Jimmy Graham and Co. are on the field for the first time. (Getty)
Final Score: Saints 26, Rams 24
For a preseason game, this one sure had a lot of action.
Friday’s opener between the New Orleans Saints and St. Louis Rams included plenty of offense despite neither team’s starting quarterback taking a snap.
It included a historic appearance by Michael Sam, impressive passing displays by both teams, and finally, an extremely inopportune intentional grounding call that allowed New Orleans to escape with a 26-24 win.
Here’s how it went down:
Michael Sam Made a Tackle in His NFL Debut
Michael Sam brings down Khiry Robinson for his first career NFL tackle. (Getty)
Michael Sam gets his first NFL snap, playing LDE, with about 5 minutes to go in the first quarter.
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) August 9, 2014
It wasn’t a surprise, but it was a historic moment nevertheless: Sam entered the game at defensive end with 5 minutes left in the first quarter, becoming the first openly gay player to play in an NFL game.
He made an impact shortly after with his first career tackle when he brought down the Saints’ Khiry Robinson.
A Bizarre Intentional Grounding Call Cost the Rams a Chance to Win It
Wow the Rams just choked. How do you botch spiking the football and turn it into intentional grounding?
— Nicholas Russo (@nickVrusso) August 9, 2014
Chalk this up as a blunder meant for the preseason: Greg Zuerlein was lined up for a 49-yard field goal with 11 seconds left that would have given St. Louis a come-from-behind win. But Rams quarterback Austin Davis botched the spiking of the ball and got called from intentional grounding, drawing a 10-yard penalty and a 10-second runoff.
That left Zuerlein in the unenviable position of attempting a 59-yard field goal with the game on the line. The field goal missed, giving New Orleans a 2-point win.
#GregTheLeg is in for a potential 49-yard game-winning field goal with 11 seconds left to play! #NOvsSTL
— St. Louis Rams (@STLouisRams) August 9, 2014
Long story short, the #Rams have one second to get off a 59-yard field goal. #NOvsSTL
— St. Louis Rams (@STLouisRams) August 9, 2014
Brandin Cooks Scored His 1st Career Touchdown
Rookie wideout Brandin Cooks caught his first touchdown pass as a pro, giving New Orleans some breathing room. St. Louis later scored on a 15-yard touchdown pass from Austin Davis to Austin Franklin to make it 26-24. St. Louis had a chance to take the lead in the fourth quarter, but Greg Zuerlein’s 46-yard field goal attempt missed wide left.
Whoops! Zuerlein misses wide left and the @Saints take over at their own 36. #NOvsSTL
— St. Louis Rams (@STLouisRams) August 9, 2014
Derek Dimke Came on in Relief & Gave the Saints the Lead
Is there a legitimate kicking controversy in New Orleans? Derek Dimke came in for Shayne Graham and kicked a 37-yard field goal — a distance 4 yards longer than the 33-yard extra point Graham missed — to give New Orleans a 19-17 lead, the game’s fifth lead change.
Mark Ingram’s Touchdown Put the Saints on Top, but the Rams Took the Lead Into the Half
Photo: Mark Ingram breaks tackles, rumbles in for #Saints TD #WhoDat pic.twitter.com/1W4gfacMLL
— Michael DeMocker (@MichaelDeMocker) August 9, 2014
Mark Ingram scored from 22 yards out to give the Saints the lead, and Shayne Graham made it 2 out of 3 on extra points, putting New Orleans on top 16-14 with just over 2 minutes left in the first half. But a false start on the Rams didn’t prevent Greg Zuerlein from kicking a 45-yard field goal at the end of the half to put St. Louis on top by a point.
Flag on the offense. Now a 45 yarder and a little more difficult. #rams #NOvsSTL
— Michael Smith (@stabbymike) August 9, 2014
A false start extends #GregTheLeg's attempt to 45 yards, but he still hits it. #NOvsSTL
— St. Louis Rams (@STLouisRams) August 9, 2014
Shaun Hill Hit Stedman Bailey for a Touchdown
Hill to WR Stedman Bailey for a 24-yard TD after big gain on third down from RB Benny Cunningham. Nice adjustment by Bailey.
— Nick Wagoner (@nwagoner) August 9, 2014
Hill to WR Stedman Bailey for a 24-yard TD after big gain on third down from RB Benny Cunningham. Nice adjustment by Bailey.
— Nick Wagoner (@nwagoner) August 9, 2014
Shaun Hill’s 24-yard touchdown pass to Stedman Bailey capped a 5-play, 71-yard scoring drive and put St. Louis up 14-9 with 5:59 left in the first half.
The Experiment With Longer Extra Points Got its First Casualty
The @Saints extra point attempt is no good! And with that, we endorse the 15-yard experiment. #NOvsSTL
— St. Louis Rams (@STLouisRams) August 9, 2014
Kyrie Robinson scored from 2 yards out to give the Saints a 9-7 lead about mid-way through the first quarter, but what happened next was more interesting: Shayne Graham missed the extra point — the first time the league’s experiment with longer extra points led to a miss.
Shaun Hill Hit Cory Harkey to Put the Rams on the Board
TOUCHDOWN! Hill connects with Cory Harkey to put the #Rams up 7-0 with a successful #GregTheLeg PAT. pic.twitter.com/2i5XRC9BGI
— St. Louis Rams (@STLouisRams) August 9, 2014
Hill hit Cory Harkey to give St. Louis an early lead. The Saints got on the board later in the quarter on a Shayne Graham field goal to make it 7-3.
Pregame Buzz
Preseason or not, there was a buzz on the field — and on Twitter — as the teams readied for kickoff.
Let the season begin #Rams #NOvsSTL pic.twitter.com/6sHDXBxEtW
— Craig White (@cmiles_white) August 9, 2014
It's almost kickoff time. #NOvsSTL @Saints ??
— Anna Moulyet (@FlippinGal) August 8, 2014
