NFL 2002 Week 9
Rams Look to Get Greatest Show on Turf Back on Track
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RESURGENT RAMS SEEK TO NARROW GAP IN NFC WEST
Is the Greatest Show on Turf Back on Track?
Rested and ready after a bye in Week 8, the St. Louis Rams will aim to continue their resurgence this Sunday as they travel to the desert to face the Arizona Cardinals in a key NFC West Division showdown.
The game is the first meeting between the two clubs as division rivals since the NFL’s realignment took effect this season. The Rams, after an 0-5 start, have rebounded to win two consecutive games: a 28-13 win over previously-undefeated Oakland, followed by a 37-20 triumph against Seattle.
"We are getting going again with two good wins," says Rams head coach MIKE MARTZ, whose club is looking to join the 1970 Cincinnati Bengals (1-6), 1990 New Orleans Saints (2-5) and 1995 Detroit Lions (2-5) as the only NFL teams to have two wins or less after seven games and qualify for the playoffs. "The week off has given us a chance to regroup and get a good game plan up for Arizona. It was a tough start, but now I think we are ready to make a run down the stretch in the second half of the season."
One key to the Rams’ resurgence has been the play of running back MARSHALL FAULK, who has rushed for 341 yards (158 vs. Oakland, 183 vs. Seattle) and three touchdowns and added 11 receptions for 74 yards and two touchdowns in his past two games.
With 150 yards rushing against Arizona, Faulk can become the first player since newly-crowned NFL career rushing champion EMMITT SMITH to rush for 150 yards in each of three consecutive games. Smith accomplished the feat in his last two games of 1993 (153, 168) and first game of 1994 (171).
Against the Seahawks, Faulk rushed a career-high-tying 32 times, his busiest day since a 32-carry, 220-yard effort against the Saints on December 24, 2000.
Having the former San Diego State star on track has been a sure indicator of success for St. Louis, as the Rams are 18-0 when Faulk rushes for at least 100 yards.
"We had a tough start, but now we are winning ballgames again," says Faulk. "You have to make adjustments in this game, and the teams that make the adjustments quickest succeed, and they will continue to succeed longer. Football is never easy, no matter who you play against or how many points you win by. Every game is a tough challenge."
The Rams have answered the challenge at quarterback as second-year veteran MARC BULGER has stepped in for the injured KURT WARNER and guided the team to wins in his first two career starts. Bugler has thrown for 451 yards, four touchdowns and one interception and posted a 97.1 passer rating in those starts.
A product of Pittsburgh Central Catholic High School, the alma mater of NFL legend DAN MARINO, Bulger has led the Rams to points in 41 percent (11 of 27) of the team’s possessions. The former West Virginia star is not surprised at the success he has had in his initial NFL action.
"I don’t think I was put in situations where I had to do anything crazy," says Bulger. "I just did what I was supposed to do and it worked out for me and the team."
The Rams’ defense has also played a key part in the club’s reversal of fortune. After allowing an average of 25.0 points through the first five games, St. Louis has reduced that number to 16.5 per game in its past two games. The club has also forced six turnovers during its two-game winning streak, compared to six overall in its first five games.
A statistical look at the Rams’ 2002 turnaround:
|
First Five Games (0-5) |
Last Two Games (2-0) |
Points Per Game |
14.8 |
32.5 |
Average Yards Per Game |
343.2 |
400.0 |
Rushing Yards Per Game |
78.8 |
188.0 |
Sacks |
10 |
7 |
Turnover Ratio |
-9 |
+3 |
Emmitt Smith's Career Statistics: Game by Game
NFL 2002 Standings, Schedule and Scores
Super Bowl Games & Super Bowl MVP History
- Super Bowl XLII: One of the Greatest
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Super Bowl I
Green Bay Packers 35 Kansas City Chiefs 10 -
Super Bowl II
Green Bay Packers 33 Oakland Raiders 14 -
Super Bowl III
New York Jets 16 Baltimore Colts 7 -
Super Bowl IV
Kansas City Chiefs 23 Minnesota Vikings 7 -
Super Bowl V
Baltimore Colts 16 Dallas Cowboys 13 -
Super Bowl VI
Dallas Cowboys 24 Miami Dolphins 3 -
Super Bowl VII
Miami Dolphins 14 Washington Redskins 7 -
Super Bowl VIII
Miami Dolphins 24 Minnesota Vikings 7 -
Super Bowl IX
Pittsburgh Steelers 16 Minnesota Vikings 6 -
Super Bowl X
Steelers 21 Dallas Cowboys 17 -
Super Bowl XI
Oakland Raiders 32 Minnesota Vikings 14 -
Super Bowl XII
Cowboys 27 Denver Broncos 10 -
Super Bowl XIII
Pittsburgh Steelers 35 Dallas Cowboys 31 -
Super Bowl XIV
Pittsburgh Steelers 31 Los Angeles Rams 19 -
Super Bowl XV
Oakland Raiders 27 Philadelphia Eagles 10 -
Super Bowl XVI
San Francisco 49ers 26 Cincinnati Bengals 21 -
Super Bowl XVII
Washington Redskins 27 Miami Dolphins 17 -
Super Bowl XVIII
Los Angeles Raiders 38 Washington Redskins 9 -
Super Bowl XIX
San Francisco 49ers 38 Miami Dolphins 16 -
Super Bowl XX
Chicago Bears 46 New England Patriots 10 -
Super Bowl XXI
New York Giants 39 Denver Broncos 20 -
Super Bowl XXII
Washington Redskins 42 Denver Broncos 10 -
Super Bowl XXIII
San Francisco 49ers 20 Cincinnati Bengals 16 -
Super Bowl XXIV
San Francisco 49ers 55 Denver Broncos 10 -
Super Bowl XXV
New York Giants 20 Buffalo Bills 19 -
Super Bowl XXVI
Washington Redskins 37 Buffalo Bills 24 -
Super Bowl XXVII
Dallas Cowboys 52 Buffalo Bills 17 -
Super Bowl XXVIII
Dallas Cowboys 30 Buffalo Bills 13 -
Super Bowl XXIX
San Francisco 49ers 49 San Diego Chargers 26 -
Super Bowl XXX
Dallas Cowboys 27 Pittsburgh Steelers 17 -
Super Bowl XXXI
Green Bay Packers 35 New England Patriots 21 -
Super Bowl XXXII
Denver Broncos 31 Green Bay Packers 24 -
Super Bowl XXXIII
Denver Broncos 34 Atlanta Falcons 19 -
Super Bowl XXXIV
Saint Louis Rams 23 Tennessee Titans 16 -
Super Bowl XXXV
Baltimore Ravens 34 New York Giants 7 -
Super Bowl XXXVI
New England Patriots 20 Saint Louis Rams 17 -
Super Bowl XXXVII
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 48 Oakland Raiders 21 -
Super Bowl XXXVIII
New England Patriots 32 Carolina Panthers 29 -
Super Bowl XXXIX
New England Patriots 24 Philadelphia Eagles 21 -
Super Bowl XL
Steelers 21 Seahawks 10 -
Super Bowl XLI
Colts 29 Bears 17 -
Super Bowl XLII
New York Giants 17 New England Patriots 14
NFL Super Bowl History, Scores, Summaries & Super Bowl MVP Articles
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