MVN: Most Valuable Network

For my game summary this week, I am trying a new format (for me, not new to the world); the "running commentary."  I watched yesterday's Rams/ 49ers game with my friend Ben, wrote out all my observations and comments as we took in the action live.  This is my attempt to make it all into a coherent column.

 

 

 

Thank you St. Louis Rams fans!

 

Because today's game was blacked out in Saint Louis my buddy Ben and I decided to head downtown in an attempt to buy scalped tickets outside of the Edward Jones Dome.  As we walked several blocks in the frigid afternoon air, probably about seven to eight degrees around noon, we feared that the bitter cold would keep the sellers at home to just cut their losses, but surely enough, we made eye contact with a man holding up two tickets from across the street.  We managed to get $88 tickets for just 30 bucks each, so the afternoon got off to a great start.  So I am writing this from our seats inside the climate controlled dome in section 110.  Ben is reminding me to mention the particularly leggy woman wearing a remarkably short skirt we saw as we walked to the dome from his car.  There it was.

 

We are about ten minutes before kickoff and the best two Rams trot out onto the field;   Kicker Josh Brown and punter Donnie Avery.  They look even less physically impressive in person, but they have certainly been the most consistent and competent Rams all season.  That's how bad the Rams are and have been, then again, special teams is a third of the game, right?

 

The Rams win the toss and elect to receive the kickoff the start the game.  My prediction, Rams 35- 49ers 21; and Ben's, "20-17 Rams, a thriller.  In Overtime."

 

-14:53 1^st Quarter: On the first play after the kickoff Rams quarterback Marc Bulger gets walloped as he releases the pass and is nearly picked off.  A collective, "here we go again" vibe slathers the crowd.

 

-13:40 1^st Quarter: Rams dodge a bullet after a Bulger interception is negated by an offsides penalty on the 49ers prior the snap.

 

- Rams running back Steven Jackson is receiving a steady dosage of carries early on, which is theoretically a good thing since he is meant to be one of, it not our best players.  But I just noticed something.  When Jackson is introduced before home games, he is the last one out of the tunnel and he waits for everyone else to fully matriculate through the high-five line because he bolts through his teammates like a bat out of hell!  Should I be concerned that our star running back demonstrates the greatest explosiveness after he is introduced, not, I don't know, when he's actually running plays for this team on the field?  Just saying...

 

-10:07 1^st Quarter: Rams fizzle. Donnie Jones punts.

 

-9:58 1^st Quarter: 49ers begin their first drive; as former Ram great Issac Bruce is acknowledged over the PA, he receives the loudest cheers of the day.

 

-8:36 1^st Quarter: Rams defense shuts down the 49ers offense and nearly pick off a pass, forcing a punt.

 

- 6:30 1^st Quarter: Much to the delight of Rams fans, Jim Haslett elects to attempt a conversion on 4^th and 1 from the San Fran 45.  They get it on a rush from Jackson.

 

-5:28 1^st Quarter: Rams backup running back Kenneth Darby gets embarrassed as he catches a pass out of the backfield and collides with the referee in the middle of the field.  Both men try to soften the blow, but somehow Darby ends up being the one laid flat on his back.  Pretty hilarious, and Darby will undoubtedly hear about that one for weeks to come.  On the following play Darby again catches a short pass, but this time uber-linebacker Patrick Willis knocks the running back off his feet as he wraps up a perfect tackle.  Bulger attempts a pass into double coverage on the following play, which was another 4^th down the team attempted to convert.  The ball fluttered harmlessly to the turf, 49ers ball on their own 37 with 4:21 to play in the quarter.

 

-2:43 1^st Quarter: As the 49ers drive, Issac Bruce catches a ten yard in route and breaks it to the outside to take his team to the Rams 30.  The existence of fan support for Bruce is not surprising as he was one of the most humble and well liked (not to mention successful) athletes in recent St. Louis history, but the sheer volume is astounding, there is no difference between when he played for the Rams.

 

-2:05 1^st Quarter: Rams defense bends, but does not break as the 49ers are forced to settle for a 48 yard field goal to put the visitors up 3-0.

 

- The 2^nd quarter begins on the Rams 49 with Bulger completing a 15 yard pass to Torry Holt.  This is immediately followed by a food break.  I get the nachos supreme, Ben orders a hot dog for $7.75.  But this was no ordinary frankfurter; he purchased a half pound Farmland "Big Dog."  Disgusting.  In our absence Josh Brown kicked a 43 yard field goal to even the score at three apiece.  Back to the action!

