The 2014 season was the St. Louis Rams' 77th in the National Football League (NFL), their 20th in St. Louis and their third under head coachJeff Fisher. The Rams attempted to reach a playoff berth for the first time since their 2004 season, but were officially eliminated in their loss against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 15. The Rams failed to improve on their 7–9 record from 2013, finishing 6–10 in 2014. The Rams' 2014 season was notable for their numerous starting quarterbacks including Austin Davis, Shaun Hill, and Sam Bradford, the last of whom was injured before the season began. Despite the lack of stability at the position, the Rams defeated both defending conference champions, Super Bowl participants, and 2014 division winners, the Seattle Seahawks and Denver Broncos, plus also shutting out two teams in consecutive weeks: the Oakland Raiders and Washington Redskins. This represents the most recent last-place finish in the NFC West for the St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams.
The Rams acquired an additional first-round selection (No. 2 overall) as part of a trade that sent the team's 2012 first-round selection (Robert Griffin III) to the Washington Redskins.
The Rams traded their second- (No. 44 overall) and fifth- (No. 153 overall) round selections to the Buffalo Bills in exchange for the Bills' second-round selection (No. 41 overall).
The season took a turn for the worst when starting QB Sam Bradford tore his ACL against the Cleveland Browns on August 23. It was the same ACL he tore the year before that caused him to miss the last half of the year.
St. Louis got off to a grim start as the visiting Vikings dominated throughout, with the Rams' only points coming on a pair of field goals by kicker Greg Zuerlein. Already missing starting quarterback Sam Bradford for the year with another knee injury suffered during the preseason, the Rams lost several more starters during the game; defensive end Chris Long was hampered by an ankle injury which forced him to miss two months, and new starting quarterback Shaun Hill was knocked out of the game with an injured quadriceps just before halftime. Unknown third-string quarterback Austin Davis, took over in the second half and would go on to start the next eight games. The game marked the professional football debut of rookie defensive tackle Aaron Donald, who had four tackles including two for negative yardage in the loss.
Austin Davis got first start at quarterback for the Rams, completing 22 of 29 passes for 235 yards. Most of the game was delayed due to lightning and thunder after the game was tied 7-7. Running back Zac Stacy ran for 71 yards on 19 carries with a 2-yard run in the first quarter. Rams kicker Greg Zuerlein converted four field goals, the last a 38-yarder with 38 seconds remaining for the game-winner. Wide receiver Brian Quick caught seven passes for 74 yards for St. Louis.
The Rams started off hot early and took a 21-0 lead well into the second quarter. But the visiting Cowboys responded in the second half, including a Tony Romo touchdown pass to Dez Bryant for 68 yards early in the third period which stunned the St. Louis home crowd. In the fourth quarter, Rams tight end Jared Cook caught seven receptions for 75 yards, but his temper snapped on the sidelines as he shoved quarterback Austin Davis after he failed to find Cook in the end zone on an incomplete pass attempt. Davis completed 30 of 42 passes for 327 yards and three touchdown passes but threw two interceptions as the Rams fell to 1-2.
Following the early bye week, the Rams trailed 34–7 late in the third quarter against the host Eagles, but stormed back with 21 unanswered points. Austin Davis threw for 375 yards and three touchdowns on 29-of-49 passing and led St. Louis to midfield in the final minute, but threw three straight incompletions and the Rams turned the ball over on downs with 37 seconds remaining. Wide receiver Brian Quick caught five passes for 87 yards and two TDs, while safety T.J. McDonald had 10 tackles to lead the St. Louis defense.
Hosting the 49ers on Monday Night, the Rams, sporting their 1999 throwbacks, welcomed back "The Greatest Show on Turf" at halftime, and took a 14-0 lead on a 1-yard Benny Cunningham touchdown run and tight end Lance Kendricks catching a 22-yard TD reception from quarterback Austin Davis. But San Francisco ruined the celebration, scoring 24 unanswered points to stun the Rams at home 31–17. Rookie defensive tackle Aaron Donald made his first career start and recorded four tackles in the loss.
Hoping to rebound from the heartbreaking Monday Night loss at home, the Rams managed to squeeze past the defending Super Bowl champions, 28–26. A pair of special teams plays keyed the victory for St. Louis. Midway through the second quarter, return man Tavon Austin fell down to his left as Seattle defenders converged on him, meanwhile Stedman Bailey actually fielded the punt at the St. Louis 10 then was off for a 90-yard touchdown return down the right sideline by the time the Seahawks realized they had been fooled. Bailey was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week. Late in the game, the Rams faced fourth-and-3 from their own 18-yard line when punter Johnny Hekker connected with Benny Cunningham for an 18-yard gain and a first down that ultimately helped the Rams to maintain possession and run out the clock.
