Can Jared Goff save the Rams' offense?Alden Gonzalez
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Benny Cunningham, the backup running back who has been a rare spark for a lifeless offense, needed another 12 or so inches for his first touchdown in two years. The fourth-year pro took a pitch from Case Keenum on the Los Angeles Rams' first drive, then made a cut inside, quickly bounced to the outside, found some space and was ultimately chased out of bounds by New York Jets safety Marcus Gilchrist, never getting a chance to extend for the pylon.
"Man," Cunningham said, "that one's gonna haunt me for probably the rest of my life."
The Rams never got closer.
They reached the red zone three times, putting the ball at the Jets' 1-, 7- and 16-yard line, but failed to score a single touchdown in a 9-6 win over the New York Jets. The Rams have now mustered only two touchdowns in their last three games. Their offense entered Week 10 ranked 31st in the NFL in yards per game, on pace for a fourth straight year of finishing within the bottom five.
A change at quarterback, for No. 1 overall pick Jared Goff, might be the type of spark this offense needs -- but Jeff Fisher is still not ready to make it.
Prior to the game, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that the Rams would consider starting Goff for next week's home game against the Miami Dolphins. Then Keenum, with the NFL's lowest Total QBR, performed underwhelmingly against a Jets defense that had allowed the ninth-most points per game. Keenum avoided the back-breaking turnovers and picked up 10 first downs through the air. But his 165 passing yards and 17-of-30 rate didn't inspire a whole lot of confidence, once again prompting the following question:
Is there something Goff simply isn't showing you?
"No," Fisher said. "I keep saying this, and I'm going to keep saying this until he starts his first game -- he's improving. He's improving. He's got a feel for it. He's really into the game. He's a play away from going into the game, and he's improving."
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