 

-6:19 2^nd Quarter: The 49ers have the ball and are driving, but the Rams defense makes its presence felt and sacks Shaun Hill who fumbles!  San Fran recovers and they are forced to punt to Dane Looker who lets the ball sail over his head into the end zone.

 

-4:02 2^nd Quarter: Rams ride Steven Jackson to two first downs to take them to their own 36 yardline.

 

- Approaching the two minute warning the Rams break out their own version of the "Wildcat" offensive package, I'm going to call it "Ramwild" from here on out.  This first appearance of Ramwild nets Saint Louis a 12 yard gain on a Jackson carry.

- Two minute warning prompts just one rhetorical question.  Just how thin is the line between NFL cheerleader and pole dancer?

 

-1:12 2^nd Quarter: 30 yard pass from Marc Bulger to Keenan Burton who broke open on a post route.  With the extra point, the Rams go up 10-3.

 

-:37 2^nd Quarter: Once the 49ers get the ball back, cornerback Roland Bartell makes a leaping, tumbling interception and in the process pumps a little more life into the ailing crowd at the dome.

 

-:19 2^nd Quarter: Rams advance down the field with the aid of completed passes to Darby who gets the team down to the 49ers 23 yardline.

 

-:10 2^nd Quarter: In a somewhat inexplicable move, the Rams elect to kick a field goal instead of taking one more shot at the endzone before halftime.  Of course the kick is good, and the Rams extend their lead to 13-3.

 

2^nd half begins with a kickoff returned by the 49ers to their own 24.

 

-13:30 3^rd Quarter: 3^rd and 3 pass by 49ers QB Shaun Hill nearly picks off by Rams linebacker Will Witherspoon; ensuing punt is downed by the 49ers deep in Rams territory at the seven.

 

-12:42 3^rd Quarter: The atmosphere in the Ed Jones Dome is downright depressing.  The Rams are actually winning the game, but it is quiet enough to hear the rustling of the cheerleader's pom-poms!  Everyone seems to be waiting for the other shoe to drop, for the Rams to somehow mess this up.

 

-11:46 3^rd Quarter: Tinoisamoa sacks Shaun Hill to back the 49ers up to 3^rd and 17 on their own 30.  Leonard Little follows this up with a sack of his own for an eight yard loss.

 

-10:28 3^rd Quarter: Following a 49ers punt, St. Louis is back in the Ramwild formation.  Jackson takes the shotgun snap and tosses it to a streaking Dane Looker who loops around behind the running back and desperately looks for someone to throw the pass to.  All the receivers are covered except for Marc Bulger, but Looker clearly wants to pass it to someone else, haha, hilarious!  Looker resigns himself to throwing to Bulger who catches the pass for a four yard gain and then stepped out of bounds.  The next play was a huge delayed screen pass to Jackson that would have gone for 20 or 30 yards, but it was called back because of a penalty on Richie "Babyface" Incognito.  The Rams have employed two of the craziest offensive linemen in recent NFL history in Kyle Turley and Incognito; awesome.

 

-5:45 3^rd Quarter: 49ers have the ball on their own 40 facing a 4^th and 2.  Shaun Hill drops back to pass, he is immediately under duress from several Rams.  I will let the shrill yellings of the woman behind me tell the rest of the story on this play, "Get him! Get him! Hit him! Shit."  1^st down 49ers on a little scramble by Hill.  Just a couple plays later Bartell bails the Rams out with his second pick of the day giving the offense the ball at their own 36 with 4:41 to play in the 3^rd quarter.

 

-2:22 3^rd Quarter:  More Ramwild, a six yard rush for Jackson.  Maybe the Rams should have gotten crafty earlier in the season?  It's not like we had anything to lose...outside of eight straight games.

 

-3^rd Quarter ends with the Rams still driving and they have the ball on the 49ers 16 yard-line facing a 2^nd and 10 still winning 13-3.

 

-11:36 4^th Quarter: Josh Brown kicks a 22 yard field goal after the Rams O shuts down and fails to produce a touchdown.  Rams lead 16-3, with less than a quarter to play the EJ Dome is starting to feel a little confident.

