Jackson running for the game winning TD

It was ugly.  Both teams played pretty nasty.  But it finally happened.  A breakthrough.  The Rams found a way to win.  Yes, the St. Louis Rams found a way to win.  Ironically enough, the way the Rams won was the way we expected them to win – ride Steven Jackson.  22 carries and nearly 150 yards rushing, not to mention his first touchdown (which was also the go-ahead TD) set the tone everytime.  Something bad happens on offense?  Hand to S. Jack.  Something good happens on offense?  Hand it to S. Jack.  No questions asked – he’s the best player on this team and he’s really showing it this season.

Now, I know what plenty of critics will say.  “It was the lowly Detroit Lions.”  “It was just one game.  There’s just as good a shot at going 1-15.”  Right now, those things don’t matter.  It is tough to win in the National Football League.  It may have taken them 8 weeks, but they got their win.  Coach Steve Spagnuolo got his first win.  Jason Smith and James Laurinaitis got their first win.  They’ve earned the right to enjoy this one.

Also, even though the schedule is going to be hard (hosting the Saints coming off of the bye comes to mind), they figured out a way to close it out, which is something they didn’t do against the Redskins or the Jaguars.  We know the team is thin in the wrong positions, can’t afford anymore injuries, and have been playing hard week in and week out.  What normally would have happened is some sort of a back breaking collapse in the 4th quarter after 3 hard quarters.  The Lions came back and tied up the game at 10 with their best offensive drive of the game, but the Rams stayed the course.  They took after their head coach by remaining unflappable and keeping to the beat of the Steven Jackson drum.

Is there still a lot of work to do?  My God, we probably cannot even fathom it.

But is it fine to appreciate that the Rams have finally gotten what they’ve been playing hard for all season?  Hell yes.

St. Louis Rams, congratulations.  This isn’t meant to say that it’s ok for a 1-15 season to happen, but the monkey is off your back.  Work will be more fun, and trust me when I say that all Rams fans are happy for you.

Analysis (Good, Bad & Ugly) will be up later on this week for the analysis of the game, but right now pure elation is permeating the Rams Nation.