SportsDirect Inc. staff
Sep 14, 2014
Rams 19, Buccaneers 17: Greg Zuerlein kicked four field goals, including the game-winner from 38 yards with 38 seconds to play, as visiting St. Louis rallied past Tampa Bay.
Austin Davis went 22-of-29 for 235 yards in his first NFL start and led the Rams (1-1) 71 yards in 12 plays to set up Zuerlein's winning kick. Zac Stacy rushed for 71 yards and a touchdown and Brian Quick caught seven passes for 74 yards for St. Louis.
Bobby Rainey racked up 144 yards on the ground and Josh McCown rushed for two touchdowns for the Buccaneers (0-2). McCown finished 16-of-21 for 179 yards and an interception and completed a long pass to Mike Evans on the last play of regulation, but the wideout was shaken up and Tampa Bay was out of timeouts - resulting in a 10-second runoff that ended the game before the Buccaneers could get off a field-goal attempt.
The Buccaneers marched 77 yards in 10 plays on the opening drive with McCown scrambling for a 5-yard score, but the Rams answered with an 80-yard drive capped by Stacy's 2-yard run before Zuerlein booted a 36-yard field goal for a 10-7 halftime lead. McCown added a 1-yard sneak early in the third to put Tampa Bay back on top before Zuerlein connected from 35 and 46 yards to give St. Louis a 16-14 lead.
A roughing-the-passer call prolonged a Tampa Bay drive in the fourth quarter and set up Patrick Murray's 36-yard field goal to make it 17-16 with 5:15 left. Davis marched the Rams down the field and converted two third downs, including a 27-yard strike to Austin Pettis to move into field goal range before Zuerlein made his fourth kick.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Buccaneers DT Gerald McCoy suffered a broken hand and LB Mason Foster injured his shoulder in the first half and neither player returned. ... Play was suspended because of lightning with 6:03 left in the second quarter, resulting in a 51-minute delay. … McCown is the first Tampa Bay quarterback to rush for two TDs in a game since Steve Young in 1986. … St. Louis S T.J. McDonald blocked a punt in the second quarter and CB E.J. Gaines blocked a field goal attempt on the first play of the fourth quarter.