 

-9:15 4^th Quarter: Rams have possession and are milking the clock by pounding the ball with Steven Jackson, first down at the 50; but the Rams ultimately punt on this drive.

 

-4:26 4^th Quarter: With time running out on the 49ers and the Rams defense playing well the atmosphere begins to intensify.  Saint Louis forces San Fran into a 3^rd and 10 situation, but the 49ers are able to convert and quell the surge of the home town crowd.

 

-4:14 4^th Quarter: 49ers move to the Rams 10 and stare down a 3^rd and 6.  San Fran converts and moves to the three yardline where Shaun Hill finds Issac Bruce in the endzone and with the extra point; the score, 16-10 St. Louis.  The Bruce touchdown is the 1000^th catch of his career!  This puts Bruce in a rarefied air that I think St. Louis fans would have respected regardless of the player, but because it is the beloved Issac Bruce, the cheering and applause is deafening.  Good for him! 

 

But, the Rams still need to win this game.

 

-4:03 4^th Quarter: 49ers line up as if to try an onside kick, but boot it deep instead.  This looks good for the Rams, all we have to do is run out the clock, or at least run off enough time that the 49ers cannot drive the field and score.

 

-2:27 4^th Quarter: Rams punt.  49ers start the drive on their own 33.  Tinoisamoa gets a HUGE sack on Shaun Hill for a seven yard loss that takes the clock down to the two minute warning.

 

-2:00 4^th Quarter: 13 yard pass completed to Bruce, still many cheers, but now the EJ Dome is sensing this game slipping away.  It was alright to cheer for a player on the 49ers when it wasn't jeopardizing the Rams victory, what will be just the third of the season, snapping an eight game losing streak; but now that Bruce is helping drive his team down the field, there is internal conflict amongst Rams fans.

 

-1:22 4^th Quarter:  48 yard Hail Mary of a bomb that is snatched out of the air by 49ers receiver Josh Morgan ties the game at 16.  The extra point gives the 49ers a 17-16 lead.  The EJ Dome is blanketed with silence, but there is still a degree of hope.  Even though the Rams offense has proven to be impotent at best this season, thoughts of the "Greatest Show on Turf" cannot be shaken from the collective memories of St. Louisans.  So we believe that our terrible offense can drive the ball down the field and engineer a game winning drive.  To the extent that I talk trash to the annoying 49ers fans in front of us telling them, "you guys left too much time on the clock! We are going to drive it right down and score!"  Their moronic response, "Your offense stinks!  You guys have only won two games this year!"  I suppose that point should have ended the argument because I have been saying those same two things all season long, but it's different when the criticism is borne out of love as opposed to the foul mouthbreathings of some starter jacket wearing fat San Franciscan.  But I'm not upset.  I'm just going to let the Rams do the talking for me on the field.

 

-1:16 4^th Quarter: Darby returns the kickoff to the Rams 26.  First play of the drive; incomplete pass off Torry Holt's hands.  I have defended Torry Holt this entire season and his career as I think he is one of the greatest and most underrated receivers of the past 10-15 years, but this play just seemed to be a lack of concentration and how can you not be focused on a potential game winning drive?  Where have you gone Torry "Big Game" Holt?  In an ironic twist, on the very next play, Donnie Avery makes an 11 yard catch to keep the drive moving.  Avery comes through in the clutch, but Holt doesn't?  Interesting.

 

1:06 4^th Quarter: 1^st and 10 from their own 37, Bulger is sacked for a five yard loss to bring up 2^nd and 15.  Six yard completion to Holt; 3^rd and 9.  Incomplete pass to Steven Jackson, yet another anti-clutch performer; 4^th and 9.

 

:31 4^th Quarter: Bulger throws a deep out to Donnie Avery that is undercut by a 49ers defensive back and tipped... but miraculously and acrobatically caught by Avery as he drags his feet while he falls out of bounds!  Amazing play!  The dome is rocking, we are starting to feel like we can actually make this comeback!  Rams ball on their own 45!  Josh Brown is more than capable of 50 yard field goals so all we have to do is get the ball to the San Fran 35 yardline or so.

 

:25 4^th Quarter:  Draw to Steven Jackson for a loss of three yards.  Rams call a timeout, hopefully to think of some legitimate plays to call in this situation.

 

:22 4^th Quarter:  Bulger takes the snap and throws an interception.  Game over.  San Francisco 49ers 17- Saint Louis Rams 16.

