 RAMS AND RAVENS IN 99, A CLOSE GAME, BY BUCKY
(March 3) |
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I had forgotten what a close
game this was. It could have part of a trilogy of games including the Super Bowl and
Divisional championship with Tampa Bay. The Rams couldn't run the ball, Warner and the receivers were great but they couldn't put the Ravens away, even with Mitchell at QB. There was a sequence of plays in the 4th quarter which really turned the game around. The Rams were winning 17 to 10 with the ball on their own 30, about 12 minutes left in the game. Warner was hit as he was about to throw, it was ruled a fumble; Boulware was unable to pick up the ball but Ravens recovered. Then Collins tackled the back on the screen......Carter sacked the QB.......and Mike Jones blocked a pass. Stover missed a 54 yard field goal. The Rams then took over and did nothing except for a reception to Ike and a questionable penalty called on Lewis for 15. It left the Rams with a 51 yard field goal and Wilkins made it. Later the Rams got a nice TD when Torry beat Jenkins and Woodson.......and then a great interception by Lyle to seal it at 27 to 10. That game said a lot about both teams though it was not immediately obvious-----> * The Raven's Defense was championship caliber. Lewis was just sensational, all over the field. They could have kept the game close if they got any offensive play at all. They had to go through Michell and Case to get to Tony Banks, who then provided enough offense to make them competitive, even with a lack of playmakers and some holes in the offensive line. * Kurt Warner and his receivers were as good as they appeared to be that day. The Ravens did have 3 CB's and a good pass rush and Lewis and Farrior and Boulware.......but they could not stop the Ram passing game. If it weren't for several drops and an occasional error, the Rams could have scored 40 or more. Nobody should be able to score on the Ravens that way! In that game the Rams had a championship offense.......even without a running game. * At the time of the game, the general attitude about the running game was that Marshall was not quite ready from his hold out. In retrospect, he probably WAS ready......but this Rams team could not run on a top defense. This showed up later against the Titans and Bucs. |
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