What’s wrong with the St. Louis Rams? Not everything. Just
almost everything.

After nearly making the playoffs last season, the Rams were
supposed to take a big step forward this season.

Sam Bradford was supposed to become a Pro Bowl quarterback. Steve
Spagnuolo was set to take a post as one of the best coaches in the
game. St. Louis was ready to embrace football again.

Never has a season gone from flying high to crashing and burning
with one play, especially when that one play was the first
offensive play of the season.

In Week 1, Steven Jackson broke through for a 47-yard touchdown.
The Edward Jones Dome was rocking.

SJax’s lightning strike seemed to ignite a fire that would burn
straight into the playoffs. Instead, he ran the ball once more in
that game and left with a leg injury.

It wasn’t until Week 5 he was back to full strength, and by then,
it was too late.

The 49ers were already running away with the division, and St.
Louis had no wins.

Rams fans shouldn’t overreact though. This is football. Injuries
happen. They happen a lot. Unfortunately for St. Louis, the Rams
have had a ton.

Here’s some of the players who are on injured reserve: Danny
Amendola, Ron Bartell, Al Harris, Michael Hoomanawanui, Rodger
Saffold, Greg Salas and Jason Smith.

Saffold and Smith are anchors of the offensive line. Amendola is
the top receiver and punt returner. Harris and Bartell are the best
cornerbacks. Salas was supposed to help the receiving corps.
Hoomanawanui is one of the team’s top tight ends.

On top of that, Bradford has missed time. And like every team, many
others have missed games.

With all these injuries after a lockout-shortened offseason with a
new offense, the 2-9 record is more understandable.

The Rams had a tough nonconference schedule, which included losses
to the Packers, Giants, Cowboys and Ravens. That’s three, maybe
four, playoff teams.

They’ve also lost to the Eagles, Redskins, Cardinals (twice) and
Seahawks.

The point is this: Don’t give up on a return to glory. It’s
obviously just not coming as soon as we thought.

Spagnuolo is still the right coach. Bradford can still be a star
quarterback. Jackson is still a star running back. There are good
pieces all over the field.

The Rams still need a big playmaker. Even with Brandon Lloyd in the
fray, they still need another deep threat or two.

This season has been a combination of factors leading up to a very
disappointing record, and it may not get much better. St. Louis
finishes with the 49ers, improving Seahawks, Bengals, Steelers and
49ers again.

With a solid draft and a free agent move or two, the Rams should be
everyone’s dark horse again next season. Let’s just hope they can
avoid the injury bug and live up to the hype.

JEFF WILSON is the chief copy editor at The Southern Illinoisan.
He can be reached at 618-529-5454, ext. 5176 or
jeff.wilson@thesouthern.com.

The St. Louis Rams and the San Francisco 49ers are set to renew their age-old NFL rivalry in the Bay Area on Sunday.

Both teams have been among the biggest surprises in the league this season—the Rams for their ineptitude with Sam Bradford under center, the Niners for their excellence under first-year head coach Jim Harbaugh.

San Fran has all but locked up the NFC West title, but don’t expect that to take away from the fire that burns between these two foes.

Where: Candlestick Park, San Francisco

When: Sunday, December 4th, at 4:15 p.m. EST

Watch: FOX

Spread: 49ers -13.5 (according to sportsbook.com)

Take the spread here. Only three of San Fran’s nine wins have come by double digits this season. The Rams have a good enough running game to keep this one within striking distance.

Over/Under: 38 points (according to sportsbook.com)

Go with the under. These two teams combine to score fewer than 37 points per game and neither has the sort of firepower needed to light up the scoreboard on Sunday.

Key Injuries:

The Rams may be without star quarterback Sam Bradford and defensive end Chris Long, both of whom have missed practice time this week and are listed as questionable for Week 13 on account of ankle injuries.

The Niners receiving corps could be missing one of its key components if Braylon Edwards, who did not participate in practice on Friday, has to sit out to nurse his injured knee.

Fantasy Big Plays:

START: Frank Gore, RB, San Francisco 49ers

The Rams defense ranks last in the NFL in rushing yards per game allowed—a measure of mediocrity bolstered and confirmed by Beanie Wells’ 228-yard day last weekend. Gore is a better back with a better offensive line playing in a much more ground-oriented offense.

In other words, expect Gore to approach, if not fly right past, the 20-point plateau on Sunday.

