| |
RECAP
|
BOX SCORE
ATLANTA (AP) -- Kurt Warner did it again, this time to the
Atlanta Falcons.
|  | | Isaac Bruce had a pair of TD receptions for the Rams on Sunday. |
Warner threw four touchdown passes Sunday, including two to
Torry Holt of 85 and 80 yards, and the unbeaten St. Louis Rams beat
the Atlanta 41-20 and scored 30 or more points for an NFL-record
10th consecutive regular-season game.
Warner also threw a pair of TD passes to Isaac Bruce of 14 and
66 yards as the Rams (4-0) increased their scoring average to 40
points.
Warner has already had huge games this season against San
Francisco (41-24), Seattle (37-34) and Denver (41-36), throwing for
1,221 yards and six TDs.
"We know that we can score whenever we get the ball," Warner
said.
It was the 12th time in 19 games that Warner has thrown for more
than 300 yards. He completed 12 of 19 passes for 336 yards and an
interception.
"We didn't get a lot of shots, but we took advantage of them
when we did get them," Warner said of his scoring passes to Holt.
"He did a great job. We gave him some chances one-on-one and he
took care of the rest."
The Rams, averaging 400.3 yards through the air and 506 total
yards, wound up with 395 total yards against the Falcons (2-2).
"They're the world champs," Falcons linebacker Keith Brooking
said. "You can't make mistakes like we made.
The Rams defense, which was ranked 30th -- next to last -- in the
NFL coming into the game, pitched in with eight sacks -- three by
right end Grant Wistrom -- two interceptions and two fumble
recoveries, including a 94-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown by
safety Keith Lyle. The fumble by Jamal Anderson gave him five this
season, and he has lost a league-high three.
|
TOM DONAHOE'S BREAKDOWN |
|
Once again, Atlanta had difficulty trying to find a way to stop the Rams offense.
Kurt Warner continued his unbelievable play this year with four touchdown passes -- including three long TDs (66, 85 and 80 yards). The Falcons, meanwhile, were victimized by turnovers. They were in this game early but Chris Chandler threw two interceptions -- which is uncharacteristic for him -- and Atlanta also fumbled twice. One fumble was returned 97 yards by Rams safety Keith Lyle for a touchdown.
The Rams defense, which has been maligned this year, played better. They came up with eight quarterback sacks and, for the second straight week, gave up only seven points in the second half.
St. Louis continues on an unreal roll. This is 10 straight games in which they've scored at least 30 points.
The Falcons came in thinking they had enough to slow the Rams offense, but it was a disappointing day for them.
|
St. Louis, which last played at the Georgia Dome in January when
they defeated the Tennessee Titans 23-16 to win the Super Bowl,
took control late in the second quarter when Warner teamed with
Holt on the 80-yard TD pass and run, stunning the Falcons and
quieting the home crowd of 58,761 -- more than 12,000 less than
capacity -- for a 17-10 lead.
"It was a blessing from the sky," Holt said. "I put my lucky
shirt on (the one he wore in the Super Bowl _ the only other time
he's worn it) and I was able to make some plays for us."
Warner, who helped the Rams embarrass the Falcons 35-7 and 41-13
last season, was 8-for-13 for 168 yards in the opening half. He
connected with Holt on a pass of 12 yards to the 32, and when
cornerback Ashley Ambrose missed the tackle, Holt sprinted down the
sideline the rest of the way for the go-ahead TD.
Warner threw a 14-yard TD pass to Bruce earlier in the second
quarter, and Jeff Wilkins booted a 30-yard field goal in the
opening quarter.
The Rams made it 24-13 only 3:02 into the third period when Lyle
picked up Anderson's fumble and scored his first-ever NFL
touchdown. Only 2:25 later, it was 27-13 on another Wilkins'
30-yard field goal after Atlanta's Darrick Vaughn fumbled the
kickoff at the Atlanta 21.
The Rams made it 34-13 3:05 into the final period when Holt beat
Ambrose again, this time down the middle on the 85-yard TD,
catching the ball on the Falcons 33 and going in untouched again.
The Falcons scored on their next possession on a 37-yard pass
from Chandler to Reggie Kelly before Warner and Bruce teamed up on
the 66-yard score. Bruce beat Ray Buchanan down the sideline,
catching the ball on the Falcons 20 before going in for the score.
The Falcons closed to 17-13 at the half on a 45-yard field goal
from Morten Andersen as the clock ran out. He also booted a
37-yarder 2:37 earlier to tie the game at 10.
Atlanta scored first on a 3-yard run by Anderson in the opening
minutes after a botched punt return by the Rams when the ball
bounced off Dexter McCleon's helmet and was recovered by Atlanta.
Game
notes
The Rams' Kevin Carter had his string of 83 consecutive
starts broken. The defensive end was disciplined for missing
practice Wednesday. Carter came off the bench and recorded his
second sack of the season. ... Chandler threw his first
interception of the season in the first quarter,ending a streak of
149 attempts without a theft. ... Three St. Louis defenders left in
the second half with injuries and did not return, LB Todd Collins
(ankle), CB Todd Lyght (hamstring) and FS Keith Lyle (hip). Their
status for next week was undetermined.
| |
ALSO SEE
NFL Scoreboard
St. Louis Clubhouse
Atlanta Clubhouse
|
