Rams coach Jeff Fisher felt time keeper error in Detroit changed the way the Rams called plays around the two minute warning and essentially gave the Detroit Lions a fourth timeout and extra time to score their final touchdown in the Rams’ 27-23 loss.
“I was aware of it because I had talked to Coach (Brian) Schottenheimer after (Detroit) Coach (Jim) Schwartz called timeout and I said ‘We’ll be able to run this down to the two-minute warning,’” Fisher said. “At that time, we had a plan in place so when Sam slid, I told Brian let’s go to two minute and he says we can’t and then I looked up and I realized that there was an error. So in essence, Detroit was granted an extra timeout if you want to look at it from that perspective.”
As Bradford slid to stay inbounds, the official waved his arm to signal to keep the clock running, but the clock was stopped with 2:38. The Rams were not able to get it down to the two-minute warning or force Detroit to use a timeout. With the clock stopped, the Rams, instead of calling a running play, used a pass play and the clock stopped again on a incompletion. The Rams kicked a field goal and the Lions got the ball back with 1:55 to play.
The Rams got good news and bad news regarding injuries to their offensive line. The good news is that tackle Rodger Saffold’s neck injury is nothing more than a strain. It’s unknown how long that will keep him out, but better than what was feared after Saffold crumpled to the ground and did not get up until he was taken away on a cart. Saffold stayed in a Detroit hospital for tests and returned to St. Louis on Monday morning.
“He’s back here with us,” coach Jeff Fisher said. “His tests were negative, the CAT scan and X rays were all negative. He’s got some further tests to do but at this point, it’s just a significant strain so he was very lucky. That’s good news.”
As far as center Scott Wells’ foot injury, he has a fractured fifth metatarsal in his foot that will require surgery.