Familiar foes
A year after Rams’ quarterback switch, Goff faces Keenum’s Vikings
Almost exactly one year ago, the Los Angeles Rams switched quarterbacks by making Case Keenum a backup again and jump-starting Jared Goff’s career.
In the latest example of the NFL’s uncanny randomness, the former teammates Goff and Keenum will be pitted against each other on Sunday in Minnesota.
Oh, and the Rams-Vikings matchup is widely considered the best game in the league this week.
Not only are their teams thriving. So are they.
“Just like everybody predicted: Case Keenum with the 7-2 Minnesota Vikings going up against the 7-2 Rams,” Keenum said with a smile.
The move last season was only a matter of time for the Rams, who went 4-5 with Keenum after drafting Goff out of California with the first overall pick.
At that point, the player picked to be the franchise cornerstone for at least the next decade was not going to get much better on the sideline with the Rams headed for another high draft pick in their rough return to the West Coast.
The Rams lost all seven games that Goff started down the stretch, four of them by 21 points or more. The rookie’s 63.6 passer rating would’ve been last in the league with a qualifying amount of attempts.
Keenum moved on to Minnesota, signing on as the backup to Sam Bradford with Teddy Bridgewater looming in the
background after an 8-8 finish by the Vikings.
Since then, the Rams hired a new head coach, Sean McVay, who has done wonders for Goff and the offence. With at least 300 yards and three touchdowns passing without an interception against the Vikings, Goff would join Tom Brady in 2007 as the only players in NFL history to check those boxes in three straight games.
When Bradford’s knee began bothering him after the season opener, Keenum stepped in. He has started five and finished six of the team’s seven victories, keeping the job for at least one more week despite Bridgewater’s presence.
By finishing his fifth game this season without being sacked, Keenum established a team record for a minimum of 20 attempts per game. Bradford
(2016), Randall Cunningham (1998), Rich Gannon (1991) and Fran Tarkenton (1972) each had four in a year.
“I couldn’t be happier for the guy,” Goff said, adding: “There’s so many things I learned from him on and off the field.”
Keenum had plenty of praise for Goff as well.
“He’s a smart kid, man,” Keenum said. “He’s a fighter, too, because it wasn’t easy last year.”