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Austin, Gurley lead Rams past Buccaneers, 31-23

ST. LOUIS (AP) - Rams players saw the signs, heard the chanting, noticed the volume was turned up. The effort was inspired on what could have been the final home game for the franchise in St. Louis.

"It was a great atmosphere," quarterback Case Keenum said after the Rams beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 31-23 on Thursday night. "I think it was a great atmosphere for the nation to watch.

"The crowd was into it. It was a lot of fun."

Tavon Austin scored twice, Todd Gurley topped 1,000 yards rushing, and Keenum threw two touchdown passes in the first quarter. The 31st-ranked offense rolled to a 21-3 halftime lead.

"It was just great for them to come out and show the support tonight and it was a beautiful thing," defensive end William Hayes said. "We haven't been putting the best product on the field the whole year."

Fans chanted "Keep Our Rams! Keep Our Rams!" and carried signs, one of them reading "We Don't Need Kroenke, We Just Want our Rams."

Owner Stan Kroenke, who wants to move the Rams (6-8) to Los Angeles, attended the finale but kept a low profile.

The team announced 51,295 tickets had been distributed for the 66,000-capacity dome.

Up 31-13, the Rams became conservative, and Jameis Winston took advantage with two touchdown passes in a big fourth quarter. He had just 125 yards passing the first three quarters, but finished with a career-best 363, his first 300-yard effort, for Tampa Bay (6-8).

"The first half, I didn't play good enough for us to win," Winston said. "We were protecting good enough, I just have to make the throws."

The halftime deficit was the Buccaneers' largest since they were down 35-7 against Tennessee in their opening 42-14 loss. So, Tampa Bay's total output of 509 yards rang hollow.

"Tonight, we didn't see a whole lot to be excited about," coach Lovie Smith said. "Being close just doesn't do it on a night like tonight."

Mike Evans had nine receptions for 157 yards and topped 1,000 yards.

Austin Seferian-Jenkins' 9-yard scoring catch cut the deficit to eight with 1:34 to play, but the Rams' Bryce Hager recovered the onside kick.

Benny Cunningham had a 102-yard kickoff return to the Tampa Bay 3 in the fourth quarter and a 44-yard return on the opening kickoff capped by Austin's 17-yard scoring reception.

Gurley needed 25 yards to become the first Rams rookie to rush for 1,000 yards since Jerome Bettis and didn't get it by much, gaining 48 yards on 21 carries.

Austin is the first player since Gale Sayers in 1965 to score at least four rushing touchdowns, five receiving touchdowns and one touchdown on a punt return in a season. He leads the Rams with 10 total TDs.

Several stars from the 1999 Super Bowl championship team attended the finale, including Orlando Pace, Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt, plus Kurt Warner and Marshall Faulk from the NFL Network. At halftime, Warner took off his sports jacket and tossed a pass to Bruce, who made the catch as he was running along the home team's sideline and jogged into the end zone.

Tailgating was down with the 12th consecutive non-winning season ensured and temperatures in the high 30s, although it didn't stop Shamus McDonough's family, who have set up shop nearby at Laclede's Landing every game since the Rams came to St. Louis in 1995.

"Even through the worst years, we have stayed loyal," McDonough said. "We say the same thing at every tailgate - If you Ram Up hard enough, anything is possible. If this is the last game, we're going out strong."

Kenny Britt's 60-yard catch was the first by a Rams wide receiver since Stedman Bailey against Arizona in Week 4.

The Rams were also playing for Bailey, who is recovering from two gunshot wounds to the head in a Miami-area hospital. Austin and some teammates are planning to visit Bailey during the weekend.

"I represent the '12' every day," Austin said. "A couple of us are going to go visit our brother and show him some love."

NOTES: Winston has 20 TD passes, breaking the franchise rookie mark of 19 by Mike Glennon in 2013. ... The Buccaneers' 98-yard scoring drive for the first of their two fourth-quarter TDs tied the record for longest in franchise history. ... Buccaneers S Chris Conte (left knee) was injured on Austin's second TD in the third quarter when he got tangled up with another defender.

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Charles Sims is pulled down by St. Louis Rams cornerback Lamarcus Joyner, right, and outside linebacker Mark Barron during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game Thursday, Dec. 17, 2015, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson) The Associated Press
St. Louis Rams wide receiver Tavon Austin scores on a 17-yard reception against Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Sterling Moore during the fist quarter of an NFL football game Thursday, Dec. 17, 2015, in St. Louis. The Rams won 31-23. (Chris Lee/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP) The Associated Press
A St. Louis Rams fan yells and holds a sign following an NFL football game between the Rams and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday, Dec. 17, 2015, in St. Louis. The game could be the final home contest for the St. Louis Rams if owner Stan Kroenke is allowed to move the team to Los Angeles next season. (AP Photo/Billy Hurst) The Associated Press
St. Louis Rams running back Benny Cunningham runs a kick back 102 yards to the 3-yard line during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday, Dec. 17, 2015, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Billy Hurst) The Associated Press
An incomplete pass sails past Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Cameron Brate, right, as St. Louis Rams cornerback Janoris Jenkins, left, defends during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game Thursday, Dec. 17, 2015, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Billy Hurst) The Associated Press
yuSt. Louis Rams cornerback Trumaine Johnson, left, controls the ball after intercepting a pass as Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston, top right, and wide receiver Adam Humphries defend during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game Thursday, Dec. 17, 2015, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson) The Associated Press
Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins, right, catches a touchdown pass as St. Louis Rams strong safety Maurice Alexander defends during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game on Thursday, Dec. 17, 2015, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Billy Hurst) The Associated Press
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans, front, catches a pass as St. Louis Rams cornerback Trumaine Johnson defends during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game on Thursday, Dec. 17, 2015, in St. Louis. The Rams won 31-23. (AP Photo/Billy Hurst) The Associated Press
St. Louis Rams running back Benny Cunningham, left, is congratulated by coach Jeff Fisher after running a kick back 102 yards during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday, Dec. 17, 2015, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson) The Associated Press
St. Louis Rams running back Benny Cunningham (36) returns a kickoff 102 yards during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday, Dec. 17, 2015, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson) The Associated Press
St. Louis Rams' Doug Worthington (92) is congratulated by teammate Ethan Westbrooks (93) after recovering a fumble by Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Doug Martin during the third quarter of an NFL football game Thursday, Dec. 17, 2015, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Billy Hurst) The Associated Press
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Doug Martin fumbles the ball during the third quarter of an NFL football game against the St. Louis Rams on Thursday, Dec. 17, 2015, in St. Louis. The Rams' Doug Worthington recovered the fumble. (AP Photo/Billy Hurst) The Associated Press
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston (3) scrambles away from St. Louis Rams outside linebacker Akeem Ayers (56) as Ayers is blocked by Buccaneers fullback Jorvorskie Lane during the third quarter of an NFL football game Thursday, Dec. 17, 2015, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Billy Hurst) The Associated Press
St. Louis Rams wide receiver Tavon Austin, left, runs past Tampa Bay Buccaneers outside linebacker Danny Lansanah (51) on a 21-yard touchdown during the third quarter of an NFL football game Thursday, Dec. 17, 2015, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson) The Associated Press
Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins, right, drops a pass as St. Louis Rams free safety Rodney McLeod defends during the third quarter of an NFL football game Thursday, Dec. 17, 2015, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Billy Hurst) The Associated Press
St. Louis Rams running back Todd Gurley (30) is congratulated by teammates after scoring on a 3-yard run during the second quarter of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday, Dec. 17, 2015, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Billy Hurst) The Associated Press
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