The Sports Xchange

ST. LOUIS — The start of Sunday’s game between the St. Louis Rams and Pittsburgh Steelers was delayed for 26 minutes when some of the turf at the Edward Jones Dome was burned during pregame introductions of the Rams’ offensive starters. The area in question was underneath a mini-stage used to launch pregame pyrotechnics.

Workers with fire extinguishers came to the field to clean up the foam from the extinguishers, which covered an area about 12 feet wide and nine feet deep inside the 5-yard line about 25 feet from the Rams sideline. A vacuum was also brought onto the field followed by other workers who helped wipe down the area and then towel it off as well as using squeegies.

Even after finishing, there was a small area at the 3-yard line that was visibly missing turf.

Players milled about field for about five minutes until both head coaches took their players into their locker rooms. They returned at 12:20 and did some running from the goal line to the 30-yard line, stretching and normal pregame activities.

The opening kickoff finally came at 12:28, when Rams kicker Greg Zuerlein reached the back of the opposite end zone for a touchback..