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Jackson, Rams holds off 49ers

Nov 19, 2007 - 1:51 AM By Tom Kent PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

SAN FRANCISCO (Ticker) - The St. Louis Rams have some company at the bottom of the division.

Steven Jackson rushed for 92 yards and Marc Bulger threw for a score as the Rams defeated the San Francisco 49ers, 13-9, on Sunday.

The Rams, who snapped a franchise-high eight-game losing streak to start the season with a 37-29 victory over the New Orleans Saints last week, tied their division rival for last place in the NFC West.

"We learn as a team and are growing as a team," St. Louis coach Scott Linehan said. "We still have only two wins, but it's our first division win, and we have another opportunity against Seattle next week."

Bulger, who was sacked six times by San Francisco in week two's loss to San Francisco, and suffered two broken ribs in the defeat, completed 21-of-32 passes for 155 yards and a score.

"Any time you get a win it's special," Bulger said. "Especially winning two after losing eight in a row. Next week we have Seattle, who is in first, so hopefully we can keep this momentum going against them."

On their first possession of the game, the Rams put together a nine-play, 79-yard drive that culminated in a 3-yard touchdown pass from Bulger to Torry Holt.

"Our offense was effective early," Bulger said. "After a while they started to get to me, but we were still able to play well enough to win."

Jeff Wilkins connected on field goals of 49 and 35 yards for the Rams, who won their second straight and remain alive in the playoff hunt in possibly the league's worst division.

San Francisco entered with the league's worst offense, managing just 1967 total yards in nine games and averaging a league low 11.6 points.

Trent Dilfer, who was filling in for injured starter Alex Smith, was hoping to ignite the stagnant offense. He was ineffective however, passing for just 231 yards on 20-of-41 passing with an interception.

"We aren't finishing plays," Dilfer said. "I thought it was a well-called game and we gave the defense a lot of different looks, but the execution was not there. More than anything, all of us need to finish plays to be effective."

Dilfer drove San Francisco to the Rams 21-yard line with three seconds left, but was intercepted in the end zone by free safety O.J. Atogwe.

"Our coach told us to guard the goal line and let them catch anything in front of us," Atogwe said. "We were just trying to keep them out of the end zone and I was fortunate enough to be in the right spot and make the play."

Smith, who suffered a separated right shoulder on September 30, against the Seattle Seahawks, revealed earlier in the week that he was still hampered by the injury, which prompted Niners coach Mike Nolan to go with Dilfer.

San Francisco has now dropped eight straight games after winning their first two. The loss marks just the second time since the 1999 season that the 49ers have dropped eight consecutive contests in a season.

"We made changes all through this eight week stretch," Nolan said. "We will continue to do that. We have been ineffective, especially on offense, and we're going to continue to work hard to get better and fight our way out of this."

Niners running back Frank Gore, who rushed for a franchise high 1,695 yards last season, managed just 32 yards on 15 carries. He has not had a 100-yard game this season.