Marc Bulger hit Kevin Curtis for a 5 yard TD pass with 27 seconds left in the football game to seal a victory for the Rams.

Marc Bulger completed 23 of 34 passes for 201 yards with 1 TD and 1 INT.  Steven Jackson played a great game as he carried the ball 23 times for 121 yards (5.3 ypc) and a TD.  He also caught 9 passes for 71 yards.  Stephen Davis carried the ball 5 times for 25 yards.  Isaac Bruce (6 rec, 63 yards), Kevin Curtis (3 rec, 41 yards, TD) and Torry Holt (4 rec, 30 yards) each pitched in on the passing game.

The defense was horrible against the Niners running game.  The Niners carried the ball 31 times for 171 yards (5.5 ypc).   The Rams played good pass defense as the Niners completed only 13 of 25 passes for 148 net yards thru the air.

The Rams really needed this win as it improved them to 5-6 on the season.

 

The Niners are on a roll as they’ve won three games in a row.  The Niners have done it by running the football on offense and playing great defense.  The Niners have only allowed 30 total points in their last three games.  The Rams have lost five games in a row and look like a sinking ship.

The Niners will keep going with what has been working and give the ball to Frank Gore.  Gore rushed for 212 yards last week and now has 1,043 yards on the season.  The Rams will have big problems trying to stop Gore as they have allowed 153.2 yards rushing and 5.2 yards per carry.  Look for Alex Smith to run some play-action after Gore has established the running game for the Niners.  Antonio Bryant and Arnaz Battle should have success against the Rams defense as long as Smith has time to throw the ball.  Leonard Little already has 10 sacks this season and will be coming full bore after Smith.

The Rams will look to establish their running game early with Steven Jackson (811 yards rushing) against the Niners run defense which is allowing 113.9 yards rushing per game and 4.2 yards per carry.  The Rams are still a passing team and as long as Marc Bulger has time, he will have a good game.  The Niners are allowing 222.7 net yards passing per game so the Rams should have some success throwing the ball.  Torry Holt (59 rec, 765 yards), Isaac Bruce and RB Steven Jackson should have some success Sunday.

This should be a good football game.  The Rams already beat the Niners once this season (20-13 in SF).  The 49ers are rolling but the Rams are at home, so this game could go either way.
 

The Rams didn’t play well on offense or defense as they got shut down by the Panthers yesterday.  Marc Bulger was sacked 7 times (one for a safety) and the Rams only possessed the football for 21:17 of the football game.

Marc Bulger was under attack all day long.  He managed to complete 19 of 34 passes for 142 yards and a INT.  Steven Jackson carried the ball 7 times for 27 yards (3.9 ypc) and caught 7 passes for 30 yards.  Torry Holt had a decent game with 7 catches for 68 yards.

The defense couldn’t stop the Panthers from running the football.  The Panthers ran for 242 yards on 43 carries (5.6 ypc).  The Panthers completed 13 of 26 passes for 169 net yards passing.

What a dismal performance for a team that is starting to resemble a sinking ship at 4-6.

The Rams are in a complete free-fall as they have lost 4 games in a row.  The Panthers are looking to build on their victory last Monday Night over the Bucs.

The Rams will likely air it out to their best players, Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce as long as they can keep the Panthers off of Marc Bulger.  That could be easier said than done with Orlando Pace out for the season.  If the Rams get the passing game going, then look for them to pound Steven Jackson at the interior of the Panthers defense.

Look for the Panthers to try to run the ball alot more than usual this week because the Rams can’t stop the run.  The Rams allow 143.3 yards rushing and 5.1 yards per carry so far this season.  As soon as the Panthers establish the running game, look for Jake Delhomme to run alot of play-action passes.  Steve Smith should be able to get open deep against the Rams, with Keyshawn Johnson handling the short stuff.

The Panthers should win this football game, as the Rams have been reeling this season after a strong start.

The Rams lost Orlando Pace (torn triceps) and Travis Fisher (broken arm) for the remainder of the season as both players were placed in the Injured Reserve list.  Rookie Tye Hill will start in Fisher’s place.  These injuries will really hurt the Rams down the stretch as they try to make a playoff run.