SIT: Steven Jackson, RB, St. Louis Rams

Don’t be fooled by Bradford’s bum ankle into thinking Steven Jackson will have a big day against the Niners. Sure, Jackson will have every opportunity to run.

It’s just not a friendly defense to run against. San Fran ranks first in the league in rushing yards allowed and hasn’t given up a touchdown on the ground all season. Don’t think that will change just because St. Louis is in town.

Keys to Rams Win:

St. Louis needs to do everything it can to keep the ball away from Frank Gore, lest the Rams subject their defense to humiliation on down after agonizing down. The best way to do that, of course, is to pound the rock with Steven Jackson.

That won’t be easy, seeing as how the Niners are tops in the NFL against the run, but unless Bradford proves healthy enough to be effective, it’s the only chance the Rams have have.

Key to 49ers Win:

The Niners need only do what they’ve been doing all season—run the ball on offense, stop the run on defense and limit their mistakes—to come out on top in this one. Frank Gore should have plenty of room to roam against the Rams’ defense—more than enough to make the game a runaway for San Fran.

Prediction: 49ers 20, Rams 10

The 49ers have the defense to shut the Rams down, but lack the explosion on offense to turn this one into an absolute laugher. Still, this one won’t feel close whatsoever, even if the scoreboard suggests otherwise.

Steven Jackson and the Rams offense were at their best during the three-game stretch against the Saints, Cardinals and Browns. The Rams went 2-1 during those games and Jackson was the main reason why.

In those games, Jackson averaged 27 carries for an average of 139 rushing yards per contest.

In the last two games, both Rams losses, Jackson has had 15 and 17 carries for 42 and 64 yards, respectively.

That’s not enough. In order for the Rams to compete with the 49ers they must run the ball well and control the clock. Jackson may not get to 100 yards against the NFL’s top-ranked rush defense, but by giving him 25-plus carries the Rams best utilize the weapons they have.

Wells had 228 yards on 27 carries and a touchdown in only his third career 100-yard game and Peterson became the fourth player in league history with four punt returns for a touchdown in a season in a 23-20 victory on Sunday.

“The kid’s amazing,” Wells said of Peterson. “I mean, he’s a beast.”

Wells broke loose for 71 and 53 yards and rebounded after his fumble led to the tying score for St. Louis. The 53-yarder came on the possession after his turnover and set up Jay Feely’s go-ahead 22-yard field goal with 4:12 remaining.

Wells aggravated a lingering right knee injury on the fumble, but couldn’t wait to get back out there. He set the record with a 14-yard gain to the Rams 34 on the game’s next-to-last play to help secure the Cardinals’ third win in four weeks.

The lone regret? Not going the distance on either of his long carries.

“I blame it on my knee brace,” Wells said with a laugh. “I’ve got a big old offensive lineman’s knee brace.”

Rookie Sam Acho also had a career day on defense with two sacks and a fumble recovery.

Arizona (4-7) overcame another awful outing from John Skelton, who made his fourth straight start in place of injured Kevin Kolb and was 12 for 23 for 114 yards and two interceptions.

Skelton didn’t mind that the Rams seemed to be most interested in stopping the pass.

“You’re always going to have ups and downs, but I don’t think anybody lost confidence in the offense,” Skelton said. “Beanie had a great day and a lot of it goes to him for working hard.”

Brandon Lloyd’s 16-yard TD catch from Sam Bradford tied it at 20 midway through the fourth quarter. Nick Miller had an 88-yard punt return for a touchdown in the first for the Rams (2-9) only three days after he re-signed with the team.

The Rams juggled their offensive line to little effect, sliding guard Harvey Dahl to tackle, shifting Adam Goldberg to left tackle and inserting Jason Brown at guard two games after Brown lost his center job. Steven Jackson was limited to 64 yards with a 3.8-yard average and Bradford passed for 203 yards.

Peterson’s 99-yard punt return stunned the Rams in overtime three weeks ago in Arizona and he was untouched on an 80-yard return in the third quarter, dodging just a few tacklers before finding clear sailing to put Arizona up 20-10. St. Louis coach Steve Spagnuolo had vowed that the rookie would not beat the Rams again and Donnie Jones did a good job of directional punting except for one effort.

“We got bit again,” Spagnuolo said.

Peterson is the fourth player with four punt returns in a season and the first in NFL history with four returns of 80-plus yards. The cornerback from LSU was the fifth pick in the draft.

