What we learned from the Rams’ 13-10 loss to the Carolina Panthers:
Fans want to see Jared Goff
The chant in the Coliseum was unmistakable.
“We want Goff!” the crowd yelled. “We want Goff!”
Quarterback Case Keenum is certainly not responsible for all of the Rams’ offensive woes. He has played well at times.
On Sunday, he completed passes to eight receivers. But the Rams are 3-5 and in the midst of a four-game losing streak.
Coach Jeff Fisher has said he would play Goff when the No. 1 pick in the draft is ready.
The fans are, obviously, ready for a change.
The open date didn’t do much for the offensive line
They were rested. They regrouped. They supposedly corrected mistakes.
But the running game remains stagnant.
Todd Gurley rushed for 48 yards in 12 carries.
And Keenum was sacked four times.
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Rams tight end Tyler Higbee stretches out to catch, but misses, a pass in the end zone while he’s defended by Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis during the second half.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
2/26
Rams cornerback Lamarcus Joyner, right, commits pass interference while defending Panthers receiver Devin Fuchess in the first quarter. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Rams quarterback Case Keenum is sacked by Panthers defensive tackle Mario Addison during the third quarter. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Panthers safety Colin Jones dives to down a punt at the one-yard line during the first quarter.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
5/26
Rams quarterback Case Keenum fumbles the ball as Panthers Thomas Davis hits him in the second quarter.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Rams quarterback Case Keenum fumbles the ball after Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis hit him during the second quarter, but running back Benny Cunningham catches it.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
7/26
Panthers defensive backs James Bradberry, left, and Kurt Coleman, celebrate after preventing a long pass from Rams quarterback Case Keenum to receiver Brian Quick, left, late in the fourth quarter.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
8/26
Rams tight end Tyler Higbee can’t hold on to a pass as he’s brought down by Panthers safety Tre Boston during the second half.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Rams cornerback E.J. Gaines, center, and linebacker Mark Barron try to bring down Panthers receiver Kelvin Benjamin during the second quarter.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Rams running back Todd Gurley is taken down after a long run during the second quarter.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
11/26
Panthers quarterback Cam Newton delights a young fan by tossing him the ball he threw for a touchdown to tight end Greg Olsen in the first quarter.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Rams receiver Kenny Britt catches a touchdown pass in front of Panthers James Bradberry for a 10-yard score late in the fourth quarter
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
13/26
Panthers cornerback James Bradberry has position on Rams receiver Tavon Austin on a long pass from quarterback Case Keenum. The pass was incomplete.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
14/26
Rams tight end Lance Kendricks misses a Case Keenum pass at the goal line at the Coliseum on Nov. 6 (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Rams tight end Lance Kendricks is upended by Panthers safety Michael Griffin after a short gain during the second half.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
16/26
Rams backup quarteback Jared Goff watches from the sidelines during the second half.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
17/26
Rams running back Benny Cunningham eludes Panthers safety Kurt Coleman as tackle Greg Robinson tumbles nearby during second-quarter action.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis intercepts a pass in front of Rams receiver Tyler Higbee during the third quarter.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
19/26
Rams defensive lineman Aaron Donald sacks Panthers quarterback Cam Newton early in the fourth quarter. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Panthers kicker Graham Gano hits a 37-yard field goal to give Carolina a 13-3 lead over the Rams midway through the fourth quarter.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Rams quarterback Case Keenum scrambles from the Panthers’ rush during the second quarter.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Rams defensive lineman Eugene Sims, 97, and teammate Ethan Westbrooks celebrate after sacking Panthers quarterback Cam Newton during the second quarter.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Panthers receiver Kelvin Benjamin can’t make the catch in the end zone in front of Rams cornerback Trumaine Johnson in the fourth quarter.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Rams kicker Greg Zuerlein twists his body as he misses a 55-yard field-goal attempt in the first quarter.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Rams tight end Tyler Higbee hauls in a 31-yard pass over Panthers linebacker A.J. Klein during first-half action.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Kicker Greg Zuerlein and long snapper Jake McQuaide walk past a mural of Rams players hours before their game against Panthers.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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The open date did a lot for the defensive line
Michael Brockers came back from a groin injury. Robert Quinn and William Hayes seemed fully recovered from shoulder and ankle injuries, respectively.
And Aaron Donald appeared energized.
Donald has two of the Rams’ season-high five sacks, and end Eugene Sims and tackle Cam Thomas also had one. (Linebacker Mark Barron also had a sack).
Greg Zuerlein is not infallible
Zuerlein went into the game having made all 10 of his field-goal attempts.
Fisher, apparently wanting to ride that wave of momentum, had Zuerlein attempt a 55-yard field goal on the Rams’ first series. He missed wide right.
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Zuerlein also missed a 55-yard attempt at the end of the first half before converting from 25 yards in the fourth quarter.
The Rams have a penalty problem
The day after a loss, Fisher often says he does not agree with all of the calls. That’s fine.
That doesn’t change the fact that the Rams were flagged 10 times for 109 yards against the Panthers.
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The Rams continue to stifle their offense, keep alive opponents’ drives and sabotage special teams plays with penalties.
The defense is stout but needs to create more turnovers
Safety Maurice Alexander nearly intercepted a Cam Newton pass.
But he did not come up with the ball, continuing the Rams’ struggles to create turnovers the last four games.
They have not intercepted a pass and they have recovered only one fumble in the last four games.
Lance Kendricks is sure-handed … most of the time
The Rams tight end caught seven passes for the second game in a row. He has established himself as a valuable weapon.
But he dropped a certain touchdown pass at the goal line.
That can’t happen.
Not for any team, but especially one that is struggling so much to score touchdowns.
Gary Klein covers the Los Angeles Rams for the Los Angeles Times. Before that, he covered USC’s football program and athletic department. He began working for The Times in the San Fernando Valley edition and has reported on high school, college and pro sports. He grew up in Southern California and graduated from Cal State Northridge.
