Week 1 Preseason – Indianapolis Colts vs. St. Louis Rams
ST. LOUIS – On August 13, the Colts and Rams had their first pre-season game of the season. The Rams would have had their first a week-and-a-half earlier if the Hall of Fame game against the Chicago Bears had not been cancelled due to the lengthy collective bargaining agreement and lockout.
Pre-game notes: Peyton Manning, QB for the Colts, did not dress, but was on the sidelines due to his neck surgery. Dwight Freeney, DE for the Colts, also injured, did not play. Indianapolis has lost the last seven pre-season opening games before this matchup. On the Rams side, Steven Jackson, RB, did dress, but did not play. James Laurinaitis, LB for the Rams, also did not play because of his pectoral injury.
1st quarter:
On 3rd-and-8 at the IND 25, Curtis Painter, backup QB for the Colts, threw a pass deep down the middle intended for WR Austin Collie, but was intercepted by Quintin Mikell, S, who returned it for 25 yards to the IND 16.
On 3rd-and-goal at the 6, Sam Bradford, starting QB for the Rams, threw a short pass to Lance Kendricks, TE, which resulted in a touchdown and extra point by K Josh Brown. Rams 7 Colts 0
On 4th-and-goal at the 5, Adam Vinatieri, K for the Colts, successfully kicked a 23-yard field goal. Rams 7 Colts 3
On 4th-and-5 at the STL 25, Donnie Jones, P for the Rams, punted the ball 46 yards and it was returned for -2 yards to the IND 27.
On 2nd-and-9 at the IND 28, Dan Orlovsky, threw a short pass intended for WR C. Brooks, but was intercepted by Craig Dahl, S, who returned it for 18 yards to IND 16.
On 4th-and-6 at the IND 12, Brown successfully kicked a 30-yard field goal. Rams 10 Colts 3
On 4th-and-12 at the IND 18, Pat McAfee, P for the Colts, punted the ball 44 yards and it was returned for -1 yards to the STL 37.
2nd quarter:
On 3rd-and-goal at the 1, Cadillac Williams, backup RB for the Rams, ran the ball, which resulted in a touchdown and extra point by Brown. Rams 17 Colts 3
On 4th-and-1 at the IND 19, McAfee punted the ball 51 yards and it was returned for 15 yards to the STL 45.
On 3rd-and-goal at the 3, A.J. Feeley, backup QB for the Rams, passed short to WR Danario Alexander, who caught the ball in the end zone. Due to the new rule, every touchdown play is automatically reviewed by the guys upstairs, so that no coaches can challenge a touchdown play. The Replay Assistant was given permission to challenge the touchdown catch, and the play was reversed to an incomplete pass.
On 4th-and-goal at the 3, Brown successfully kicked a 21-yard field goal. Rams 20 Colts 3
On 4th-and-9 at the IND 48, McAfee punted the ball 41 yards and it was returned for no gain to the STL 11.
On 3rd-and-5 at the IND 42 with 2 seconds remaining, Brown successfully kicked a 60-yard field goal. Rams 23 Colts 3
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3rd quarter:
On 1st-and-goal at the 5, Keith Toston, backup RB for the Rams, ran the ball, which resulted in a touchdown and extra point by Brown. Rams 30 Colts 3
The first penalty of the game (very strange for a pre-season opener) came halfway in the quarter by the Rams’ Chris Chamberlain.
On 1st-and-10 at the STL 44, Orlovsky threw a deep pass to WR T. Smith, which resulted in Smith getting above the Rams rookie CB and scoring a touchdown and extra point by McAfee. Rams 30 Colts 10
On 4th-and-1 at the STL 24, Jones punted the ball 45 yards and it was returned for 6 yards to the IND 37.
On 1st-and-10 at the IND 37, Orlovsky threw a deep pass intended for Smith, but was intercepted by Jermale Hines, rookie S, who returned it for 16 yards to the STL 22.
On 4th-and-2 at the IND 35, Brown successfully kicked a 53-yard field goal. Rams 33 Colts 10
3 rd quarter:
On 1st-and-goal at the 5, Keith Toston, backup RB for the Rams, ran the ball, which resulted in a touchdown and extra point by Brown. Rams 30 Colts 3
The first penalty of the game (very strange for a pre-season opener) came halfway in the quarter by the Rams’ Chris Chamberlain.
On 1st-and-10 at the STL 44, Orlovsky threw a deep pass to WR T. Smith, which resulted in Smith getting above the Rams rookie CB and scoring a touchdown and extra point by McAfee. Rams 30 Colts 10
On 4th-and-1 at the STL 24, Jones punted the ball 45 yards and it was returned for 6 yards to the IND 37.
On 1st-and-10 at the IND 37, Orlovsky threw a deep pass intended for Smith, but was intercepted by Jermale Hines, rookie S, who returned it for 16 yards to the STL 22.
On 4th-and-2 at the IND 35, Brown successfully kicked a 53-yard field goal. Rams 33 Colts 10
4th quarter:
On 4th-and-1 at the IND 29, T. Baltz, backup P for the Colts, punted the ball 36 yards and it was returned for 5 yards to the STL 40.
On 4th-and-2 at the IND 40, Jones punted the ball 31 yards and it was downed by St. Louis at the IND 9.
On 4th-and-9 at the IND 10, Baltz punted the ball 48 yards and it was returned for 6 yards to the STL 48.
On 4th-and-3 at the IND 45, Jones punted the ball 33 yards and it was downed by St. Louis at the IND 12.
On 4th-and-1 at the STL 33, D. Carter, backup RB for the Colts, failed to convert by running the ball for no gain.
On 4th-and-2 at the STL 41, Jones punted the ball 39 yards and it was returned for 1 yard to the IND 21.
On 2nd-and-10 at the STL 38, M. Hartline, backup QB for the Colts, threw an incomplete deep pass intended for M. Williams. End game
Post-game notes: Mike Sims-Walker, the new WR free agent for the Rams, and Quintin Mikell, new S for the Rams, went out of the game early because of minor injuries and did not return. The Colts’ undrafted free agent Mike McNeill, hometown of Kirkwood, Missouri, led the Colts in catches. Josh Brown, K Rams, kicked a 60-yard field goal at the end of the first half, which destroyed his previous high of 53 yards.
All in all, the Rams dominated over the Manning-less Colts 33-10. The Colts threw 3 picks, whereas the Rams threw 0 picks. Only three penalties total occurred in the game. The Rams led in time of possession, red zone/goal to go efficiency, completion percentage, rushing yards, third down/fourth down efficiency, and first downs total. The Colts now have lost eight straight pre-season opening games. The season is looking good for the Rams and I would be very surprised if the Rams do not win this year’s division and make the playoffs for the first time since 2004.
By Trevor Roe
ProFootball-fans.com St. Louis Rams Correspondent