The Sports Xchange
Nov 13, 2016
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Kicker Greg Zuerlein kicked three field goals, including the game-winning 34-yarder with 6:52 remaining in the fourth quarter, as the Los Angeles Rams edged the New York Jets 9-6 at MetLife Stadium on Sunday.
The win snapped a four-game losing streak for the Rams (4-5), who rode three Zuerlein field goals to a win for the second time this season. Zuerlein accounted for all of Los Angeles' offense in a 9-3 win over the Seattle Seahawks on Sept. 18.
It was the second straight loss for the Jets (3-7), who are all but eliminated from playoff contention.
Rams wide receiver Kenny Britt had seven catches for 109 yards while running back Todd Gurley, who was listed as questionable with a thigh injury, finished with 64 yards on 21 carries. Quarterback Case Keenum was 17-of-30 passing for 165 yards.
Jets quarterback Bryce Petty, who surprisingly made his first NFL career start in place of the injured Ryan Fitzpatrick, went 19 of 32 for 163 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Fitzpatrick, who sprained his left MCL in last Sunday's game against the Miami Dolphins, had taken most of the first-team reps during practice and was listed as questionable on Friday's injury's report.
The Jets got the ball back twice after Zuerlein's go-ahead field goal. But they didn't get past midfield on the first drive and Petty was intercepted by Alec Ogletree immediately after the two-minute warning.
Zuerlein booted a 20-yard field goal to cap the Rams' opening drive, which featured back-to-back plays in which Keenum and Britt connected for 25 yards before Benny Cunningham raced 24 yards to the Jets' 1-yard line. But Cunningham was stopped for no gain on first down and Keenum fired incomplete on second and third down.
Petty, a 2015 fourth-round pick who made his NFL debut last week, made his first touchdown drive a memorable one when he directed the Jets 99 yards in nine plays spanning the first and second quarter. He got credit for his first career touchdown pass on a trick play, when, on third-and-goal from the Rams' 4-yard line, Petty passed to Brandon Marshall, who immediately lateraled to Bilal Powell, who raced into the end zone. Nick Folk missed the extra point.
The Rams tied the game with 20 seconds remaining in the third on Zuerlein's second field goal, a 38-yarder that capped a 15-play, 55-yard drive.
NOTES: Jets CB Dexter McDougle, who was signed from the practice squad on Saturday, made his season debut. To make room for McDougle, the Jets waived/injured TE Kellen Davis. ... Among the Jets' inactives was C Nick Mangold (ankle), who missed his third straight game. Mangold missed just four games in his first 10 NFL seasons. ... Among the Rams' inactives were DE Matt Longacre (hip), who was listed as questionable on Friday, and QB Sean Mannion, who was the fourth quarterback taken in the 2015 draft. Jets QB Bryce Petty was the fifth quarterback selected. ... The only two quarterbacks selected in the third round or earlier this year who have not played a down yet are Rams QB Jared Goff, the first overall pick, and Jets QB Christian Hackenberg, a second-rounder who was inactive Sunday.