Final
Rams look to ride momentum into opener against Panthers
Sep 9, 2007 - 10:27 AM Carolina (7-9) at St Louis (8-8) Sunday 1:00 pm EDTST. LOUIS (Ticker) -- The St. Louis Rams have reason to be upbeat after closing the 2006 season with three consecutive victories.
In their second year under coach Scott Linehan, the Rams host the Carolina Panthers in Sunday's season opener.
Both squads qualified as major disappointments last season, with each failing to make the playoffs.
A woeful defense and a midseason five-game losing streak - capped by a 15-0 loss to the Panthers - doomed St. Louis, which allowed 381 points, the fifth-highest total in the league.
St. Louis' defense does not appear to be appreciably better this season, with the exception of rookie defensive end Adam Carriker, the 13th overall pick.
The Rams did rebound to win their final three and, while not matching the "Greatest Show on Turf" offensive exploits of the Mike Martz era, they did outscore the opposition, 98-52, in that closing stretch.
The key components in the offense return. Quarterback Marc Bulger threw for 4,301 yards and had 24 touchdown passes vs. only eight interceptions. Torry Holt (93 receptions, 10 TDs) and ageless Isaac Bruce (74/3) return at the wide receiver spots.
Running back Steven Jackson is coming off a monster season, one good enough to evoke memories of Marshall Faulk. Jackson scored a total of 16 touchdowns, rushing for 1,508 yards and catching 90 passes for another 806 yards.
The Panthers had just the opposite problems of the Rams. Touted as a Super Bowl contender, Carolina managed just 270 points - second-worst in the NFC - despite the presence of arguably the game's best receiver in Steve Smith.
The main culprits for the offensive woes were an inefficient running game that produced a mere seven rushing touchdowns and the inconsistent play of quarterback Jake Delhomme.
Two seasons removed from leading the Panthers to the Super Bowl, Delhomme's touchdown passes have dwindled from a career-high 29 in 2004 to 24 in 2005 and down to 17 last season.
Carolina still has plenty of high-profile talent on defense, led by Pro Bowlers Kris Jenkins and Julius Peppers, who collected 13.5 sacks last season.
That unit, however, faltered badly down the stretch, allowing 108 points during a four-game losing streak that dashed the Panthers' postseason hopes.
- NFL
FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
CAROLINA 7 0 7 13 27
ST LOUIS 7 3 3 0 13 FINAL
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST QUARTER: CAR - TD, DREW CARTER 10 YD PASS FROM JAKE
DELHOMME (JOHN KASAY KICK), 5:40.
Drive: 9 plays, 78 yards in 5:40.
Key plays: Delhomme 11-yard pass to
Smith to Carolina 30; 29-yard
pass-interfer
Sep 9 4:09 PM - NFL
TD CAR
DREW CARTER 9 YD PASS FROM JAKE DELHOMME
(JOHN KASAY KICK)
CAROLINA 24
ST LOUIS 13 7:15 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Panthers vs. RamsSep 9 3:40 PM - NFL
END, 3RD QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
CAROLINA 7 0 7 14
ST LOUIS 7 3 3 13 END, 3RD QTR
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST QUARTER: CAR - TD, DREW CARTER 10 YD PASS FROM JAKE
DELHOMME (JOHN KASAY KICK), 5:40.
Drive: 9 plays, 78 yards in 5:40.
Key plays: Delhomme 11-yard pass to
Smith to Carolina 30; 29-yard
pass-i
Sep 9 3:17 PM - NFL
TD CAR
STEVE SMITH 68 YD PASS FROM JAKE DELHOMME
(JOHN KASAY KICK)
CAROLINA 14
ST LOUIS 13 8:33 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Panthers vs. RamsSep 9 2:55 PM - NFL
FG STL
JEFF WILKINS 42 YD
CAROLINA 7
ST LOUIS 10 0:00 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Sep 9 2:26 PM - NFL
END, 1ST QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
CAROLINA 7 7
ST LOUIS 7 7 END, 1ST QTR
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST QUARTER: CAR - TD, DREW CARTER 10 YD PASS FROM JAKE
DELHOMME (JOHN KASAY KICK), 5:40.
Drive: 9 plays, 78 yards in 5:40.
Key plays: Delhomme 11-yard pass to
Smith to Carolina 30; 29-yard
pass-i
Sep 9 1:36 PM - NFL
TD STL
TORRY HOLT 3 YD PASS FROM MARC BULGER
(JEFF WILKINS KICK)
CAROLINA 7
ST LOUIS 7 2:00 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Panthers vs. RamsSep 9 1:27 PM - NFL
TD CAR
DREW CARTER 10 YD PASS FROM JAKE DELHOMME
(JOHN KASAY KICK)
CAROLINA 7
ST LOUIS 0 9:20 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Panthers vs. RamsSep 9 1:12 PM
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