By Nick Wagoner
Senior Writer

HOUSTON – If Ryan Fitzpatrick looked a little too poised or calm or cool during Sunday’s comeback win against the Texans, it’s because a situation that to many would be new and difficult was old hat for the rookie from Harvard.

“My first time I ever played at Harvard was against Princeton and I came in when we were down and we won the game,” Fitzpatrick said. “My next game was my first start, we were down 21-0 at halftime to Dartmouth and we came back and won the game.”

So, it was no problem for the Fitzpatrick, in his first regular season appearance in the NFL, to come in and lead the Rams to the third-largest comeback in team history on a day that saw many reserves in key roles for the Rams.

Fitzpatrick’s role this week was as uncertain as it always is for a No. 2 quarterback. On the one hand, Fitzpatrick didn’t want to get too excited about the possibility of his first opportunity. But on the other, he was taking repetitions with the first-team offense in practice and was just a play away from getting in the game.

That play didn’t take long to happen. With 2:49 to go in the first quarter, starter Jamie Martin was dropped for a 6-yard loss and took a blow to the head that would keep him out for the rest of the game and send him to the hospital for evaluation.

Fitzpatrick came in with butterflies in his stomach, but thoughts of his days leading the Crimson in his mind.

“Once I let that first ball go then everything was fine,” Fitzpatrick said. “It was sort of a situation where going in not being the starter you kind of get thrown in a situation so you don’t have much time to think about it.”

Fitzpatrick’s first throw was an incompletion intended for Isaac Bruce. But it would be one of only a few times where Fitzpatrick and Bruce didn’t connect. In fact, it was one of the few misfires Fitzpatrick would have all day.

He hit Bruce on the first play of the next possession for a 20-yard gain, the first completion of his young career. For the rest of the day, Fitzpatrick did nothing but sit in the pocket, take his time, make good decisions and deliver spiral after spiral.

“He did a terrific job for us,” receiver Torry Holt said. “What’s outstanding and remarkable about him is his poise and his patience, his ability to listen. Going to Harvard, I guess he learned all of that. We knew he’s a smart kid and the thing that’s going to help this football team out is that he brings some other things to the game at the quarterback position, he can scramble, he can run. The guy has some live legs; he has a big, big arm. I think he can help us. I was very, very, very excited for him.”

Of course, Fitzpatrick gave the Rams plenty to be excited about. By the time his debut performance was finished, he was 19-of-30 for 310 yards, three touchdowns and an interception for a rating of 117.4.

More important than those statistics, though, was the tally he was able to put in the Rams’ win column.

“I don’t think you can say enough,” interim coach Joe Vitt said. “He was under duress a lot. He’s got poise, he’s got intelligence, he’s got a strong arm, he’s got great feet, he’s got the ability to make an impromptu play. I think he’s one of those guys who plays better than he practices.”

It was that poise and calm that made Fitzpatrick stand out in Sunday’s game. Although he was sacked five times, Fitzpatrick never got rattled. When he threw an interception that turned into a fumble recovery, he continued as though it never happened. He even had a little strut about him as he walked to the huddle.

“He was really cool in the huddle,” Holt said. “I was really impressed by him. Another thing people need to understand about him is he has a swagger about him. He has a great deal of quiet confidence about him which is huge. You might think a guy coming in in that situation, he may rattle and not be sure of himself, but hey, he threw the ball big and we went up and made catches for him. I was really impressed by his effort today.”

None of Fitzpatrick’s accomplishments would have been nearly as impressive were it not for the fact that he led the Rams to a win after being down 24-3 at halftime and 27-7 with 34 seconds left.

If there were any doubts left about Fitzpatrick’s poise then he put them to rest with one of the best thrown balls by a Ram all season. Fitzpatrick hit Bruce for a 43-yard touchdown on fourth-and-6 to bring the Rams within 27-24.

Not much later, Fitzpatrick hit Kevin Curtis on a screen for a 56-yard game winning touchdown.

Even after the game, Fitzpatrick exuded that confidence and poise that he had at Harvard and still carries today.

''I knew there was no way we were going to lose that game,'' Fitzpatrick said. ''You sort of get that feeling out there, of invincibility, with the way the offense was playing late and the way the defense really stepped up.''

PACE LEAVES EARLY: Left tackle Orlando Pace entered Sunday’s game with a nagging hamstring injury that could have kept him out of the game all together.

But the Rams were already banged up at other spots along the line and couldn’t afford to lose much more in the way of manpower, particularly their six-time Pro Bowler.

Pace did what he could, playing part of the first half before leaving with an aggravation of the hamstring injury.

“My hammy was bothering me a little bit and I could barely move out there so we thought it was best I sit out the second half,” Pace said.

Rookie right tackle Alex Barron slid over to the left side and Rex Tucker handled right tackle duties in his place.

Left guard Claude Terrell also left with an injury and was replaced by Larry Turner.

ATOGWE’S BIG PLAY: Rookie safety Oshiomogho Atogwe hasn’t gotten many chances to shine this season as he patiently waits for an opportunity. When that opportunity finally presented itself Sunday, Atogwe made sure to take advantage.

On third-and-5 at the Rams’ 47, Houston quarterback David Carr dropped back to pass. It was meant to be a three-step drop, probably with a quick slant to a receiver being the result. But the Rams linebackers took away the underneath options and Carr bolted to his right.

Atogwe was coming full speed on a blitz and nearly overran Carr. But he was able to react quickly and do enough to bring Carr down. The Texans promptly punted and the Rams scored to end it.

“I just want to help my team out anyway possible so I know whenever I get the opportunity to go in there and play, I have to go in there and perform well and not let any of the guys down,” Atogwe said.

BRUCE MAKES HISTORY: With receiver Isaac Bruce’s 20-yard reception from Fitzpatrick in the second quarter, Bruce passed the 12,000 yard mark for his career. Bruce is the 11th player in NFL history to reach the benchmark.

For those wondering about the status of the ball because it was also Fitzpatrick’s first completion, let’s just say seniority won out.

LINEUP ALTERATIONS: The Rams had some surprises in the starting lineups Sunday. Trev Faulk started in place of Chris Claiborne at middle linebacker after taking a bulk of the reps with the first-team this week in practice. Damione Lewis started for Jimmy Kennedy at defensive tackle again and Anthony Hargrove reclaimed his starting job at end in place of Brandon Green.

Returner David Allen was inactive because of injuries at other places and Terry Fair handled return responsibilities in his place.