Hollywood-style entertainment abounded Sunday at the Coliseum.
The Red Hot Chili Peppers rocked the crowd before kickoff. Singer CeeLo Green delivered an inspired national anthem. And television host James Corden danced with cheerleaders, presumably before taking off to attend the Emmy Awards up the street.
Award-winning plays by the Rams, however, were mostly in short supply in the first regular-season NFL game in Southern California in more than two decades.
Middle linebacker Alec Ogletree changed all of that with less than a minute left when he knocked the ball from a receiver’s grasp, causing and recovering a fumble that preserved the Rams’ 9-3 victory over the Seattle Seahawks.
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It was a fitting end to a game that helped the Rams put behind their embarrassing season-opening defeat by the San Francisco 49ers, and ruined Pete Carroll’s return to the Coliseum.
“I think we did a really nice job of coming home and winning,” said Ogletree, who had nine tackles. “It was an amazing historical moment to be here and I am glad we were able to come out with the win.”
What it lacked in style — all of the Rams’ points came on Greg Zuerlein field goals — it made up for in substance, at least for a Rams team that was shut out 28-0 last week.
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They have yet to score a touchdown, but the Rams are 1-1, which is good enough for a tie for first in the NFC West heading into next week’s game at Tampa Bay.
“There are some realities to where we are right now,” Coach Jeff Fisher said, adding, “We need to score some touchdowns, so we’ll keep working on that.”
The Rams already are doing more than enough to beat the Seahawks.
Sunday’s victory was their third in a row, and fourth in the last five games, against a team that appeared in the Super Bowl twice in the last three seasons.
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“They did a nice job again,” Carroll said. “I have to give them credit.”
A Rams defense that could not contain Blaine Gabbert mostly neutralized Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, who was playing on an ankle injured during last week’s come-from-behind victory over Miami.
Wilson threatened with less than two minutes left, but the Rams won a home game at the Coliseum for the first time since 1979.
“Against the 49ers, we played horrible, especially on defense,” defensive end Robert Quinn said. “We used that, because we knew we were a lot better team than we displayed in the first game.”
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Rams Robert Quinn celebrates his sack on Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson but the play was nulified by offsetting penalties.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Rams Michael Brockers makes a tackle on Seahawks running back Thomas Rawls without his helmet at the Coliseum Sunday.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll, left, and Rams head coach Jeff Fisher shake hands after the game.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Rams receiver Kenny Britt watches head coach Jeff Fisher kiss the forehead of his daughter Ava after the game.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Bet they wish they had Carson Wentz right about now.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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Rams Mark Barron (26) causes a fumble as Alec Ogletree recovers the ball from Seahawks running back Christine Michael late in the 4th quarter to preserve the Rams win.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Rams Mark Barron (26) causes a fumble as Alec Ogletree recovers the ball from Seahawks running back Christine Michael late in the 4th quarter.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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James Corden performs with Rams cheerleaders between quarters.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Rams quarterback Case Keenum is sacked by Seahawks Cassius Marsh who was called for a penalty for grabbing the face mask in the 4th quarter.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Rams running back Todd Gurley is brought down by Seattle Seahawks defenders in the fourth quarter at the Coliseum on Sept. 18. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll reacts to a penalty in the second quarter.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Seahawks receiver Tyler Lockett hauls in a long pass in front of Rams defensive back Troy Hill late in the fourth quarter on Sept. 18. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Rams fans cheer for their team against the Seahawks. The Rams won their home opener, 9-3.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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Seahawks quarterback Russell Willson barely gets a pass off as Rams Aaron Donald tackles him in the 4th quarter.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Rams quarterback Case Keenum is sacked by Seahawk defenders in the 3rd quarter.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Rams receiver Tavon Austin makes a catch in front of Seahawks Bobby Wagner.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Rams head coach Jeff Fisher watches a play from the sidelines against the Seahawks.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Rams cornerback Troy Hill breaks up a pass intended for Seahawks receiver Paul Richardson in the second quarter.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Seahawks running back Christine Michael tries to get away from the Rams defensive pursuit in the fourth quarter.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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Rams quarterback Case Keenum is brought down by Seahawks defensive end Frank Clark after a short gain in the fourth quarter.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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Rams defensive end William Hayes celebrates after dragging down Seahawks running back Thomas Rawls for a loss in the first quarter.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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Rams defensive end Robert Quinn forces a fumble by Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson in the closing seconds of the second quarter.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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Rams receiver Tavon Austin is tackeld by Seahawks Frank Clark, center, and Kam Chancellor in the after an eight-yard gain in the first quarter.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Rams safety Maurice Alexander puts a hit on Seahawks wide receiver Jermaine Kearse in the second quarter.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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The Rams’ Lance Kendricks makes a catch in front of the Seahawks’ Mike Morgan during the second quarter of a Sept. 18 game at the Coliseum. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Rams wide receiver Tavon Austin tries to get around Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman in the second quarter. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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Rams cornerback Troy Hill is called for pass interference as he defends against Seahawks receiver Tyler Lockett in the second quarter Sunday. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Rams running back Todd Gurley looks for room to run against the Seahawks in the second quarter.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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Rams coach Jeff Fisher walks along the sideline in the fourth quarter.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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Rams players prepare to take the field before a game with the Seahawks at the Coliseum.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Rams fans cheer during the NFL football game between the Los Angeles Rams and the Seattle Seahawks at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum on Sunday, September 18, 2016 in Los Angeles.
(Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times)
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A Rams Melonheads fans cheer during the NFL football game between the Los Angeles Rams and the Seattle Seahawks.
(Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times)
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Jack Youngblood, from left, Eric Dickerson, Orlando Pace, Marshall Faulk, Jackie Slater and Tom Mack are honored during a Pro Football Hall of Fame ceremony.
(Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times)
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Rams owner Stan Kroenke talks with NBA susperstar LeBron James before the start of the game.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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LA Rams owner Stanley “Stan” Kroenke stands during a hall of fame ceremony.
(Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times)
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Red Hot Chili Peppers lead singer Anthony Kiedis performs before the first Rams home game at the Coliseum.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Red Hot Chili Peppers Flea, let, and lead singer Anthony Kiedis perform before the first Rams home game.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Flea and Anthony Kaedis from the Red Hot Chili Peppers perform before the Rams-Seahawks game. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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The Melonheads pose before the Rams-Seahawks game on Sunday at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The Rams home opener is the first regular season game for the team in Southern California in 22 years.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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Rams fans walk by the Metro Expo Line light rail before the start of the game between the Los Angeles Rams and the Seattle Seahawks at the Coliseum on Sunday.
(Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times)
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Rams fans party and play parking lot football before the Rams-Seahawks game on Sunday.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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Rams fan Lance Miller barbecues chicken before the Rams-Seahawks game.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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Grant Mogford peers out of the window of his party bus before the Rams-Seahawks game at the Coliseum.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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Rams fans and a lone Seahawks fan gather for a tailgate party before the game.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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A police officer sets up outside the Coliseum before the Rams-Seahawks game.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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A lot attendant poses with an old sign offering parking for $180, after the price was lowered to $140, near the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Sunday.
(Patrick T. Fallon / For The Times)
The offense still has a ways to go.
Quarterback Case Keenum had said that he was overthinking and “seeing ghosts” during a poor performance against the 49ers. On Sunday, with the Rams still struggling to spring running back Todd Gurley, Keenum played turnover-free.
He completed 18 of 30 passes for 239 yards, connecting with receiver Kenny Britt for several big gains after play-action fakes.
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However, the Rams managed only the three field goals and are the only NFL team that has yet to score a touchdown. Keenum acknowledged that “it wasn’t pretty.
“Obviously, I like touchdowns,” he said, “But I love winning.”
Victory was not assured until Ogletree stepped up.
Zuerlein’s third field goal gave the Rams a six-point lead early in the fourth quarter. And the offense worked the clock for much of the latter part of the final period.
The Seahawks got the ball back with 1:53 remaining, giving Wilson a chance to pull out a last-minute victory for the second consecutive week.
“We knew it wasn’t over,” Rams cornerback Trumaine Johnson said, “because that’s what he always does.”
On cue, Wilson put the Seahawks in position to win when he lofted a 53-yard pass to Tyler Lockett, moving Seattle to the Rams’ 35-yard line.
Three plays later, Wilson connected with Christine Michael. But Ogletree and linebacker Mark Barron closed in and hit the running back.
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“We were playing some kind of man coverage — I was kind of roaming the field,” Ogletree said. “I dropped like 30 yards deep, which I don’t even think I was supposed to do.
“I saw [Wilson] check it down and I just ran down there.”
Ogletree knocked the ball loose, and one thought ran through his mind.
“Get on the ball as fast as possible and hold on tight,” he said, “because everybody is going to come on the pile and try to get the ball away from me.”
Ogletree held on, and so did the Rams.
Now it’s on to Tampa Bay.
The Rams can rely on defense, but they must find a way to get into the end zone.
“We’ve got to keep working on it,” Fisher said, “some way, somehow, whether it’s special teams or defense, but I’ll take a touchdown next week.
Gary Klein covers the Los Angeles Rams for the Los Angeles Times. Before that, he covered USC’s football program and athletic department. He began working for The Times in the San Fernando Valley edition and has reported on high school, college and pro sports. He grew up in Southern California and graduated from Cal State Northridge.
