on september 14, 2008, long recorded his first career sack against eli manning of the new york giants. he recorded his first 2-sack game versus the new england patriots on october 26, 2008. at the end of his 2008 rookie season he was voted all-rookie by the pro football writers association and sporting news. long started 16 games (14 at right de and 2 at left de) for the rams in 2008, recording 4 sacks and leading the team in quarterback pressures, with a high of two sacks against the new england patriots.