Redskins at Rams
THE STORY: The season is quickly slipping away from the St. Louis Rams, who will look to avoid their fourth 0-4 start in five seasons when they host the Washington Redskins on Sunday. Behind 2010 No. 1 overall pick Sam Bradford, the Rams made a six-win jump in the standings and were in contention for a playoff spot on the final weekend last season. This year, St. Louis has stumbled out of the gate and is one of five winless teams in the league after allowing an NFC-worst 96 points. Washington, which has a short week after Monday night’s late loss in Dallas, will be wary of the Rams after losing in St. Louis in September 2010.
TV: FOX, 1 p.m. ET. LINE: Even, O/U 43.5
ABOUT THE REDSKINS (2-1): Washington was less than four minutes from a perfect season before allowing Dallas to drive for the winning field goal Monday night. After taking a 16-9 lead late in the third quarter, the Redskins punted on three straight possessions before QB Rex Grossman was stripped of the ball with under a minute to play. Twelve of Grossman’s 22 completions were to his tight ends and running backs. Tim Hightower ran for only 41 yards on 14 carries but did have five catches for 39 yards and a TD. Washington had seven sacks through two games but could only get to Dallas QB Tony Romo once.
ABOUT THE RAMS (0-3): St. Louis absorbed an early knockout in a 37-7 beating from visiting Baltimore last week. The Rams fell into a 21-0 first-quarter hole after being singed for three long scoring passes to rookie WR Torrey Smith. That was too much of a hole from which to recover for Bradford and a banged-up offense. RB Steven Jackson, who sat out Week 2 after injuring his quadriceps early in the season opener, was limited to four carries. His workload should increase this week. Bradford, who is dealing with a sprained toe, was sacked five times and had a turnover returned for a touchdown for the third straight game.
EXTRA POINTS:
1. The Rams rallied for 16 unanswered points to beat the Redskins 16-14 last September, a victory that ended a 14-game home losing streak.
2. Washington WR Santana Moss had six receptions for 124 yards and a touchdown in last’s season’s loss to the Rams.
3. Redskins defensive coordinator Jim Haslett was named interim head coach of the Rams following the firing of Scott Linehan during the 2008 season. St. Louis won its first two games under Haslett before dropping its final 10.