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Winless Rams face Cardinals

Oct 7, 2007 - 10:29 AM Arizona (2-2) at St Louis (0-4) Sunday 1:00 pm EDT

ST. LOUIS (Ticker) - The reeling St. Louis Rams aim for their first win of the season Sunday when they face NFC West rival Arizona Cardinals.

Expected to contend for a playoff berth in coach Scott Linehan's second season, the Rams are one of three winless teams along with the Miami Dolphins (0-4) and New Orleans Saints (0-3).

Looking for a spark, Linehan has decided to bench starting quarterback Marc Bulger in place of fellow veteran Gus Frerotte.

According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Linehan told Bulger that he will sit for one or two weeks. Playing with a pair of broken ribs, Bulger has compiled just a 64.9 rating this season.

Injuries have contributed to the slow start for the Rams, who have not finished any game this season with the same starting five offensive linemen.

Pro Bowl running back Steven Jackson will miss his second straight game with a groin tear. The Rams also are expected to be without veteran wide receiver Isaac Bruce, who has a hamstring injury.

Due to all the injuries, the Rams have gone 30 possessions without an offensive touchdown.

"We're looking for solutions," Linehan said. "What do you want me to say? We haven't scored, we haven't executed, we've played poorly on offense."

The Rams are 0-4 for the first time since 2002, when they opened with five straight losses.

In Ken Whisenhunt's first season as coach, the Cardinals are looking for their first winning record after four games since they were 3-2 in 2002. They finished 5-11 that campaign.

Whisenhunt continued to play his two quarterbacks - Matt Leinart and Kurt Warner - in last Sunday's 21-14 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Warner was the more effective of the two, completing 14-of-21 passes for 132 yards and a touchdown. Leinart went 7-of-14 for 93 yards.

The teams split two meetings last season, each winning on the road.