ST. LOUIS — The St. Louis Rams saved some of their best for last.
Tavon Austin scored twice, Todd Gurley topped 1,000 yards rushing for the season and the Rams beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 31-23 on Thursday night in what could be the franchise’s final game in St. Louis.
The 31st-ranked offense had an inspired effort in front of another half-filled but spirited Edward Jones Dome crowd, rolling to a 21-3 halftime lead behind Case Keenum’s two touchdown passes.
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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.”
Team owner Stan Kroenke, who wants to move the Rams (6-8) to Los Angeles, attended the home finale but kept a low profile.
The team announced 51,295 tickets had been distributed for the 66,000-capacity dome.
Leading 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 halftime deficit was the Buccaneers’ largest since they were down 35-7 against the Titans in their opening 42-14 loss.
Mike Evans had nine receptions for 157 yards and topped 1,000 yards for the season.
Austin Seferian-Jenkins’ 9-yard scoring catch cut the deficit to eight points 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.
Kenny Britt’s 60-yard catch was the first by a Rams wide receiver since Stedman Bailey against Arizona in Week 4.
Several stars from the 1999 Super Bowl championship team attended the home finale.