 

 

For my game summary this week, I am trying a new format (for me, not new to the world); the "running commentary."  I watched yesterday's Rams/ 49ers game with my friend Ben, wrote out all my observations and comments as we took in the action live.  This is my attempt to make it all into a coherent column.

 

 

 

Thank you St. Louis Rams fans!

 

Because today's game was blacked out in Saint Louis my buddy Ben and I decided to head downtown in an attempt to buy scalped tickets outside of the Edward Jones Dome.  As we walked several blocks in the frigid afternoon air, probably about seven to eight degrees around noon, we feared that the bitter cold would keep the sellers at home to just cut their losses, but surely enough, we made eye contact with a man holding up two tickets from across the street.  We managed to get $88 tickets for just 30 bucks each, so the afternoon got off to a great start.  So I am writing this from our seats inside the climate controlled dome in section 110.  Ben is reminding me to mention the particularly leggy woman wearing a remarkably short skirt we saw as we walked to the dome from his car.  There it was.

 

We are about ten minutes before kickoff and the best two Rams trot out onto the field;   Kicker Josh Brown and punter Donnie Avery.  They look even less physically impressive in person, but they have certainly been the most consistent and competent Rams all season.  That's how bad the Rams are and have been, then again, special teams is a third of the game, right?

 

The Rams win the toss and elect to receive the kickoff the start the game.  My prediction, Rams 35- 49ers 21; and Ben's, "20-17 Rams, a thriller.  In Overtime."

 

-14:53 1^st Quarter: On the first play after the kickoff Rams quarterback Marc Bulger gets walloped as he releases the pass and is nearly picked off.  A collective, "here we go again" vibe slathers the crowd.

 

-13:40 1^st Quarter: Rams dodge a bullet after a Bulger interception is negated by an offsides penalty on the 49ers prior the snap.

 

- Rams running back Steven Jackson is receiving a steady dosage of carries early on, which is theoretically a good thing since he is meant to be one of, it not our best players.  But I just noticed something.  When Jackson is introduced before home games, he is the last one out of the tunnel and he waits for everyone else to fully matriculate through the high-five line because he bolts through his teammates like a bat out of hell!  Should I be concerned that our star running back demonstrates the greatest explosiveness after he is introduced, not, I don't know, when he's actually running plays for this team on the field?  Just saying...

 

-10:07 1^st Quarter: Rams fizzle. Donnie Jones punts.

 

-9:58 1^st Quarter: 49ers begin their first drive; as former Ram great Issac Bruce is acknowledged over the PA, he receives the loudest cheers of the day.

 

-8:36 1^st Quarter: Rams defense shuts down the 49ers offense and nearly pick off a pass, forcing a punt.

 

- 6:30 1^st Quarter: Much to the delight of Rams fans, Jim Haslett elects to attempt a conversion on 4^th and 1 from the San Fran 45.  They get it on a rush from Jackson.

 

-5:28 1^st Quarter: Rams backup running back Kenneth Darby gets embarrassed as he catches a pass out of the backfield and collides with the referee in the middle of the field.  Both men try to soften the blow, but somehow Darby ends up being the one laid flat on his back.  Pretty hilarious, and Darby will undoubtedly hear about that one for weeks to come.  On the following play Darby again catches a short pass, but this time uber-linebacker Patrick Willis knocks the running back off his feet as he wraps up a perfect tackle.  Bulger attempts a pass into double coverage on the following play, which was another 4^th down the team attempted to convert.  The ball fluttered harmlessly to the turf, 49ers ball on their own 37 with 4:21 to play in the quarter.

 

-2:43 1^st Quarter: As the 49ers drive, Issac Bruce catches a ten yard in route and breaks it to the outside to take his team to the Rams 30.  The existence of fan support for Bruce is not surprising as he was one of the most humble and well liked (not to mention successful) athletes in recent St. Louis history, but the sheer volume is astounding, there is no difference between when he played for the Rams.

 

-2:05 1^st Quarter: Rams defense bends, but does not break as the 49ers are forced to settle for a 48 yard field goal to put the visitors up 3-0.

 

- The 2^nd quarter begins on the Rams 49 with Bulger completing a 15 yard pass to Torry Holt.  This is immediately followed by a food break.  I get the nachos supreme, Ben orders a hot dog for $7.75.  But this was no ordinary frankfurter; he purchased a half pound Farmland "Big Dog."  Disgusting.  In our absence Josh Brown kicked a 43 yard field goal to even the score at three apiece.  Back to the action!

