Re: ACQB M10 Franchise Game Discussion/Ish-Talking Thread
A tip of the hat to King of VA for one of the best games of M10 I've had to date from a competitive standpoint.
The Saint Louis Rams get a signature victory on the road, in overtime, in one of the most inhospitable environments in the league for visiting teams.
The Chiefs came out like gangbusters, stuffing the STL running game early and putting up points. Workhorse Stephen Jackson was hammered at the line or stopped for a short gain several times on the team's first two drives, and he left late in the first quarter with a strained hamstring.
The loss was a deflating one for STL, which was looking to feature Jackson against a KC defense whose strength lay in its back four.
It seemed for the entire first half that bad luck was hounding the Rams at every turn. First it was a string of holds and misfires by Bulger, then it was an injury to speedster Donnie Avery, who went down in the second with a fractured foot after a big 3rd down catch.
Meanwhile, the KC offense marched down the field and shredded the STL defense on the ground and in the air. Ronnie Brown ran through and around the Rams defense, trucking defenders and ripping out of gang tackles. He and backfield mate Jamaal Charles showed impressive speed and produced in the passing game as well.
Rookie QB Jack English engineered a the first scoring drive at the end of the first, punctuating the drive with a 2-yard TD pass to Dwayne Bowe, who caught 8 passes for 140 yards and 2 TDs.
English and company punished the Rams' defense on their ensuing drive, but STL was able to come up with a huge red zone stop and force KC to settle for a FG.
The Rams' red zone defense would prove to be a huge story in the game, as would the patience and resolve of the offense.
QB Mark Bulger led the Rams on what would prove to be a very important FG-scoring drive with less than two minutes left in the first half to put the Rams on the board, trailing 10-3 at the half.
The second half saw continued explosive plays from the KC offense, which put up 10 more unanswered points. A 58 yard strike from English to Bowe was the play of the game to that point. Bowe ran a deep out on CB Roland Bartell. With Bowe pinned on the sideline, Bartell took a massive gamble and tried to pick the ball, but clearly underestimated the rookie's arm strength. English put just enough zip on the ball to get it by, and Bowe finished the play by galloping to the end zone.
The tide began to turn for STL after that score. The KC offense continued to move the ball, but the Rams' defense showed impressive resolve with a goal line stand that ended with Ronnie Brown on his back at the 1 yard line. If ever a FG could inspire an opposing team, Ryan Succop's 18-yard FG did just that.
Stephen Jackson proved himself a true warrior, re-entering the game against the wishes of the training staff and dominating the 3rd and 4th quarters. Jackson scored the Rams' first TD of the game following the goal line stand, ripping through 4 KC defenders en route to a 16 yard TD pass from Marc Bulger. The TD put STL down 20-10 at the end of the 3rd quarter.
The Rams's defense did not allow another point during the game, finding a way to bottle up Brown and Charles on the ground and slowing the KC passing game with key big hits and sure tackles on 3rd down.
The offense, meanwhile, began to find a rhythm as Bulger distributed the ball to every available weapon, hitting 8 different receivers on the game. The Rams' offensive line found their rhythm as well, getting great push and creating lanes for Jackson, who played with grit and rammed the ball down the Chiefs' throat late in the game.
The Rams managed a FG with 4 mins left in the 4th to bring the game to 20-13, and with another key stop by the defense, Bulger and company had an improbably chance to tie the game with a long field and less than two minutes to go. After moving the ball downfield with impressive precision, Bulger found Jackson for his second TD pass of the game with a mere 5 seconds remaining.
Josh Brown's ensuing KO went 7 yards deep in the end zone, and a solid tackle by the Rams' special teams ended regulation.
STL won the toss, but rookie WR Jamarion Bellows appeared to fumble the ball on the first play of OT. A booth review reversed the call and placed the Rams 75 yards from victory.
The Rams' offense proved methodical, marching down field and crossing into KC territory with a mix of running and downfield passing. Once in enemy territory, the Rams showed serious grit, running the ball 7 straight times to bring the ball to the KC 18. Three different backs gained first downs on that drive, and were not touched until they were 3-4 yards downfield.
Kicker Josh Brown nailed his 3rd FG of the game, a 35-yarder with 3:53 left in OT, to win the game.
That was one of the most epic games I've had, and was a great win for a Rams team in dire need of direction. I was very pleased with the team's effort, and very impressed with KC.
Jack English is so good that you have to see it to believe it. His arm is stronger than any I've seen in league play, and his accuracy is almost as impressive. King of VA ran better with Ronnie Brown than I ever could and will win a lot of games this year. He will be in contention for GM/Coach of the Year for the way he has turned KC from a cellar-dweller into a playoff competitor in just one off season.
Great game, King; I was very lucky to emerge the victor.