Wells was an even bigger factor, eclipsing the previous franchise mark of 214 yards by LeShon Johnson in 1996 at New Orleans. In the earlier meeting against the Rams, Wells had just 20 yards on 10 carries.

Arizona Cardinals
quarterback
John Skelton
led his struggling club to its first win streak this season while filling in for an injured
Kevin Kolb
. A miserable performance from Skelton, however, helped bring that run to an end last week.

If Kolb is unavailable again, Skelton will likely get the chance to bounce back while helping the Cardinals top the St. Louis
Rams for the second time this month Sunday.

Skelton was elevated to the starting role when Kolb developed turf toe in his right foot following Arizona’s loss Oct. 30
in Baltimore. The second-year quarterback from Fordham made his initial appearance in place of Kolb on Nov. 6 against St.
Louis and threw the tying touchdown pass with 4:51 left in the fourth quarter.

Patrick Peterson
ended the Cardinals’ lengthy skid by with a 99-yard punt return in overtime. Following that 19-13 win, Skelton had a career-high
315 yards and three TD passes in a 21-17 victory at Philadelphia, Kolb’s former team.

Skelton, though, couldn’t keep that momentum going last week in San Francisco, where he went 6 of 19 for 99 yards and was
benched following a third interception late in the third quarter. Arizona (3-7) turned the ball over a season-worst five times
in the 23-7 defeat.

“John played like a rookie,” coach Ken Whisenhunt told the team’s website. “He’s a young football player, and he’s going to
have his ups and downs.”

Despite Skelton’s struggles, Whisenhunt said he will start again should Kolb’s status remain unchanged. Kolb went through
a substantial practice for the first time since his injury Wednesday.

“We’ve go to get better at making sure (Skelton) won’t struggle,” the Arizona coach said.

Another matchup with the Rams (2-8) might help the Cardinals and Skelton, who was 20 of 35 for 222 yards in the previous meeting.
Arizona has won nine of 10 matchups and is seeking its seventh consecutive win at the Edward Jones Dome.

The Cardinals forced
Sam Bradford
to throw a career-worst three interceptions in their 17-13 win in St. Louis last season, and the Rams’ young quarterback enters
this game following his own miserable performance.

Bradford fumbled twice, was picked off once and sacked five times during a 24-7 loss to Seattle. The Rams were limited to
185 yards, their second-lowest total this season, and
Steven Jackson
was held to 42 yards on 15 carries after topping 125 in three consecutive games.

“I’m beyond frustrated right now,” Bradford said. “I’ve never been on a team that has been in this situation. I don’t like
it. I hope this is the only time in my career that I’m ever in a situation like this.”

Jackson might fare a little better against the Cardinals, who won’t have starting nose tackle
Dan Williams
for the rest of the season because of a broken left arm. The Rams running back has averaged 107.3 yards over his last four
matchups with Arizona but has scored only two touchdowns.

One of those TDs, however, came in a 19-6 victory at Arizona on Dec. 5.

Jackson, though, won’t have starting tackle
Rodger Saffold
to help open holes. He’s on injured reserve after undergoing surgery for an ailing pectoral muscle, and fellow starting tackle

Jason Smith
‘s status remains unknown because of a concussion.

The Rams used practice squad call-up
Kevin Hughes
in last week’s game after replacement tackle
Mark LeVoir
also hurt his pectoral muscle. LeVoir is expected to miss at least the next two games.

“Timing is really important on offense and we haven’t had a lot of that with the same 11 guys. You have to fight through that,”
coach Steve Spagnuolo said.

The Cardinals are also dealing with a potential injury on their offensive line. Whisenhunt said right tackle
Brandon Keith
has a concussion and will be evaluated throughout the week to see if he can play Sunday.

Read More: John Skelton (QB – ARI), Patrick Peterson (CB – ARI), Sam Acho (LB – ARI), Arizona Cardinals, Arizona Cardinals at St. Louis Rams, Nov 27, 2011 11:00 AM MST

Beanie Wells set a franchise record with 228 yards rushing on a day that saw the Arizona Cardinals beat the Rams for the seventh-straight time in St. Louis. The Cardinals fell behind early and struggled through a poor game by QB John Skelton but improve to 4-7 on the season thanks to Wells’ big day, solid defense and a record-tying fourth punt return touchdown from Patrick Peterson.