 

-6:19 2^nd Quarter: The 49ers have the ball and are driving, but the Rams defense makes its presence felt and sacks Shaun Hill who fumbles!  San Fran recovers and they are forced to punt to Dane Looker who lets the ball sail over his head into the end zone.

 

-4:02 2^nd Quarter: Rams ride Steven Jackson to two first downs to take them to their own 36 yardline.

 

- Approaching the two minute warning the Rams break out their own version of the "Wildcat" offensive package, I'm going to call it "Ramwild" from here on out.  This first appearance of Ramwild nets Saint Louis a 12 yard gain on a Jackson carry.

- Two minute warning prompts just one rhetorical question.  Just how thin is the line between NFL cheerleader and pole dancer?

 

-1:12 2^nd Quarter: 30 yard pass from Marc Bulger to Keenan Burton who broke open on a post route.  With the extra point, the Rams go up 10-3.

 

-:37 2^nd Quarter: Once the 49ers get the ball back, cornerback Roland Bartell makes a leaping, tumbling interception and in the process pumps a little more life into the ailing crowd at the dome.

 

-:19 2^nd Quarter: Rams advance down the field with the aid of completed passes to Darby who gets the team down to the 49ers 23 yardline.

 

-:10 2^nd Quarter: In a somewhat inexplicable move, the Rams elect to kick a field goal instead of taking one more shot at the endzone before halftime.  Of course the kick is good, and the Rams extend their lead to 13-3.

 

2^nd half begins with a kickoff returned by the 49ers to their own 24.

 

-13:30 3^rd Quarter: 3^rd and 3 pass by 49ers QB Shaun Hill nearly picks off by Rams linebacker Will Witherspoon; ensuing punt is downed by the 49ers deep in Rams territory at the seven.

 

-12:42 3^rd Quarter: The atmosphere in the Ed Jones Dome is downright depressing.  The Rams are actually winning the game, but it is quiet enough to hear the rustling of the cheerleader's pom-poms!  Everyone seems to be waiting for the other shoe to drop, for the Rams to somehow mess this up.

 

-11:46 3^rd Quarter: Tinoisamoa sacks Shaun Hill to back the 49ers up to 3^rd and 17 on their own 30.  Leonard Little follows this up with a sack of his own for an eight yard loss.

 

-10:28 3^rd Quarter: Following a 49ers punt, St. Louis is back in the Ramwild formation.  Jackson takes the shotgun snap and tosses it to a streaking Dane Looker who loops around behind the running back and desperately looks for someone to throw the pass to.  All the receivers are covered except for Marc Bulger, but Looker clearly wants to pass it to someone else, haha, hilarious!  Looker resigns himself to throwing to Bulger who catches the pass for a four yard gain and then stepped out of bounds.  The next play was a huge delayed screen pass to Jackson that would have gone for 20 or 30 yards, but it was called back because of a penalty on Richie "Babyface" Incognito.  The Rams have employed two of the craziest offensive linemen in recent NFL history in Kyle Turley and Incognito; awesome.

 

-5:45 3^rd Quarter: 49ers have the ball on their own 40 facing a 4^th and 2.  Shaun Hill drops back to pass, he is immediately under duress from several Rams.  I will let the shrill yellings of the woman behind me tell the rest of the story on this play, "Get him! Get him! Hit him! Shit."  1^st down 49ers on a little scramble by Hill.  Just a couple plays later Bartell bails the Rams out with his second pick of the day giving the offense the ball at their own 36 with 4:41 to play in the 3^rd quarter.

 

-2:22 3^rd Quarter:  More Ramwild, a six yard rush for Jackson.  Maybe the Rams should have gotten crafty earlier in the season?  It's not like we had anything to lose...outside of eight straight games.

 

-3^rd Quarter ends with the Rams still driving and they have the ball on the 49ers 16 yard-line facing a 2^nd and 10 still winning 13-3.

 

-11:36 4^th Quarter: Josh Brown kicks a 22 yard field goal after the Rams O shuts down and fails to produce a touchdown.  Rams lead 16-3, with less than a quarter to play the EJ Dome is starting to feel a little confident.