A tip of the hat to King of VA for one of the best games of M10 I've had to date from a competitive standpoint.
The Saint Louis Rams get a signature victory on the road, in overtime, in one of the most inhospitable environments in the league for visiting teams.
The Chiefs came out like gangbusters, stuffing the STL running game early and putting up points. Workhorse Stephen Jackson was hammered at the line or stopped for a short gain several times on the team's first two drives, and he left late in the first quarter with a strained hamstring.
The loss was a deflating one for STL, which was looking to feature Jackson against a KC defense whose strength lay in its back four.
It seemed for the entire first half that bad luck was hounding the Rams at every turn. First it was a string of holds and misfires by Bulger, then it was an injury to speedster Donnie Avery, who went down in the second with a fractured foot after a big 3rd down catch.
Meanwhile, the KC offense marched down the field and shredded the STL defense on the ground and in the air. Ronnie Brown ran through and around the Rams defense, trucking defenders and ripping out of gang tackles. He and backfield mate Jamaal Charles showed impressive speed and produced in the passing game as well.
Rookie QB Jack English engineered a the first scoring drive at the end of the first, punctuating the drive with a 2-yard TD pass to Dwayne Bowe, who caught 8 passes for 140 yards and 2 TDs.
English and company punished the Rams' defense on their ensuing drive, but STL was able to come up with a huge red zone stop and force KC to settle for a FG.
The Rams' red zone defense would prove to be a huge story in the game, as would the patience and resolve of the offense.
QB Mark Bulger led the Rams on what would prove to be a very important FG-scoring drive with less than two minutes left in the first half to put the Rams on the board, trailing 10-3 at the half.
The second half saw continued explosive plays from the KC offense, which put up 10 more unanswered points. A 58 yard strike from English to Bowe was the play of the game to that point. Bowe ran a deep out on CB Roland Bartell. With Bowe pinned on the sideline, Bartell took a massive gamble and tried to pick the ball, but clearly underestimated the rookie's arm strength. English put just enough zip on the ball to get it by, and Bowe finished the play by galloping to the end zone.
The tide began to turn for STL after that score. The KC offense continued to move the ball, but the Rams' defense showed impressive resolve with a goal line stand that ended with Ronnie Brown on his back at the 1 yard line. If ever a FG could inspire an opposing team, Ryan Succop's 18-yard FG did just that.
Stephen Jackson proved himself a true warrior, re-entering the game against the wishes of the training staff and dominating the 3rd and 4th quarters. Jackson scored the Rams' first TD of the game following the goal line stand, ripping through 4 KC defenders en route to a 16 yard TD pass from Marc Bulger. The TD put STL down 20-10 at the end of the 3rd quarter.
The Rams's defense did not allow another point during the game, finding a way to bottle up Brown and Charles on the ground and slowing the KC passing game with key big hits and sure tackles on 3rd down.
The offense, meanwhile, began to find a rhythm as Bulger distributed the ball to every available weapon, hitting 8 different receivers on the game. The Rams' offensive line found their rhythm as well, getting great push and creating lanes for Jackson, who played with grit and rammed the ball down the Chiefs' throat late in the game.
The Rams managed a FG with 4 mins left in the 4th to bring the game to 20-13, and with another key stop by the defense, Bulger and company had an improbably chance to tie the game with a long field and less than two minutes to go. After moving the ball downfield with impressive precision, Bulger found Jackson for his second TD pass of the game with a mere 5 seconds remaining.
Josh Brown's ensuing KO went 7 yards deep in the end zone, and a solid tackle by the Rams' special teams ended regulation.
STL won the toss, but rookie WR Jamarion Bellows appeared to fumble the ball on the first play of OT. A booth review reversed the call and placed the Rams 75 yards from victory.
The Rams' offense proved methodical, marching down field and crossing into KC territory with a mix of running and downfield passing. Once in enemy territory, the Rams showed serious grit, running the ball 7 straight times to bring the ball to the KC 18. Three different backs gained first downs on that drive, and were not touched until they were 3-4 yards downfield.
Kicker Josh Brown nailed his 3rd FG of the game, a 35-yarder with 3:53 left in OT, to win the game.
That was one of the most epic games I've had, and was a great win for a Rams team in dire need of direction. I was very pleased with the team's effort, and very impressed with KC.
Jack English is so good that you have to see it to believe it. His arm is stronger than any I've seen in league play, and his accuracy is almost as impressive. King of VA ran better with Ronnie Brown than I ever could and will win a lot of games this year. He will be in contention for GM/Coach of the Year for the way he has turned KC from a cellar-dweller into a playoff competitor in just one off season.
Great game, King; I was very lucky to emerge the victor.
. I would have liked to have Fletcher for a year, but I dropped the two former Skins and picked up Bulger. He played a pretty good game, throwing 2 TDs and no INT.
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