The Cardinals defense was led by a very good game by rookie OLB Sam Acho, who recorded two sacks (five on the season) and forced two fumbles. ILB Daryl Washington continues to impress and the defensive line playing without starting NT Dan Williams (broken arm) held the Rams Steven Jackson to just 64 yards on 17 carries.

It wasn’t a pretty game offensively from either team as both quarterbacks struggled to convert third downs and score in the red zone. Sam Bradford was the better of the two, going 17-31 for 203 yards and one touchdown. John Skelton looked extremely inaccurate early, threw two picks and went 12-23 for 114 yards.

This game was clearly won on the ground and in the trenches. The Cardinals ran for a total of 268 yards compared to 86 for the Rams. Wells had a 71-yard run in the first quarter that got the Cardinals into the red zone and produced three points. He replicated that in the fourth with a 53-yard run (video below) that broke a 20-20 tie.

Both teams recorded seven points off punt return touchdowns. The Rams Nick Miller ran one back 88 yards in the first quarter and Patrick Peterson got his fourth of the year in the third (video here).

The Cardinals complete a three-game series of road games going 2-1 and are now 3-1 in games started by John Skelton (despite his poor play). Arizona will now be home for four of their last five games of the season starting with the Dallas Cowboys next week.

For more on the game, visit Revenge of the Birds blog.

The wide receivers are having trouble getting open, and when they have gotten open, dropped passes and errant throws, some born of pressure, have prevented the team from capitalizing consistently.

Running back Steven Jackson remains the Rams’ best player on offense, but instead of building the game plan around him Sunday, coaches regularly removed him from the backfield altogether, conceding they could not run against Seattle. Turns out they couldn’t pass agains the Seahawks, either. Their lone touchdown came when a Seattle communication error led the Seahawks to play the wrong coverage.

The Rams take a 2-8 record into their final six games. They are down to their third-string left tackle. They have benched their veteran center. They are close to placing right tackle Jason Smith, their 2009 first-round pick, on injured reserve amid mounting evidence they’re no worse without him.

St. Louis has scored 120 points in 10 games, and that includes 11 points scored by the defense. Quarterback Sam Bradford has taken nearly as many sacks in eight starts this season (31) as he took in 16 starts last season (34). That reflects protection issues as well as the team’s stronger emphasis on looking for big plays down the field.

Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels went into this season excited to install an offense that would allow the team to alter its approach dramatically from week to week, based on the opponent. One consequence, however, is that the team lacks a core identity on offense. Even the success Jackson has enjoyed on the ground has come largely on shotgun runs — manufactured yardage, not the kind generated through traditional run blocking.

Coach Steve Spagnuolo offered no solutions during his news conference with reporters Monday. If the Rams had answers, of course, we’d see different results on the field. For now, it’s looking like the team is headed toward an offseason overhaul of its offensive line and whatever changes ownership might demand.

I’ve put together a chart comparing the Rams’ scoring average this season to those for McDaniels’ past teams.

AP Photo/Seth Perlman

Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch, right, runs for a 5-yard gain as St. Louis Rams safety Darian Stewart, left, defends during the third quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2011, in St. Louis. The Rams won 24-7.

