NFL this week
Rams ready to saddle up Faulk one last time ST. LOUIS (AP) – One more start, and the St. Louis Rams hope to get back Kurt Warner. Maybe then, they can give Marshall Faulk a bit of a breather.
The Rams (3-5) looking to make it four consecutive victories with former third-stringer Marc Bulger at quarterback – and with Faulk carrying a heavy load – Sunday against the San Diego Chargers. Bulger, a success story so lightly regarded that his third-string job was in jeopardy at the start of training camp, knows he couldn’t have done it alone.
“Obviously, I don’t think we’d be 3-0 without him,” Bulger said of Faulk. “We’ve relied so much on him the last three games. We just keep throwing a lot on him because it seems like he can handle it.”
Faulk is only the fourth player in NFL history to rush for 150 yards in three consecutive games after gaining 178 yards in last week’s victory at Arizona. Overall, he’s gained 519 yards (173 per game) with four touchdowns and a 6.1-yard average.
The going could be tougher against the Chargers (6-2), fourth in the NFL in rushing defense, giving up 89.5 yards per game. Then again, the Raiders were No. 1 when the Rams played them three weeks ago and the Cardinals were first last week.
“That doesn’t necessarily mean anything, the way our offensive line is playing right now,” coach Mike Martz said.
Martz said All-Pro left tackle Orlando Pace is coming off the best game of his career. Both Pace and left guard Tom Nutten played through minor concussions against the Cardinals.
Two more victories and the Rams will be at .500 after an 0-5 start. They’re trying to become the first team to climb out of that hole and make the playoffs.
Warner, the NFL’s MVP for the second time in three seasons last year, could return from a broken pinkie for the Nov. 18 game against the Bears.
“We never believed we were out of it,” cornerback Dre’ Bly said. “Right now I’d hate to be the team on the schedule ahead of us, because we’re rolling.”
The Chargers definitely are wary of St. Louis, which has been to two of the last three Super Bowls.
“It’s never that important who you play or where you play them,” coach Marty Schottenheimer said. “The thing that’s critical is when you play them.
“I would rather have seen them in the first two or three weeks of the year.”
Others on the Rams are more circumspect, knowing there’s still no margin for error.
“There’s no light at the end of the tunnel right now,” defensive end Tyoka Jackson said. “There’s nothing to celebrate, there’s nothing to be excited about, except for the opportunity to go out and get another win.”
The Chargers have their best record at the halfway mark since 1994, when they were 7-1 en route to a Super Bowl appearance. But they’re smarting from a 44-13 loss at home to the Jets – after their bye week, no less.
“My basic objective is to make them understand we’re at the halfway point and we’ve got to continue to make plays on a timely basis,” Schottenheimer said.
There may be a bit of bad blood entering the matchup. Chargers strong safety Rodney Harrison ended Trent Green’s season in 1999 with a late hit to the knee. The Rams ran up 57 points in a victory in 2000 that featured 18 consecutive passes to open the game. The Chargers ran up the score and blitzed more than usual in a preseason game in August.
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In other games today, Atlanta is at Pittsburgh; Houston at Tennessee; Detroit at Green Bay; New Orleans at Carolina; Indianapolis at Philadelphia; the New York Giants at Minnesota; Cincinnati at Baltimore; Seattle at Arizona; Washington at Jacksonville; New England at Chicago; Kansas City at San Francisco; and Miami at the New York Jets.
Oakland is at Denver on Monday night.
Buffalo, Dallas, Tampa Bay and Cleveland are off.
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Indianapolis (4-4) at Philadelphia (6-2)
The Eagles have won three straight despite a slumping offense that has averaged just 18.7 points in that span after scoring 33 per game the first five weeks. Donovan McNabb is having more success running than throwing, and the Eagles are ranked No. 2 in yards rushing.
The Colts have lost three in a row and trailed by three touchdowns in the first half of all those games. RB Edgerrin James (hamstring) will miss his second consecutive game.
Kansas City (4-4) at San Francisco (6-2)
Two of the NFL’s top rushing offenses meet. The 49ers go for their sixth victory in seven games and a firmer hold on the NFC West lead. They survived an emotional overtime game against Oakland last week by keeping their inconsistent defense off the field for 15 straight minutes at the end.
They’ll get no such break against Kansas City, led by NFL rushing leader Priest Holmes, and the Chiefs’ high-scoring offense. Perhaps only the possibility of rain on Candlestick Point will keep down the scoring.