The Rams travel to Kansas City to face their in-state rival and the first of four AFC West opponents of the season, the Chiefs. Things would get ugly for the Rams as more injuries continue to pile up as both offensive lineman Jake Long and wide receiver Brian Quick suffered season-ending knee and shoulder injuries, respectively. With the loss, the Rams are 0–1 against AFC West opponents.
In the last seconds of the fourth quarter, Rams linebacker James Laurinaitis scooped a fumble from 49ers' quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who attempted to dive into the endzone for a game-winning touchdown, to give the Rams a 13–10 victory. The defense, for the most part, sacked Kaepernick eight times.
The Rams meet the Broncos at home for the first time since their home opener in 2006. The Rams won 18–10.
The injury-riddled Denver Broncos (7–2) travel to St. Louis, looking to extend their lead in the AFC West, but it was too late as the Rams defense harassed Peyton Manning and the Broncos offense all day long. Rams' quarterback Shaun Hill returned from injury and took over for Austin Davis, who started only a few games. Among the game's highlights was Rams safety Rodney McLeod taking a hit on Broncos' wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders, forcing Sanders to leave the game with a concussion. Officials later confirmed that the McLeod hit on Sanders was not illegal. Rams kicker Greg Zuerlein converted five field goals (22, 29, 37, 53, 55) and was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week.
The Rams travel to San Diego, facing their third AFC West opponent, the Chargers. The Rams looked to go 2–1 against AFC West opponents, but couldn't flick the switch this time thanks to the Chargers' Philip Rivers' late game heroics and the San Diego defense, which intercepted a pass from Shaun Hill at the goal line in the game's final minute as he attempted a game-winning touchdown pass. St. Louis cornerback Janoris Jenkins returned an interception 99 yards for a touchdown (tying a team record set by Johnnie Johnson in 1980. Rams fans coming from Southern California showed up in impressive numbers for the game, and many who attended were seen holding up signs involving a possible return to Los Angeles.
The Rams meet the Raiders at home for the first time in twelve years after Week 6 of 2002, where the Rams defeated the Raiders, who were 4–0 at the time, 28–13 to give the Rams their first victory of 2002 after starting the year with five consecutive losses.
Before the game, five Rams receivers came out of the tunnel with their hands up in protest to support the Ferguson unrest, causing controversy (see hands up don't shoot). Amid the "Hands Up" controversy, the Rams defense obliterated the Raiders and struggling new quarterback Derek Carr all game long. The game was best highlighted by two Tre Mason touchdowns, including an 89-yard run. The Rams held the Raiders scoreless with a 52–0 blowout. With the victory, the Rams finished the year 2–2 against all AFC West opponents.
Despite Rams' kicker Greg Zuerlein missing a series of field goals and chants of "RG3!!!" from Washington's home crowd, the Rams still managed to hold Washington scoreless, the second game in a row the Rams held an opponent scoreless. During the opening coin toss, the Rams sent out all six players acquired in the Robert Griffin trade in 2012 as their team captains. Quarterback Shaun Hill completed 16 or 22 passes for 213 yards and two touchdowns, both to tight end Jared Cook (four receptions, 61 yards). Tavon Austin ran the ball five times for 46 yards and caught two passes for 14 yards while also returning four punts for 143 yards, including a 78-yard punt return for a touchdown and was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week.
Kicker Greg Zuerlein's two field goals were the only scoring of the game as the Cardinals completed a season sweep of St. Louis. With the loss, the Rams were officially eliminated from playoff contention.
The Rams wrapped up their 2014 home schedule, facing their fourth and final NFC East opponent, the Giants, led by new wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. Tempers flared later in the game as a sideline brawl escalated after a late hit on Beckham, drawing 3 ejections to Giants' Damontre Moore and Preston Parker and Rams' defensive end William Hayes. The Rams went on to lose their final home game, 27–37.
Going to Seattle for their third straight year, the Rams once again struggled all game, losing the game 20–6, ending their season with a disappointing 6–10 record. The record led the team to draft running back Todd Gurley from Georgia with the 10th pick in the first round of the 2015 NFL draft.
^ abcThe NY Giants defeated both Atlanta and St. Louis head-to-head (Atlanta: Week 5, 30–20; St. Louis: Week 16, 37–27), while Atlanta finished ahead of St. Louis based on conference record.
^When breaking ties for three or more teams under the NFL's rules, they are first broken within divisions, then comparing only the highest-ranked remaining team from each division.
^Wagoner, Nick (January 11, 2014). "Rams-related playoff notes: Divisional round". ESPN.com. Retrieved February 15, 2014. Indianapolis cornerback Josh Gordy, whom the Rams receive a seventh-round draft choice for this year from a 2012 trade, made a big play to keep the Colts alive and will play the Patriots tonight.
