St. Louis Rams: 5 Keys to Loss vs. Arizona Cardinals

St. Louis Rams head coach Steve Spagnuolo must be a glutton for punishment, because his St. Louis Rams just can't seem to get enough of Patrick Peterson, the electrifying rookie punt returner of the Arizona Cardinals.

Peterson had already beat the Rams with a "walk-off" punt return in overtime back in Week 9.  Sunday in St. Louis, Peterson returned an 80-yard punt for a touchdown, making him the first player in NFL history to record four punt returns for touchdowns of at least 80 yards. 

When you lose a game 23-20, a momentum-changing play like Peterson's return make all the difference in the world.

The Rams fall to 2-9 on the season, while Arizona improves to 4-7. 

Here are the five big keys to the Rams' loss against the Cardinals...

Offensive Line

I'm not trying to pile on the O-line here, because they have been absolutely decimated by injuries this season.  Both starting tackles, Roger Saffold (LT) and Jason Smith (RT) are out for the year.  The starting center, Jason Brown, has lost his starting job to a waiver-wire pickup. 

So the Rams have been going at it with three backup O-linemen, and it really shows.  They are actually doing a better job in pass protection, mainly because the Rams' game plan has the ball coming out of Bradford's hand quicker.  However, the Rams' run blocking has been below par since all the injuries occurred.

Rams running back Steven Jackson was on a roll before the O-line suffered all the injuries.  Sunday against the Cardinals, Jackson was held to 64 yards on 17 carries (3.8 yards per carry).  It's not Jackson's fault, there's just no running room, but if the Rams can't run it better than that, they have no shot at winning games.

Sam Bradford

I know Bradford has lost receivers Greg Salas, Danny Amendola, Danario Alexander and Mark Clayton to injuries.  I know Bradford has the worst set of tight ends in the NFL (I'm looking at you Lance Kendricks).  I know he has lost both starting offensive tackles, and his offensive line is softer than a roll of Charmin toilet paper.

I know all of that.

Enough of the excuses.  If Sam Bradford is going to be a star quarterback in this league, he had better start showing something.  Sunday, he was 17-of-31 for 203 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions.  His QB rating of 85.8 isn't horrible, but that's my point about Bradford.

We didn't draft him No. 1 overall to be OK. 

Bradford could be a star.  He has to start playing like a star.  With the team falling apart around him, Sam Bradford has to carry this team.  So far this season, he hasn't shown us that he is able to do that.

Defensive Line and Linebackers

Fred Robbins retired a year ago, but he still shows up on Sundays wearing a uniform, collecting a paycheck.

Of course, I'm being sarcastic. 

The play of the defensive line, especially the defensive tackles, was embarrassing on Sunday.  The linebackers weren't much better.  The Cardinals were starting a backup quarterback.  You had to know they were going to try to run the ball.

The Rams got punched in the mouth, and for the second time this season, they allowed a running back to run for over 200 yards and break that franchise's single-game rushing record.

That's just pathetic.

Special Teams

Dear Donnie Jones,

I just want to thank you for making me look like a Hall of Famer.  I mean, seriously, I'm a talented dude, and I am a playmaker and all that, but come on, four punt return touchdowns of more than 80 yards for a touchdown?  In one season?!?  That's crazy!!!

And to think, I returned two of them against the Rams because you kept kicking the ball to me.  I don't know if your coaches are just that stupid, or if you didn't do your job and kick away from me.  Either way, it's doesn't matter.  I'm a superstar now, and I have you to thank for it.

Sincerely,

Patrick Peterson

Of course, this isn't really from Patrick Peterson.  I don't know for sure he said this, but you know he's thinking it.

Coaching

The Rams are now 2-9 this season, and 10-33 under Steve Spagnuolo. 

Their only two wins are a miraculous, unbelievable, inspired performance against the New Orleans Saints, and a miraculous, incredible, "I can't believe what I just saw" choke job by the Cleveland Browns.

Basically, the Rams could have lost both of those games and could easily be 0-11.

Then again, they could have easily beat the Redskins in Week 4.  They should have won both games against the Cardinals.  The Rams could be, maybe should be, 5-6 right now.

That's the difference between winning and losing in the NFL.  It's a fine line.  Some guys can get it out of their team and find a way to win.  Others, well, they don't get the job done.

When your career winning percentage is 23 percent and you can't find a way to win close games and you continuously kick the ball to Patrick Peterson and you don't manage the clock at the end of halves and your stud QB seems to be regressing instead of improving, and...

You get the point.  The Rams are playing hard, but they just make too many mistakes!  I know we have like 118 cornerbacks on the IR (exaggerating, but only a little bit), and we have some guy starting at left tackle that was driving a truck last week (again, exaggerating), but come on!!!

The Rams are just not playing winning football.  Part of the blame lies with the coaching.