SEATTLE -- Observed and heard in the locker room after the St. Louis Rams' 20-6 loss to the Seattle Seahawks:
Forward thinking: Sunday's loss dropped the Rams to 6-10 on the season. Given that it was a meaningless game in terms of the playoffs, the loss might have helped the Rams in some ways. They locked up the 10th pick in the draft with the loss. The Rams got some help on the way to that pick, as fellow six-win teams Minnesota and New Orleans came out with victories to get to seven wins. It still likely keeps the Rams out of range of the top quarterbacks but might at least make a trade up less of a pipe dream.
Cunningham takes blame: As the Rams tried to make a comeback late in the game, quarterback Shaun Hill found running back Benny Cunningham in the left flat. Cunningham took the ball and ran toward the end zone. As he dived forward with his arms outstretched, Seattle safety Earl Thomas came over and jarred it loose. The ball bounced through the end zone for a touchback. Game over.
Cunningham was clearly trying to make something happen but took responsibility for the miscue afterward.
"I actually thought I was in the end zone," Cunningham said. "I was really just trying to see the replay to see if they got the right call, which they did. It was just a bad play by me."
Surgery set: Rams guard Rodger Saffold has played through a shoulder injury all season -- an injury that will require offseason surgery. After the game, he confirmed surgery will take place Jan. 7. Linebacker James Laurinaitis, who had ankle surgery last offseason and has been dealing with a foot issue this year, said he will not need another operation.
