Rams Early Lead Evaporates Into Rout

St. Louis can't slow down the Patriots' offensive juggernaut even after taking an early lead.

Rams fall apart after early TD in 45-7 loss
WEMBLEY, ENGLAND (AP)

It all started so well for the St. Louis Rams on their first trip to the famous Wembley Stadium. It all ended so badly.

Sam Bradford led the Rams (3-5) to a 7-0 lead on their first possession, but Tom Brady and the Patriots (5-3) took over from there Sunday and won 45-7 in the NFL's sixth regular-season game in London.

''We just got beat in every phase of the game. We got dominated,'' Bradford said. ''I don't think there's any other way to put it.''

The Patriots elected to kick off after winning The Opening toss. Once they did, Bradford went to work.

After a New England penalty on the first play, Bradford completed a 14-yard pass to Steven Jackson. Then came a 5-yard pass to Austin Pettis.

After a pair of short runs by Jackson to bring up third-and-2, Bradford sent Chris Givens deep, and connected on a 50-yard touchdown pass.

Eighty yards on five plays.

''You can't ask for a better start to the game. First time we touched the ball we go down and score,'' Bradford said. ''It just all fell apart from there.''

Oct 28, 2012; London, England; St. Louis Rams quarterback Sam Bradford (8) during the 2012 International Series game at Wembley Stadium. The Patriots defeated the Rams 45-7. (Joe Toth/ US Presswire)

Bradford ended up 23 of 31 for 205 yards, but the Rams offense just couldn't put anything else together while the defense couldn't stop the Patriots.

''What is required to beat a team that well on both sides of the ball is a near perfect game, and obviously we were unable to do that today,'' Rams coach Jeff Fisher said. ''Tom got a hot hand and had a good sense and those guys made a lot of plays for him.''

One thing Fisher will need to address in the coming weeks is penalties. The Rams were flagged 12 times for 102 yards, compared to eight penalties for 42 yards for the Patriots.

''It's inexcusable,'' Bradford said. ''We've got to start holding each other to a higher standard because obviously when we do that, we're not going to score points.''

The Rams played as the home team, but much of the 80,004 fans at rainy Wembley - the home of England's national soccer team - were cheering for New England every step of the way.

Brady led four straight touchdown drives to give New England a commanding 28-7 lead by halftime, and then hit Brandon Lloyd for a 9-yard score to start the third quarter.

Brady passed for 304 yards with four touchdowns and tight end Rob Gronkowski caught eight passes for 146 yards and two scores. Lloyd also had two touchdown catches, while Stevan Ridley ran for 127 yards and a score as the Patriots put themselves atop the AFC East heading into their off week.

''I know the game got out of hand today, but that's the Patriots,'' Brady said.

The Rams also have a bye next week, giving them a chance to regroup and get ready to face the 49ers in San Francisco in two weeks.

''Our bye comes at a good time. Obviously, we've had a rough stretch the last couple of weeks,'' Bradford said. ''The bye should allow us to refocus and get back to playing the way we know we can.''

It'll have to be better than Sunday, when both the offense and defense failed to figure out the Patriots.

''It's embarrassing the way we played tonight,'' Bradford said. ''Just embarrassing.''

NOTES: The Rams had originally agreed to return to London in 2013 and 2014 but pulled out of the deal. ... The NFL will stage two regular-season games in London in 2013 for the first time. ... The Patriots didn't punt until 2:36 left in the third quarter. ... Rams wide receiver Danny Amendola missed his third straight game with a right shoulder injury. ... Flamboyant London Mayor Boris Johnson addressed the crowd before the game, saying he was proud to welcome ''this glorious descendant of rugby union football'' to Wembley.

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