Rams down Bucs in possible St Louis farewell

Brady, Newton top fan balloting for Pro Bowl

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Doug Martin (center), is pulled down by St Louis Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald

(right), and outside linebacker Mark Barron during the second quarter of an NFL football game on Dec 17, in St Louis. (AP)

LOS ANGELES, Dec 18, (AFP): In what might have been their last home game in St. Louis, the Rams defeated Tampa Bay 31-23 Thursday in an emotional win that dented the Buccaneers’ playoff hopes.

The Rams are among a trio of teams eyeing a possible move to Los Angeles.

The team will finish out their 2015 campaign with games at Seattle and San Francisco, and the crowd of 51,295 took a last opportunity to let owner Stan Kroenke know how they felt about relocation with signs and chants of “Keep the Rams.”

“There’s no telling what will happen, but the fans today were incredible,” said Rams quarterback Case Keenum. “It was a great atmosphere tonight.”

Keenum gave the St Louis faithful plenty to cheer. He picked apart the Tampa Bay defense, throwing for 234 yards and two touchdowns.

Keenum completed 14 of 17 passes and wide receiver Tavon Austin scored a pair of touchdowns, including a 21-yard run on a reverse with 5:35 left in the third quarter for a 28-6 lead.

Running back Todd Gurley’s three-