St. Louis vs. Tampa Bay final score: Rams late comeback lifts them over Bucs, 19-17
The St. Louis Rams had the last word Sunday at Raymond James Stadium when they defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a back-and-forth game in Raymond James Stadium with a final minute field goal, to win the game 19-17.
The game was delayed for lightning during the second quarter after a 7-7 first quarter where touchdowns came on the first possessions for each team. Buccaneers quarterback Josh McCown led the way with a rushing touchdown score in the first quarter to make it 7-0 and then the St. Louis Rams followed it up with a Zac Stacy rushing touchdown.
After a brief delay for lightning in the second quarter, Greg Zuerlein made a 36-yard field goal to give the Rams a slight edge going into the half, 10-7. Early in the third quarter, it was McCown rushing it in again for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on a play action bootleg rush for a touchdown to give the Bucs a 14-10 lead.
Greg Zuerlein made another field goal in the third to make it 14-13 Bucs. Then, another field goal for the Rams came with just over nine minutes left to make it 16-14 and take their first lead since halftime.
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With just over five minutes left in the game, the Bucs retook the lead with a 36-yard field goal to make it 17-16. The Rams then put together a near perfect drive led by back up quarterback Austin Davis that led to a game-winning Greg Zuerlein 38-yard field goal to give the Rams the 19-17 win, the Rams’ first win of the season. The field goal was set up by a 27-yard pass from Davis to receiver Austin Pettis to the Tampa Bay 25-yard line.
It wasn’t much of an offensive spectacle for either team. The Rams finished with 339 total yards compared to the Bucs 303. In Austin Davis’ first start in the NFL for the Rams after Shaun Hill’s shoulder injury he went an impressive 22-for-29 with 235 yards. Zac Stacy led the way rushing for the Rams with 71 yards and one touchdown, the only one of the day for the Rams.
The Bucs, who led most of the game, struggled in the fourth quarter to hold off Austin Davis who completed four big passes on the Rams’ final scoring drive. Josh McCown went 16-for-21 for 179 yards and had two rushing touchdowns. Bobby Rainey, who replaced Doug Martin at running back had 144 yards on 22 carries.
The Rams will take their 1-1 record back home where they’ll face the Dallas Cowboys next week. The 0-2 and struggling Tampa Bay Buccaneers will try to bounce back when they go to take on the Atlanta Falcons next week in Atlanta.