It’s Not Too Early to Be Important : Rams: Robinson says a victory over the Packers in today’s game between 1-3 teams is essential to hopes.
The Rams, who almost never say a season hinges on one September game, are saying that now.
After a three-game trip that left them at the bottom of the NFC West with a 1-3 record, the Rams will return home today to play the equally disappointing Green Bay Packers.
“To get back into the playoff hunt, we need this one and the next one. . . . I think we need it for confidence,” Ram Coach John Robinson said.
“I think we need it now, when it’s probably at the toughest time injury-wise that we’ll have.
“Yeah, it’s a big one.”
Despite injuries on both lines, the Rams don’t expect the Packers to be as formidable as the New York Giants, New Orleans Saints or San Francisco 49ers, their last three opponents. Actually, the Rams look at the Packers and see a reflection of themselves.
Their talented quarterback is in a slump, the offensive line has been shaky, the defense has been gritty but unable to make up for the offensive malaise, and the team is desperate for a victory as it chases an undefeated division leader. Sound familiar?
The Packers’ Don Majkowski and the Rams’ Jim Everett were two of the hottest quarterbacks two years ago, when they last met, but both are coming off of poor seasons and are the lowest-rated quarterbacks in the NFC.
Majkowski has thrown six interceptions and two touchdown passes. Everett has completed more passes in the end zone to opponents (one) than to teammates.
Led by Bryce Paup’s league-leading 7.5 sacks, the Packer defense, after some troubled seasons, ranks 12th in the league. Even without holdout linebacker Tim Harris, Green Bay is the No. 3 defense against the run.
“I think it’s important for us to win and I’m sure the Rams feel the same way,” Packer Coach Lindy Infante said.
“You’ve got two teams with very similar situations staring them in the face this week, and certainly feeling the pressure of needing to win a football game very badly.”
The Rams do not disagree.
After hitting rock bottom against the Saints two weeks ago, the Ram offense revived a little in the loss last week to San Francisco. The key on offense today will be how the strung-together offensive line handles Paup, whose speciality is confusing opponents by randomly lining up at three or more different spots.
The Packers are 0-9 in Southern California against the Rams, including a 41-38 defeat in 1989. Since the beginning of the 1990 season, however, the Rams are 2-7 at Anaheim Stadium.
The Rams have already lost one home game they should have won this year, their opener against the Phoenix Cardinals, and losing another would give them a 1-4 record going into the NFC West bye week--and two weeks of inaction to ponder their decline.
“This is a must-win game for us,” said right tackle Jackie Slater, who is expected to share playing time with Duval Love because of a sore right shoulder. “We’ve got to get another victory.
“It’s been hammered into us pretty good, where we’re thinking about it. That’s one of the good things about Coach Robinson. I can’t ever remember a situation where we were ignorant about where we were, what we had to do, what we needed to do.
“This is the biggest game of the season, right here. Easily.”
Heading into their upset of the Giants in Week 2, the Rams felt a little of this same urgency, and delivered, only to fall back again.
“Unfortunately, this year it seems like we’ve only come alive in games that we felt we really had to win,” free safety Pat Terrell said.
“New York was a game like that. And I think Green Bay’s a game where we have our backs against the wall. We’ve got to make something happen.”
Ram Notes
The Rams’ weekly offensive line shuffle, prompted by left guard Bern Brostek’s sore ankle, has Doug Smith back in at center and center Tom Newberry back to his old position, left guard. . . . Defensive coordinator Jeff Fisher is generally pleased with his unit--until the fourth quarter, when in consecutive games the Rams have surrendered long drives. “We’ve emphasized it, talked about it was a group,” Fisher said. “We’re talking about 16 yards rushing (given up) against the Saints, 18 against the 49ers in the first half. Looks pretty good, then all of a sudden at the end of the game we’re over 100. We’re getting worn down. We’re just not tackling in the fourth quarter.”
Injured starters Jackie Slater, Alvin Wright and Fred Strickland are scheduled to suit up for limited action. . . . Wide receiver Aaron Cox, free of hamstring problems this season, will move into Flipper Anderson’s starting spot.
