It was a long time coming; 378 days to be exact. But the Rams won their first game Sunday since Oct. 19, 2008, giving Steve Spagnuolo the first victory of his coaching career, and they now head to their bye on an upbeat note for the first time this season.
Never mind that the 17-10 win came over the Lions, a team that has won just twice in its last 31 games. For the Rams, any win is one to savor.
"It's special,” said Spagnuolo. “I know I'll remember it for a long time. What makes it most special is the people that it happened with. It's a special group of guys. I know when you've been through a lot, especially the guys that have been around, they never quit. They bought in, stayed with it, never leaned the other way - I never saw that. So to their credit they hung in there and it's a special group and I feel proud to be part of the group."
Near the end of Friday’s practice, two days before the game, media watching were asked to leave for the final four plays so they wouldn’t be in earshot of Spagnuolo’s post-practice talk to the team, which contained strong words about intensity and effort.
Although there was a certain sloppiness in the game, Spagnuolo still liked what he saw.
He said, “I think the guys played their guts out. We talked about it all week, they never quit, I mean even during the week at practice, which was a tough one because you come off a tough loss and seven of them, but they continue to work. I'm just so proud and happy that they now have a reward, and it's just one reward, this isn't the end but I just prayed for them to have a reward for all the work that they put in and finally they got that.
“It's short-lived, it is a little nice that we've got two weeks to enjoy it, but it is only one and we didn't get in this thing and work hard just to win one game, so we'll get back to work after we enjoy this one. But it sure feels good."
The Rams led for most of the game, but never by more than eight points. When the Lions tied the game early in the fourth quarter, it appeared as if Detroit had turned the momentum in its favor.
But the defense stopped the Lions twice, setting up the final heroics by running back Steven Jackson, who rushed for 149 yards in the game, with many of the yards by his sheer will.
After a crucial third-and-3 pass interference penalty, Jackson gained 17 yards and then burst through the line for a 25-yard touchdown with 1:38 remaining. It was the team’s first rushing touchdown of the season.
Said quarterback Marc Bulger, “He played like Steven does every week.”
After the bye, the Rams have three straight home games against New Orleans, Arizona and Seattle, and Spagnuolo knows there are many challenges ahead.
He said, “You can't all of a sudden think because you've got one win that you've arrived, so we'll address that, we'll keep pounding away. But I do think this group does have that sight line. Straight ahead, let's get back to work, let's go on to the next game."
SIMPLY NOTING
*With right guard Richie Incognito sidelined by a foot injury, Adam Goldberg slid from right tackle to guard and rookie Jason Smith returned as the right tackle. In the second half, left guard Jacob Bell left with a head injury and was replaced by Mark Setterstrom.
*At the season’s halfway point, Jackson has rushed for 784 yards and averaged 4.8 yards per attempt, putting him on a pace to total 1,568 yards for the season. Adding in 186 receiving yards, he is on pace for 1,940 combined yards from scrimmage.
As hard as Jackson was running Sunday, some of the play-calling was curious. Jackson’s final two carries of the day went for 17 and 25 yards on consecutive plays. It was just the second time in the entire game that he ran the ball on two straight plays.
*Wide receiver Brandon Gibson was active for his first game with the Rams after being acquired in a trade from Philadelphia on Oct. 20. Gibson had one pass thrown his way, but it was off the mark.