The first quarter made Pete Carroll wince. Soon enough, the Seattle Seahawks coach was smiling.
In the first eight or so minutes, the St. Louis Rams had two interceptions, a blocked punt and their first touchdown in the opening quarter since the season opener.
“We came out and played so miserably,” Carroll said.
The Rams (2-8) had only seven points, though. The rest of the way was all Seattle, especially on defense, in a 24-7 victory on Sunday. The misery was on the other side of the field.
“Nobody wavered at all, nobody lost their minds on it, nobody got down in the dumps about it, and you could just feel it change,” Carroll said. “You knew it was a matter of time before we got on top of this thing and got going.”
Chris Clemons had three of the Seahawks’ five sacks and two forced fumbles on Sam Bradford, both of them leading to touchdowns. Seattle shut down Steven Jackson, too.
The Rams managed just 185 yards, Seattle’s best showing and St. Louis’ second-worst.
“We just have to keep fighting and get ready for the next opponent,” Jackson said. “Try to do a little more film study or whatever it is that’s called upon you. Continue to fight, that’s really what it is at this point.”
Wide receiver Sidney Rice provided early flash for Seattle (4-6), completing a 55-yard option pass to open the game, catching a touchdown pass and drawing a pass interference call to set up a field goal at the end of the half for a 10-7 lead.
Marshawn Lynch scored for the fourth straight week, although he missed on a third straight 100-yard game, finishing with 88 yards on 27 carries.
“They all don’t start off the way you want them to,” Lynch said. “It’s all a matter of how you finish it.”
Running behind a patchwork line, Jackson was held to 42 yards on 15 carries, ending a run of three straight games of 125 or more yards. The Rams opened without both starting tackles, with Rodger Saffold (pectoral) placed on injured reserve on Saturday and Jason Smith (concussion) out for the fourth straight week. Practice squad callup Kevin Hughes became a regular after fill-in tackle Mark Levoir (pectoral) was hurt in the first half.
Brandon Lloyd’s 30-yard catch was the Rams’ first touchdown in the first quarter since the opener, set up by Quintin Mikell’s interception. That was it for the NFL’s lowest-scoring team, which managed 1 yard or less a dozen times on first down.
“We’re definitely having some issues on our first- and second-down plays and that’s tough, especially with a team like Seattle, they have excellent pass rushers and an excellent secondary,” Lloyd said. “When you get in third and long and short passing situations, then that’s where they thrive.”
The Seahawks won on consecutive weeks for the first time, following up on an upset over Baltimore, and have won 12 of 13 in the series. They improved to 2-4 on the road in a game notable for sloppy play and 19 punts, including a season-high 10 by the Rams’ Donnie Jones.
The Rams’ game plan leaned heavily to four-wideout sets and empty backfields.
“We thought they might run the ball more because Steven Jackson had been running so well the past few games,” Seattle linebacker Leroy Hill said. “But they tried to spread us out and it worked in our favor.”
Lynch scored on a 3-yard run in the third quarter, five plays after Bradford fumbled at the St. Louis 25, and Justin Forsett broke several tackles on a 22-yarder on third-and-11 to clinch it with 4:21 to go. The clincher came three plays after Red Bryant intercepted a pass tipped at the line by Brandon Mebane.
The Rams’ defense kept it close for a while and had four sacks, but the offense never made it to the red zone and crossed the 50 only three times.
Bradford has fumbled nine times this season, six of them resulting in turnovers.
“I’m beyond frustrated right now,” Bradford said. “I’ve never been a part of a team that’s been in this situation. I don’t like it. I’m not going to quit.”
Notes: Rams LB Josh Hull (hamstring) was sidelined early in the first quarter. … WR Mark Clayton had a fair catch on a punt return for St. Louis after Austin Pettis (knee) was hurt in the second half. … Former L.A. Rams QB Vince Ferragamo was introduced on the sideline in the first quarter. … The last Seahawks player to get three sacks was Patrick Kearney Dec. 12, 2007 against Arizona.

“We came out and played so miserably,” Carroll said.

The Rams (2-8) had only seven points, though. The rest of the way was all Seattle, especially on defense, in a 24-7 victory on Sunday. The misery was on the other side of the field.

“Nobody wavered at all, nobody lost their minds on it, nobody got down in the dumps about it, and you could just feel it change,” Carroll said. “You knew it was a matter of time before we got on top of this thing and got going.”

Chris Clemons had three of the Seahawks’ five sacks and two forced fumbles on Sam Bradford, both of them leading to touchdowns. Seattle shut down Steven Jackson, too.

The Rams managed just 185 yards, Seattle’s best showing and St. Louis’ second-worst.

“We just have to keep fighting and get ready for the next opponent,” Jackson said. “Try to do a little more film study or whatever it is that’s called upon you. Continue to fight, that’s really what it is at this point.”

Wide receiver Sidney Rice provided early flash for Seattle (4-6), completing a 55-yard option pass to open the game, catching a touchdown pass and drawing a pass interference call to set up a field goal at the end of the half for a 10-7 lead.

Marshawn Lynch scored for the fourth straight week, although he missed on a third straight 100-yard game, finishing with 88 yards on 27 carries.

“They all don’t start off the way you want them to,” Lynch said. “It’s all a matter of how you finish it.”

Running behind a patchwork line, Jackson was held to 42 yards on 15 carries, ending a run of three straight games of 125 or more yards. The Rams opened without both starting tackles, with Rodger Saffold (pectoral) placed on injured reserve on Saturday and Jason Smith (concussion) out for the fourth straight week. Practice squad callup Kevin Hughes became a regular after fill-in tackle Mark Levoir (pectoral) was hurt in the first half.