 

-9:15 4^th Quarter: Rams have possession and are milking the clock by pounding the ball with Steven Jackson, first down at the 50; but the Rams ultimately punt on this drive.

 

-4:26 4^th Quarter: With time running out on the 49ers and the Rams defense playing well the atmosphere begins to intensify.  Saint Louis forces San Fran into a 3^rd and 10 situation, but the 49ers are able to convert and quell the surge of the home town crowd.

 

-4:14 4^th Quarter: 49ers move to the Rams 10 and stare down a 3^rd and 6.  San Fran converts and moves to the three yardline where Shaun Hill finds Issac Bruce in the endzone and with the extra point; the score, 16-10 St. Louis.  The Bruce touchdown is the 1000^th catch of his career!  This puts Bruce in a rarefied air that I think St. Louis fans would have respected regardless of the player, but because it is the beloved Issac Bruce, the cheering and applause is deafening.  Good for him! 

 

But, the Rams still need to win this game.

 

-4:03 4^th Quarter: 49ers line up as if to try an onside kick, but boot it deep instead.  This looks good for the Rams, all we have to do is run out the clock, or at least run off enough time that the 49ers cannot drive the field and score.

 

-2:27 4^th Quarter: Rams punt.  49ers start the drive on their own 33.  Tinoisamoa gets a HUGE sack on Shaun Hill for a seven yard loss that takes the clock down to the two minute warning.

 

-2:00 4^th Quarter: 13 yard pass completed to Bruce, still many cheers, but now the EJ Dome is sensing this game slipping away.  It was alright to cheer for a player on the 49ers when it wasn't jeopardizing the Rams victory, what will be just the third of the season, snapping an eight game losing streak; but now that Bruce is helping drive his team down the field, there is internal conflict amongst Rams fans.

 

-1:22 4^th Quarter:  48 yard Hail Mary of a bomb that is snatched out of the air by 49ers receiver Josh Morgan ties the game at 16.  The extra point gives the 49ers a 17-16 lead.  The EJ Dome is blanketed with silence, but there is still a degree of hope.  Even though the Rams offense has proven to be impotent at best this season, thoughts of the "Greatest Show on Turf" cannot be shaken from the collective memories of St. Louisans.  So we believe that our terrible offense can drive the ball down the field and engineer a game winning drive.  To the extent that I talk trash to the annoying 49ers fans in front of us telling them, "you guys left too much time on the clock! We are going to drive it right down and score!"  Their moronic response, "Your offense stinks!  You guys have only won two games this year!"  I suppose that point should have ended the argument because I have been saying those same two things all season long, but it's different when the criticism is borne out of love as opposed to the foul mouthbreathings of some starter jacket wearing fat San Franciscan.  But I'm not upset.  I'm just going to let the Rams do the talking for me on the field.

 

-1:16 4^th Quarter: Darby returns the kickoff to the Rams 26.  First play of the drive; incomplete pass off Torry Holt's hands.  I have defended Torry Holt this entire season and his career as I think he is one of the greatest and most underrated receivers of the past 10-15 years, but this play just seemed to be a lack of concentration and how can you not be focused on a potential game winning drive?  Where have you gone Torry "Big Game" Holt?  In an ironic twist, on the very next play, Donnie Avery makes an 11 yard catch to keep the drive moving.  Avery comes through in the clutch, but Holt doesn't?  Interesting.

 

1:06 4^th Quarter: 1^st and 10 from their own 37, Bulger is sacked for a five yard loss to bring up 2^nd and 15.  Six yard completion to Holt; 3^rd and 9.  Incomplete pass to Steven Jackson, yet another anti-clutch performer; 4^th and 9.

 

:31 4^th Quarter: Bulger throws a deep out to Donnie Avery that is undercut by a 49ers defensive back and tipped... but miraculously and acrobatically caught by Avery as he drags his feet while he falls out of bounds!  Amazing play!  The dome is rocking, we are starting to feel like we can actually make this comeback!  Rams ball on their own 45!  Josh Brown is more than capable of 50 yard field goals so all we have to do is get the ball to the San Fran 35 yardline or so.

 

:25 4^th Quarter:  Draw to Steven Jackson for a loss of three yards.  Rams call a timeout, hopefully to think of some legitimate plays to call in this situation.

 

:22 4^th Quarter:  Bulger takes the snap and throws an interception.  Game over.  San Francisco 49ers 17- Saint Louis Rams 16.