St. Louis Rams: An Uphill Battle?

I’m usually not one to overreact to the first game of the season; whether it’s a win or a loss. Week one is usually way too early to hit the panic button. However, this season opener is a different beast. The Rams failed to score a touchdown and were the victims of the largest point differential of the week.

One would assume that if Adrian Peterson is held under four yards per carry and kept out of the end zone, the Vikings would struggle. Unfortunately, Cordarrelle Patterson decided to be the game changer with 176 total yards on eight carries and a touchdown.

As if the new look Vikings weren’t enough to deal with, the Rams consistently "Plaxico-ed" themselves over and over again, compiling 13 penalties for 121 yards. Those penalties consistently took 1st downs off the board and dashed any hopes of sustained momentum for St Louis. It was an eye opening performance for all the wrong reasons.

The Rams showed the inability to deal with Patterson on jet sweeps and his 67 yard scamper out of the backfield. If Seattle’s game with Green Bay is any indication, we’re going to have to deal with these type of plays at least twice more.

Speaking of Seattle, they look even better than they did during their Super Bowl run last year. Thus far, the 49ers look like they may be able to maintain some success, even with a handful of their defensive starters missing time. The NFC West is still as formidable as it gets, especially at the top.

Even more worrisome, the Rams are anemic at the quarterback position. It’s early September and we’ve already seen our third string QB in action. If this first week is any indication, it may be a very long season.

I’m not giving up on the season. I’m not saying this is time to press the panic button. But in all honesty, it doesn’t look promising. At this rate, the fact that we have a stout defense won’t matter. If the offense can’t put drives together, the defense will only get more tired and worn down as the season goes on.

Someone please talk some sense into me! Help me see how the glass is actually half full. Tell me that I’m wrong and I’m overreacting. PLEASE!!!!!