Brandon Lloyd’s 30-yard catch was the Rams’ first touchdown in the first quarter since the opener, set up by Quintin Mikell’s interception. That was it for the NFL’s lowest-scoring team, which managed 1 yard or less a dozen times on first down.

“We’re definitely having some issues on our first- and second-down plays and that’s tough, especially with a team like Seattle, they have excellent pass rushers and an excellent secondary,” Lloyd said. “When you get in third and long and short passing situations, then that’s where they thrive.”

The Seahawks won on consecutive weeks for the first time, following up on an upset over Baltimore, and have won 12 of 13 in the series. They improved to 2-4 on the road in a game notable for sloppy play and 19 punts, including a season-high 10 by the Rams’ Donnie Jones.

The Rams’ game plan leaned heavily to four-wideout sets and empty backfields.

“We thought they might run the ball more because Steven Jackson had been running so well the past few games,” Seattle linebacker Leroy Hill said. “But they tried to spread us out and it worked in our favor.”

Lynch scored on a 3-yard run in the third quarter, five plays after Bradford fumbled at the St. Louis 25, and Justin Forsett broke several tackles on a 22-yarder on third-and-11 to clinch it with 4:21 to go. The clincher came three plays after Red Bryant intercepted a pass tipped at the line by Brandon Mebane.

The Rams’ defense kept it close for a while and had four sacks, but the offense never made it to the red zone and crossed the 50 only three times.

Bradford has fumbled nine times this season, six of them resulting in turnovers.

“I’m beyond frustrated right now,” Bradford said. “I’ve never been a part of a team that’s been in this situation. I don’t like it. I’m not going to quit.”

Notes: Rams LB Josh Hull (hamstring) was sidelined early in the first quarter. … WR Mark Clayton had a fair catch on a punt return for St. Louis after Austin Pettis (knee) was hurt in the second half. … Former L.A. Rams QB Vince Ferragamo was introduced on the sideline in the first quarter. … The last Seahawks player to get three sacks was Patrick Kearney Dec. 12, 2007 against Arizona.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

The Seattle Seahawks are headed to St. Louis to take on Steven Jackson and the Rams in what is sure to be a great divisional contest.

The Seahawks (3-6) do not have the win-loss record they would have hoped for, but they boast wins against both the New York Giants and the Baltimore Ravens. Tarvaris Jackson has been underwhelming at the quarterback position, but is starting to get more of his weapons rolling. In particular, Marshawn Lynch is starting to look a little more “beast mode” than he did in the early part of the season.

The Rams (2-7) are a different story. Picked by many to take the next step in 2011, injuries have doomed St. Louis and their talented QB, Sam Bradford, hasn’t been able to overcome. Jackson, however, has been a bright spot, looking healthy and rejuvenated.

Stay tuned as a live blog all of today’s action!

Game starts at 4 p.m. ET on FOX.

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Last January, when the St. Louis Rams played the Seattle Seahawks for the NFC West title, Chris Long wanted to play his best. No regrets, no what ifs.

After the loss, Long was motivated. Not haunted.

“I’m not that type,” Long said. “Some people say, ‘Well, you should be that type.’ That’s why I try to play really hard, so those things I can leave them on the field.”

Set to face the Seahawks for the first time since, that philosophy still applies for a player who’s developed into one of the NFL’s top pass rushers. Although for a much different reason.

Each team is having a stinker of a season.

Seattle (3-6) vs. St. Louis (2-7) long ago was slotted for a late afternoon marquee start. Instead, their total of five wins is the lowest among this week’s matchups.

There’s only so much any one player can do about that.

Long’s play has been a key to the Rams’ surge, most of it on defense, the last few games. Although it’s too late to save a season long gone sour, St. Louis finally bears some resemblance to the team that made a six-victory improvement in Year 2 under coach Steve Spagnuolo.

Since getting manhandled by the Packers and Cowboys by a combined 58-10, the Rams have two wins and an overtime loss. Long got three sacks in an upset over the Saints and is among the league leaders with eight, blossoming as a force against the run, too, in his fourth season since being taken with the second overall pick of the 2009 draft.

