Steven Jackson’s 159 rushing yards and two touchdowns led the Rams to victory.
words // Brandon Richard
With NFL Sunday landing on Halloween this year, we expected some wild results on the field, but what happened at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis was particularly surprising. The New Orleans Saints, coming off a dominant 62-7 victory over the winless Indianapolis Colts squared off against the equally winless St. Louis Rams in what appeared to be another easy win on the schedule. However, the Rams had other plans, drawing off the energy provided by a home crowd who watched their St. Louis Cardinals pull off an unlikely World Series victory earlier in the week.
Behind a big ground game from running back Steven Jackson, the Rams jumped out to a shocking 24-0 third quarter lead. The Saints didn’t score their first points until there was 1:21 left to play in the third, a fumble recovery for a touchdown by linebacker Jonathan Vilma. New Orleans applied a little pressure when running back Pierre Thomas helped them close the gap to 10 points with a 3-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter, but a Darian Stewart pick-six on Drew Brees with a little less than 3 minutes to play sealed the deal. Brees and wide receiver Lance Moore connected for a late touchdown pass, but the Rams walked away with a thrilled 31-21 victory over New Orleans.
In other early Sunday action, Adrian Peterson led the Minnesota Vikings to a 24-21 win over the Carolina Panthers; the Baltimore Ravens stormed back from a 21-point deficit to take the Arizona Cardinals 30-27 in overtime; the New York Giants outscored the Miami Dolphins 10-0 in the fourth quarter to escape with a 20-17 win; the Indianapolis Colts fell to 0-8 after losing 27-10 to the Tennessee Titans; and the Houston Texans improved to 5-3 on the year with a 24-14 victory over the division rival Jacksonville Jaguars.
Here’s a look at some of the football cleats (and Halloween costumes!) worn during the early part of the NFL schedule in today’s NFL Watch.
Steven Jackson tries to avoid being tackled in a PE colorway of the Nike Zoom Alpha Talon.
Members of the World Champion St. Louis Cardinals were in the house to witness the Rams’ upset.
Ray Rice takes a handoff in the Nike Air Zoom Super Bad 3.
Cameraman Lance Stewart of FOX dresses for Halloween as the Carolina Panthers host the Minnesota Vikings.
Adrian Peterson makes a cut in the Nike Super Speed D 3/4.
Amy and Donnie Eason dress for Halloween before a game between the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Houston Texans.
Texans linebacker Brian Cushing picks off a pass in the Under Armour Nitro III Low.
Reggie Bush had one of his better career games in the adidas Scorch X Superfly Mid.
Victor Cruz celebrates a touchdown reception with a salsa dance in the Nike Super Speed TD.
Reggie Wayne makes a grab in NFL U-Form 4Speed Mid M4 Reebok football cleats.
Javon Ringer finds running room in the Nike Zoom Vapor Carbon Fly.
Tennessee Titans Cheerleaders dress up for Halloween.
images via ESPN