Trailing Carolina, 13-10, with 32 seconds to play, the Rams lined up for an unorthodox onside kick. Then Los Angeles kicker Greg Zuerlein booted the ball 46 yards downfield where only the Panthers could recover.
The Rams tried a trick onside kick, then forgot the onside part
A 46-yard onside kick is a ... bold strategy.
The ball squibbed its way to the Carolina 19, where Ted Ginn chased it down to end any hope of a Los Angeles comeback. The original strategy may have been to carom the kick off one of the Panthers’ upbacks, but Zuerlein’s kick missed pay dirt and rolled to a spot where only Carolina could recover.
There’s something going on with onside kicks this week. The Steelers tried one that went awry, too.
The bizarre strategy encapsulated the Rams’ struggles on a weird day. Los Angeles fans, sick of starting quarterback Case Keenum, alternately chanted for backup quarterback Jared Goff and minor-league baseball hopeful Tim Tebow. Later in the game, Lance Kendricks dropped a sure touchdown pass when it hit him in the tricky area above his waist but below his neck. Then Keenum completed a pass with his non-dominant left hand.
But at least Johnny Hekker had one hell of a punt!
The Panthers escaped Los Angeles with a three-point victory to improve to 3-5 on the season. The Rams fell to 3-5.
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