Vinny: Rams positives against Lions buried by 4th qtr mistakes...

[www.ocregister.com]

SPORTS
Bonsignore: Rams' positives against Lions on Sunday buried by fourth-quarter breakdown
Oct. 17, 2016 Updated 6:41 p.m.

Rams quarterback Case Keenum completed 19 consecutive passes Sunday before finishing 27 for 32 passes for 321 yards and three touchdowns ... and still the Rams lost.
,
By VINCENT BONSIGNORE / STAFF COLUMNIST

LONDON – The Rams dared to dream two weeks ago. About taking control of their division and returning home from London ahead of the bye week with a 6-1 record and finally laying to rest the complaint they are no better than a muddling team that perpetually hovers around or below .500.

But dreams die fast in the NFL. One moment the Rams were 3-1 and contemplating running away with the division, the next they are fighting frustration and breaking points after falling to 3-3.

Their anger and discontent was evident Sunday in an solemn locker room after they lost their grip on a seven-point fourth quarter lead in a 31-28 loss to the Detroit Lions.

The offense delivered a performance worthy of a victory for the first time all season, only for career days by Case Keenum and Kenny Britt to be brutally kicked aside amid defensive breakdowns and missed tackles and penalties as the Lions scored 10 straight points to send the Rams to London with a bitter defeat.

It was a head-scratcher to be sure. And while there were positives, it’s tough to focus on them in such a disheartening loss.

But we’ll try.

Here are some takeaways as the Rams try to push aside their second straight loss and prepare for the New York Giants in London.

KEENUM DESERVED BETTER
It’s not anything personal against Keenum, who has climbed higher and further than anyone could have imagined as an undrafted free agent out of Houston and now the Rams starting quarterback. But the harsh reality is he’s a game-manager quarterback who is keeping the seat warm for eventual starter Jared Goff.

And that’s how he is typically viewed.

That said, he was spectacular Sunday while completing 27 of 32 passes for 321 yards and three touchdowns. Keenum consistently delivered well-timed and perfectly placed throws on a variety of different pass patterns and lengths. At one point he completed 19 straight passes, which is astounding.

By all accounts, he deserved the chance to savor his performance.

But between a defense that couldn’t get the Lions off the field late in the game and his ill-advised throw into triple coverage that resulted in a game-ending interception, Keenum could only use the game as a steppingstone rather than a point of celebration.

“When you don’t win the football game, there’s still things you have to, win or lose, there’s going to be stuff that you can get better at,” Keenum said. “I thought we moved the ball well, just not enough. Unfortunately in this game, that’s the only stat that matters.”

BANGED-UP DEFENSE NO EXCUSE
The Rams began the day without Robert Quinn and Trumaine Johnson and ended it without Michael Brockers and Lamarcus Joyner.

Those are losses any team would be hard-pressed to replace. But that still isn’t a valid excuse for the Rams defense surrendering 10 straight points in the fourth quarter after the offense built a 28-21 lead.

“That’s just not good defense,” Coach Jeff Fisher said.

And it left the Rams bitterly looking for answers.

“I know one thing up front is we aren’t getting to the quarterback, but we do have to play better,” defensive tackle Aaron Donald said. “It’s a long season. We’ve got room for improvement. We’ll start with us up front on the line. We can’t get to the quarterback, he’s back there all day, passing the ball, making plays.”

STILL TOO MANY PENALTIES
We’ve discussed over and over the Rams have the thinnest of margins of error, but they continually sabotage themselves with costly penalties. They had eight more against the Lions, including an embarrassing sequence in which they committed back to back false starts on the opening drive of the second half.

“Unacceptable,” offensive guard Rodger Saffold said.

He’s right.

But penalties in general continue to be an issue. And eventually that falls on coaching.

YOU HAVE TO KICK THE FG THERE
The Rams had a chance to take a 17-14 lead at halftime after driving to the 1-foot line in the closing seconds of the second quarter. But rather than kick the field goal on fourth and goal, Fisher opted to go for the touchdown. The decision blew up in his face when the Lions stuffed Todd Gurley for no gain to leave the score at 14-14.

You absolutely take the three points and the lead right there, especially with possession of the second-half kickoff and the chance to build a 10-point lead.

It’s the second straight week Fisher recklessly rolled the dice rather than play his hand prudently – who can forget the fake punt from his own 23-yard-line last week? – and once again it cost the Rams big time.

Fisher defended last week’s decision by pointing to the Rams’ success in aggressive special teams calls. And Sunday he used the Rams’ persona as a tough running team to justify going for the touchdown.

“I mean, I’d do that again,” he said. “Inside the one-yard line, I mean, you need to knock that in. That’s your philosophy.”

That’s flawed thinking. Get the points. Take the lead. Then try to build on it to start the second half.