Houston (2-6) at Tennessee (4-4)
The first meeting between the ex-Houston Oilers, now the Titans, and the team that replaced them. But the changeover in personnel since the Oilers relocated in 1997 means it’s mainly the fans who want bragging rights.
More important to the Titans is matching their four-game skid by winning their fourth straight. Houston handed Cincinnati its first win one week after the expansion Texans got their first road victory at Jacksonville.
Washington (4-4) at Jacksonville (3-5)
Redskins quarterback Shane Matthews is one of five former Florida players – plus coach Steve Spurrier – coming back to the scene of some of the program’s greatest success. Matthews threw nine touchdowns and no interceptions in three games against Georgia in Jacksonville.
The other ex-Gators are Danny Wuerffel, Jacquez Green, Willie Jackson and Chris Doering, a five-year veteran who made his first touchdown catch two weeks ago.
The Jaguars are beleaguered by injuries. RB Fred Taylor (tailbone), DL Marcus Stroud (knee) and CB Fernando Bryant (shoulder) all missed portions of practice. The offensive line lost its second starting tackle in three weeks when Zach Wiegert (knee) went on injured reserve.
New England (4-4) at Chicago (2-6)
New England showed how to break a losing streak last week, snapping a four-game slide by routing Buffalo and Drew Bledsoe. Antowain Smith had his first 100-yard rushing game of the season to augment one of Tom Brady’s finest games: 310 yards passing and three touchdowns.
One more loss and the Bears equal their longest losing streak since 1997. Jim Miller’s achy shoulder and elbow aren’t much better and neither is Chicago’s running game, ranked 31st, averaging just over 76 yards. Anthony Thomas, last year’s offensive rookie of the year, is averaging just 3.1 yards per carry.
Detroit (3-5) at Green Bay (7-1)
The Lions are 3-3 with rookie Joey Harrington at quarterback. Detroit turned things around in Harrington’s first start, against the Packers, when he brought the Lions back from a 17-point deficit before falling 37-31. The Lions haven’t won in Green Bay since 1991.
The Packers, four games up in the NFC North, are dealing with a shuffled defensive line. End Vonnie Holliday underwent arthroscopic knee surgery Thursday after his return from a six-week layoff due to a torn chest muscle. Also, DT Cletidus Hunt was fitted with a brace for a right knee injury.
Miami (5-3) at N.Y. Jets (3-5)
The Dolphins snapped an eight-game skid against the Jets in Week 3, but are uncertain at quarterback with Ray Lucas’ damaged shoulder. Jay Fiedler already is out (thumb).
New York had its best effort of the season in routing the Chargers. The defense has a huge task, though, against Ricky Williams.
N.Y. Giants (4-4) at Minnesota (2-6)
Giants coach Jim Fassel took over the play-calling from coordinator Sean Payton, and his offense was efficient in a 24-17 win over Jacksonville. And Minnesota ranks 31st against the pass.
The Vikings haven’t won a road game in four tries, but are a completely different team at the Metrodome. WR Randy Moss had three TDs and 171 yards against New York last year on Monday night.
Seattle (2-6) at Arizona (4-4)
Both teams are banged up, but the Seahawks have had the worst of it in injuries all season. The latest is linebacker Chad Brown (broken right foot), a severe blow to the NFL’s worst defense against the run.
Thomas Jones rushed for a career-best 173 yards in the Cardinals’ victory at Seattle in Week 2. Arizona has lost two in a row.
New Orleans (6-2) at Carolina (3-5)
The Saints finally get Dale Carter back. The four-time Pro Bowl cornerback was reinstated this week after missing eight games for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy.
On offense, the Saints are averaging 32.8 points per game and have scored at least 35 points in three straight games.
Carolina hasn’t scored a touchdown in 11 straight quarters, but hopes the return of quarterback Rodney Peete can fix that. Peete (knee) missed the last two games. Injuries have hurt the defense. LB Dan Morgan (groin) is still out, and his backup, Lester Towns, has a foot injury. DT Brentson Buckner will miss the first of his four-game suspension for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.
Cincinnati (1-7) at Baltimore (3-5)
The Bengals, eager to build on a 38-3 rout of Houston, seek their first win in Baltimore since 1996. They must first end their run of 12 straight scoreless quarters on the road against the Ravens. Cincinnati’s last score in Baltimore was a 67-yard touchdown catch by Carl Pickens in 1998.
Jeff Blake, who threw the pass to Pickens, is now starting for the Ravens.