looked to have a stop, but on third-and-17, Alterraun Verner was flagged for pass interference. On the next third down, Case Keenum found Tavon Austin for a 43-yard touchdown and a 37-26 lead. Winston struck again with 2:15 left, however, hitting Mike Evans for a touchdown to pull within five points at 37-32.
"I don't think it benefited us at all, "Winston said of the long delay. "Momentum that we had, we had that on our side, but you face adversity. I felt like we really fought hard. It was a hard-fought game."
The Rams took the lead back late in the third quarter, after the Bucs had driven to the Los Angeles 23 but came away empty when rookie kicker Roberto Aguayo missed a 41-yard field goal wide. The Rams drove 69 yards for a touchdown, getting 38 yards from Todd Gurley, including a 1-yard score for a 24-20 lead with 0:48 left in the third.
The teams had a pair of firsts on their opening scores -- the Rams, held without a touchdown in the first two games, got a 44-yard score from Case Keenum to Brian Quick for a 7-0 lead. The Bucs followed with their first takeaway of 2016, as linebacker Kwon Alexander intercepted a Keenum pass and returned it 37 yards for a touchdown. Roberto Aguayo missed the extra point for a 7-6 Rams lead.
Winston went 6-for-6 for 78 yards on a touchdown drive that ended with a 1-yard Charles Sims run, and after the Bucs forced a fumble, Winston hit tight end Cameron Brate for a 3-yard score and a 20-10 lead.
Just before halftime, Winston's screen pass to Sims was bobbled and intercepted by the Rams, setting up a 1-yard Todd Gurley touchdown to cut the lead to 20-17 with 0:22 left in the half.
NOTES: Tampa Bay QB Jameis Winston set career highs in yards (405), attempts (58) and completions (36) in the loss. ... Buccaneers RB Charles Sims, starting in place of the injured Doug Martin, finished with 124 total yards (55 rushing, 69 receiving). ... Los Angeles RB Todd Gurley, who had totaled 98 yards in the first two games, finished with 85 yards and two touchdowns on 27 carries. ... Rams QB Case Keenum threw for just 190 yards, going 14 for 26 on the night. ... The Bucs had two 100-yard receivers -- WR Mike Evans (10 catches, 132 yards and a touchdown) and WR Adam Humphries (9-100-0). ... WR Tavon Austin paced the Rams with five receptions for 82 yards.
Top Game Performances
Rushing
Los Angeles |
|
Tampa Bay |
Todd Gurley
|
Player |
Charles Sims
|
27 |
Attempts |
13 |
85 |
Yards |
55 |
3.2 |
Avg Yards |
4.2 |
2 |
Touchdowns |
1 |
16 |
Long |
23 |
Receiving
Los Angeles |
|
Tampa Bay |
Tavon Austin
|
Player |
Mike Evans
|
5 |
Receptions |
10 |
82 |
Yards |
132 |
16.4 |
Avg Yards |
13.2 |
1 |
Touchdowns |
1 |
43 |
Long |
19 |
Team Stats Summary
|
Yards |
Scoring |
Defense |
Team |
Tot |
Rus |
Pas |
TD |
FG |
INT |
Sck |
FF |
Los Angeles
|
320 |
137 |
183 |
5 |
1 |
1 |
2.0 |
1 |
Tampa Bay
|
472 |
83 |
389 |
5 |
0 |
1 |
1.0 |
1 |
Upcoming Games
-
Tampa Bay will play their next game at home against Denver. The Buccaneers have a W/L % of .000 after a win and .500 after a loss.
-
Los Angeles will play their next game on the road against Arizona. The Rams have a W/L % of 1.000 after a win and .500 after a loss.