St. Louis Rams third string quarterback Austin Davis scrambles away from the Minnesota Vikings defense in the fourth quarter at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis on September 7, 2014. Minnesota won the game 34-6. UPI/Bill Greenblatt
Rams quarterback Shaun Hill was done after one half as the new starter for Sam Bradford, going down with a quadriceps injury. Austin Davis took over as he and Hill combined for just 170 yards through the first three quarters.
The revamped Minnesota defense and high charged offense under new coach Mike Zimmer beat the Rams 34-6.
Adrian Peterson, who torched the Rams for 212 yards the last time these teams met late in the 2012 season, was held to 75 yards, but wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson ran for 102 yards on just three carries, with a 67-yard scoring run.
The Vikings pressured the Rams’ Davis the second half with four sacks, and Harrison Smith’s 81-yard interception return made it 34-3 late in the game. Brian Quick had seven catches for 99 yards for the Rams, who were penalized 13 times for 121 yards.
Davis was 16 for 23 for 192 yards and an interception. The 34-year old Hill was 8 for 13 for 81 yards.
