If you're experiencing a sense of deja vu, it's completely understandable. Last year, the St. Louis Rams started the season without a win. Sitting at 0-2 and looking for their first win of the season, they hosted the Washington Redskins. It was the elixir they needed. St. Louis won that game by a 30-16. Leading the way in that game: Steven Jackson.
Converting a fourth-and-1, thanks to Mike Karney, gave the Rams a badly needed first down. Through two previous games the Rams' offense could not get off the ground, scoring an average of 13.5 points. Two plays after the fourth down conversion, Jackson broke off a 42-yard touch down run on second-and-14. Following that score, the Rams' defense recovered a Santana Moss fumble, which the offense converted into a second score with just two plays.
Jackson was injured in the middle of the second quarter and left the game with 58 rushing yards and a touchdown on 10 carries. Washington grabbed the lead with an early third quarter field goal. Then the Rams switched over to their famous pass-to-set-up-the-run system and Kenneth Darby gave the Rams the lead again.
Steven Jackson returns this week. While it remains to be seen whether or not the Rams will have him at 100 percent, he should play an increased role over last week. Jackson is exactly what the offense needs. His legs, but more importantly his place as the heart and soul of the team should help pull them out of a three game funk.
Steven Jackson and the Washington Redskins...the perfect elixir for the struggling Rams.