The Seahawks lost three of four to start the year, then dropped three of four again. They showed surprising life last week with a 22-17 upset of the Ravens, but are four games behind the 49ers in the West.

Time for a little commiserating from coach Pete Carroll, whose team has also been ravaged by injuries. Carroll referenced the Rams’ brutal early schedule and the Cardinals’ also-ran status.

Carroll thinks the Seahawks are a better team than last year’s 7-9 division champs, just a bit young. Nearly half of the roster is in its first season with the franchise.

“I think we’ve all started slowly, other than the Niners who got off to a racehorse start, and we didn’t,” Carroll said. “So we’ll see what happens. There’s a lot of ball left, a lot of games out there.”

Maybe, if they can keep playing like last week, when they capitalized on three turnovers and Marshawn Lynch’s second straight 100-yard rushing game to beat their second division leader. Besides scoring Seattle’s lone TD, Lynch had four big runs and a first-down catch in the drive that ran out the final 5:52.

“That’s pretty much the way you see the game being won, running out the clock being up like that,” Lynch said. “It just so happened it was against the Ravens. That one is done, now we have to get ready for this one.”

Lynch has consecutive 100-yard games for the first time in his career, a big boost for a run game ranked near the bottom of the NFL.

“He has a nasty stiff-arm and he’s explosive,” Rams middle linebacker James Laurinaitis said. “He’s looking to score every carry.”

And he’s about to go up against the NFL’s worst team against the run, although the Rams have held two of the last three opponents below 100 yards.

The Rams’ Steven Jackson can do Lynch one better. Still bowling over tacklers in his eighth season, the 240-pound Jackson has stepped up in an effort to prevent the season from total collapse, and has three straight 100-yard games.

“Steven Jackson is roaring,” Carroll said.

Though he’s missed most of three games, Jackson is ninth in the NFL with 707 yards rushing and a 5.1-yard average — the best of his career.

“Jack means everything to our offense,” quarterback Sam Bradford said. “When Jack gets rolling, it just makes everything a lot easier for us. “

Not easy enough for Bradford, the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year last season who’s battled injuries and personnel turnover in his second season and is running the NFL’s lowest-scoring offense. Since returning from a high left ankle sprain that sidelined him for two games, Bradford has one TD pass and two interceptions.

Bradford has only four touchdown passes on the year and two of his top anticipated targets are on injured reserve (Danny Amendola) or elsewhere (Mike Sims-Walker, with the Jaguars). But he offers no excuses about what’s been a disappointing year.

“It’s obviously nowhere near where it needs to be,” Bradford said.

The St. Louis Rams entered the week without a victory in the 2011 NFL season, but a strong defensive effort and the running of Steven Jackson led the Rams to a 31-21 upset win over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.

St. Louis took a 17-0 lead into half-time, and the team came out firing in the third quarter and took a 24-0 lead after a 3 yards score by Jackson. The Saints got back into the game after a sack that forced a fumble that was recovered in the end zone by Jonathon Vilma to cut into the lead 24-7.

New Orleans scored their first offensive touchdown on a three yard run by Pierre Thomas with 10:00 remaining in the contest to make the score 24-14, but the Rams defense sealed the victory later in the fourth quarter when safety Darian Stewart intercepted Saints quarterback Drew Brees and returned the pick 27 yards for a touchdown.

Steven Jackson led the Rams with 159 yards rushing and two touchdowns on the afternoon. Jackson also had four receptions for 32 yards and was clearly the vocal leader of the team as they played without starting quarterback Sam Bradford for the second straight week.

The Rams defense played terrific all afternoon and limited the Saints to just 283 yards as they sacked Brees six times and forced two interceptions. The victory was the first of the 2011 NFL season for St. Louis, and the team scored more points on Sunday than they had in their last four losses combined.

The Rams will look to continue their momentum next week as they travel to Arizona to face the Cardinals in an NFC West division game. New Orleans will look to rebound from the stunning defeat at home against division rival Tampa Bay.

After trailing 24-0 with two minutes left in the third quarter, the Saints scored 14 unanswered points but with 3:01 remaining in the game quarterback Drew Brees was intercepted by Darian Stewart, who returned it for a touchdown, crippling any chance the Saints had for a comeback.

“Obviously it’s a disappointing loss and hats off to those guys,” Saints coach Sean Payton said. “I just told the team in this locker room – everyone in there, starting with me, has to be better.”

