This
Week
The St. Louis Rams play their 2003 regular season home opener against their longtime rivals, the San Francisco 49ers. Kickoff for the
game on Sunday at the Edward Jones Dome is scheduled for 12:02 p.m. (CT). This is the 108th meeting between the two teams, with the Rams
holding a 55-50-2 edge. The Rams and 49ers have met each other more than they have met any other opponent, giving the teams a long and storied
history. The series began in 1950, as the teams have met twice a year
since the series began.
Standings
49ers - 1st place (tie),
NFC West. Rams - 3rd place (tie), NFC West.
Rams Leaders
Offense - Warner, 342
passing yards and 1 passing TD; Faulk, 28 rushing yards; Bruce, 8 receptions and
120 receiving yards; Holt, 1 receiving TD. Defense - Adam Archuleta, 7 tackles;
Archuleta and Little, 1 sack.
49ers Leaders
Offense - Garcia, 229
passing yards and 2 passing TDs; Kevan Barlow, 62 rushing yards; Garcia and
Garrison Hearst, 1 rushing TD; Owens, 7 receptions and 112 receiving yards;
Hearst and Tai Streets, 1 receiving TD. Defense - Terry Jackson, 6 tackles;
Andre Carter, Mike Rumph and Jamie Winborn, 1 sack; Ahmed Plummer, 2
interceptions.
Rams Team Rank
Rushing Offense - 40 ypg (31st); Passing Offense - 315 ypg (2nd); Total Offense
- 355 ypg (7th). Rushing Defense - 149 ypg (T-26th); Passing Defense - 187 ypg (13th);
Total Defense - 336 ypg (23rd).
49ers Team Rank
Rushing Offense -
162 yards per game (2nd in NFL); Passing Offense - 229 ypg (14th); Total Offense
- 391 ypg (4th). Rushing Defense - 55 ypg (4th); Passing Defense - 72 ypg (1st);
Total Defense - 127 ypg (1st).
Last Meeting
Dec. 30, 2002; Rams,
31-20. At St. Louis, the Rams scored three TDs in less than five minutes of the
fourth quarter to overcome 17-point deficit.
Streaks and Notes
Rams
- The club is looking for its seventh win in nine home openers in St. Louis, and
its fifth consecutive home win against the 49ers. ... RB Faulk has nine TDs in
his last six games against San Francisco. ... WR Bruce has 76 catches (for 1,178
yards) against the 49ers, his most against any club.
Bruce, There He Is
WR Isaac Bruce had
game-highs against the New York Giants in receptions (eight) and receiving yards
(120). The game marked Bruce’s 32nd career 100-yard receiving
game and moved him 160 yards away from tying his receivers coach, Henry
Ellard, for most career receiving yards in Rams’ history. Bruce is already
the franchise leader in receptions (627) and receiving touchdowns (63).
Not So Little
DE Leonard Little has become a
pass-rushing machine, as he has racked up 27.5 sacks since he became a full-time
defensive end in 2001. Last week against the New York Giants, the
sixth-year player out of Tennessee tied for the team-lead (S Adam Archuleta)
with 10 tackles (six solo), adding three QB pressures and one sack, dropping
Giants’ QB Kerry Collins for a seven-yard loss midway through the second
quarter, forcing a fumble that was recovered by DE Grant
Wistrom.
No If's, And's, Or But's
CB Jerametrius
Butler made his first career start last week against the New York Giants.
The Rams’ fifth-round draft choice in the 2001 NFL Draft racked up three tackles
(two solo), adding one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
Game Day
| Game
Notes | Martz on the Mike: September
11 | Rams-49ers
Series History | Rams IQ | Schedule |Player and Beyond | Slouch
Cap |
