Preview: Tampa Bay at St. Louis.

[Greenbacks]

When: 8:25 PM ET, Thursday, December 17, 2015
Where: Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis, Missouri

A pair of high-profile rookies square off Thursday night as the St. Louis Rams host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in their final home game of the season. St. Louis halted its five-game losing streak last week with a 21-14 triumph over Detroit at the Edward Jones Dome, where it has recorded four of its five wins this campaign.

Todd Gurley led the way for the Rams, running for 140 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries to climb within 25 of joining Eric Dickerson (1983) and Jerome Bettis (1993) as the only rookies in franchise history to rush for 1,000 yards. Tampa Bay's slim playoff hopes took a hit Sunday when it suffered a 24-17 loss to New Orleans at home. The Buccaneers, who haven't qualified for the postseason since 2007, are two games off the pace in the NFC wild-card race and could officially be eliminated from contention this weekend. Tampa Bay's disappointing campaign has not deterred quarterback Jameis Winston, who threw for 182 yards versus the Saints to raise his season total to 3,059 - a franchise rookie record.

TV: 8:25 p.m. ET, NFL Network. LINE: Rams -1.5. O/U: 41

ABOUT THE BUCCANEERS (6-7): Doug Martin ranks second in the league with 1,214 rushing yards and third in the NFC with 1,413 yards from scrimmage. The 26-year-old has recorded six touchdowns in his last 10 games, including five on the ground. Winston is the third rookie quarterback in league history to eclipse the 3,000-yard mark.

ABOUT THE RAMS (5-8): One bright spot for St. Louis this season has been its ability to get to the opposing quarterback. The Rams are second in the NFC with 36 sacks, including 11 by Aaron Donald. The 24-year-old, who is second in the conference in sacks, leads all NFL defensive tackles with 20 since the start of the 2014 campaign.

EXTRA POINTS

1. The Buccaneers need to win their final three games to be over the .500 mark for the first time since November 2012.

2. Gurley, who has eight rushing TDs in his last eight contests, is second in NFL history to Dickerson (seven) for the most games of at least 125 rushing yards by a rookie with five.

3. Tampa Bay leads the league with 125 penalties.


ATS Trends

Tampa Bay

Buccaneers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games following a straight up loss. Buccaneers are 9-1 ATS in their last 10 games following a ATS loss. Buccaneers are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games after allowing more than 350 total yards in their previous game. Buccaneers are 4-1 ATS vs. a team with a losing record. Buccaneers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games after allowing less than 90 yards rushing in their previous game. Buccaneers are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 road games. Buccaneers are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 vs. NFC. Buccaneers are 6-14 ATS in their last 20 games in December. Buccaneers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 Thursday games. Buccaneers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games in Week 15. Buccaneers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a losing home record. Buccaneers are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games on turf.

St. Louis

Rams are 3-1-1 ATS vs. a team with a losing record. Rams are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 home games vs. a team with a losing road record. Rams are 18-37 ATS in their last 55 games after accumulating less than 150 yards passing in their previous game. Rams are 3-10-1 ATS in their last 14 games in Week 15. Rams are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up win. Rams are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS win. Rams are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games in December. Rams are 1-4-1 ATS in their last 6 games overall. Rams are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 Thursday games.

OU Trends

Tampa Bay

Over is 5-0 in Buccaneers last 5 Thursday games. Under is 5-0 in Buccaneers last 5 games in December. Under is 4-0 in Buccaneers last 4 road games vs. a team with a losing home record. Under is 5-1-1 in Buccaneers last 7 games in Week 15. Under is 9-2 in Buccaneers last 11 games following a ATS loss. Under is 4-1 in Buccaneers last 5 games overall. Over is 4-1 in Buccaneers last 5 games on turf. Under is 12-3 in Buccaneers last 15 games following a straight up loss. Under is 10-3 in Buccaneers last 13 vs. a team with a losing record. Under is 8-3 in Buccaneers last 11 road games. Under is 8-3 in Buccaneers last 11 games after allowing more than 250 yards passing in their previous game. Under is 12-5 in Buccaneers last 17 vs. NFC.

St. Louis

Under is 4-0 in Rams last 4 games overall. Under is 6-0 in Rams last 6 games following a straight up win. Under is 4-0 in Rams last 4 games after accumulating less than 150 yards passing in their previous game. Under is 4-0 in Rams last 4 home games vs. a team with a losing road record. Under is 6-0 in Rams last 6 games following a ATS win. Under is 6-1 in Rams last 7 games after accumulating more than 150 yards rushing in their previous game. Under is 5-1 in Rams last 6 vs. a team with a losing record. Under is 5-1 in Rams last 6 home games. Under is 5-1 in Rams last 6 games on turf. Under is 5-1 in Rams last 6 vs. NFC. Under is 5-1-1 in Rams last 7 games in Week 15. Under is 36-16-1 in Rams last 53 games in December.

Head to Head

Under is 5-0 in the last 5 meetings. Underdog is 7-2-1 ATS in their last 10 meetings. Buccaneers are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 meetings.

 

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[Greenbacks]

 

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QB Matt Hasselbeck is back at practice today for the Colts. Same with Andrew Luck.

 

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[h=1]MacMullan: Malcolm Butler is here to stay

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[h=1]Kiper's updated Big Board

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[Greenbacks]

[h=1]Hope for Rams to stay in St. Louis

[/h]

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[Greenbacks]

[h=1]Jets now owe Texans a 6th-round pick

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[h=1]Jags' Robinson to make first start of year

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[Greenbacks]

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