Brees finished the day completing 30-44 passes for 269 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. With his scoring strike, Brees’ touchdown pass game-streak extended to 35 games, the third longest  streak in NFL history behind only Johnny Unitas (47) and Brett Favre (36).

Running back Pierre Thomas led the Saints in rushing with 23 yards on seven carries and a touchdown.  In his first action of the season, running back Chris Ivory rushed for 18 yards on six carries. Darren Sproles chipped in with 16 yards on six carries.

“We didn’t get the rhythm established that we would have had liked to on offense and I think in the kicking game it certainly was our worst performance of the year to date compared to how we’ve been playing,” Payton said.

Wide receiver Lance Moore had games-highs of eight receptions and 82 yards along with a touchdown. Sproles hauled in six catches for 60 yards.

Defensive end Will Smith led the Saints on defense with five tackles and two sacks for 16 yards and a pass deflection.

Safety Malcolm Jenkins had five tackles and strip-sack that led to a fumble recovery touchdown by linebacker Jonathan Vilma.

Last season’s NFC West race came down to a Week 17 showdown between the
Seattle Seahawks and St. Louis Rams to determine which of those underachieving
teams would win a weak division.

Both teams again sport losing records, but the playoffs almost certainly
seem out of the question in 2011.

The Seahawks and Rams, however, both look to build on victories when they
meet for the first time this season Sunday at the Edward Jones Dome.

The last time these teams met, Seattle scored the only touchdown in a 16-6
home win over St. Louis to clinch the division with a 7-9 record thanks to a
tiebreaker over the Rams, who also finished 7-9.

With San Francisco (8-1) now owning a five-game lead atop the West, neither
the Seahawks (3-6) nor the Rams (2-7) appear playoff bound.

Despite their records, last week was a good one for each club. The Rams
rallied to win 13-12 at Cleveland last Sunday, and the Seahawks snapped a
three-game skid by stunning Baltimore 22-17 at home.

Marshawn Lynch(notes) ran for 109 yards and a touchdown on 32 carries for Seattle,
which forced a pair of turnovers on special teams and got five field goals from
Steven Hauschka(notes). The veteran back has rushed for 244 yards over the last two
games, and all five of his TDs have come in his last five contests.

“We’re going to work at running the football regardless and try to get this
thing balanced out again where we can have a good feeling for it,” coach Pete
Carroll said. “We’re going to bring it and see how it goes.”

Seattle has a good chance to keep the ground game rolling against a St.
Louis defense that ranks last in the NFL with 150.6 rushing yards allowed per
game.

Lynch, who has never posted three straight 100-yard rushing games, ran 20
times for 75 yards in last season’s division-clinching win over the Rams.

The Seahawks hope leading receivers Sidney Rice(notes) and Doug Baldwin(notes), and safety
Kam Chancellor(notes) are able to play after each suffered head injuries last weekend.

“We’re looking pretty good. These guys are feeling pretty good,” Carroll
said.

Seattle, however, will be without rookie right guard John Moffitt(notes), who is
done for the season after tearing ligaments in his right knee versus Baltimore.

St. Louis also has been plagued by injuries and placed cornerback Al Harris(notes)
and tight end Mike Hoomanawanui on injured reserve this week with knee injuries.
Despite those issues, the Rams have won two of three after starting 0-6.

“Guys keep going down and we have the young guys and new guys who weren’t on
the depth chart at the beginning of the season come to fill the holes,” running
back Steven Jackson said. “They have to come in and play right away.”

Jackson has rushed for 417 yards and two TDs while posting three straight
100-yard games, including a 128-yard effort on 27 carries at Cleveland. However,
Jackson has never totaled more than 93 yards in 13 career games against the
Seahawks.

In his first win since beating San Francisco on Dec. 26, St. Louis’ Sam
Bradford(notes) went 15 of 25 for 155 yards last Sunday and tossed a 7-yard scoring
pass to Brandon Lloyd(notes) for the game’s only touchdown.

“You get what you earn in this league,” Rams guard Harvey Dahl(notes) said. “We
aren’t happy with our record, but we come to work every day and try to get
better.”

Bradford threw 17 touchdowns in his first 11 career starts, but has just
five TD passes in his last 12. He was 23 of 41 for 289 yards with two TDs and an
interception to help the Rams snap a 10-game skid versus Seattle with a 20-3
home win Oct. 3, 2010.