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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
ST. LOUIS (AP) -- The St. Louis Rams' aura of invincibility is
long gone. They can't even win at home anymore.
|  | | Saints backup QB Aaron Brooks passed for a TD and ran for two to fill in admirably for injured Jeff Blake. |
The defending Super Bowl champions have lost four of six games
after a 6-0 start, dropping their third straight at the Trans World
Dome to the nameless, faceless New Orleans Saints 31-24 Sunday.
The Rams had won 14 straight at home, most of them blowouts,
before the current skid, which includes setbacks to the Panthers
and Redskins.
"Once again, it was just another frustrating home game," said
quarterback Trent Green, a St. Louis native who has been at the
controls for all three losses.
St. Louis couldn't overcome numerous mistakes, including two
fumbles lost by Green inside the Saints 20.
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TOM DONAHOE'S BREAKDOWN |
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Question on the Saints: Can Aaron Brooks lead the Saints to
the playoffs?
Donahoe: Brooks' performance was impressive today -- this was his
first start on the road in a hostile environment and he certainly got the
job done. In recent weeks the Saints have had some tough luck, losing Ricky Williams and Jeff Blake to injury. But Brooks
stepped up today with a lot of poise and moxie. Brooks was under control and
did not force the ball, making few mistakes. He is a good-looking athlete
who appears to have the arm strength to play in this league. If Brooks keeps
playing the way he played today, he has a good chance to take the Saints to
playoffs.
Question on the Rams: Did the pressure of replacing Kurt Warner get to Trent Green?
Donahoe: The pressure of replacing Warner has not gotten to Green.
The Rams right now appear to be in a slump. They've had their problems
throughout the season on defense, and that continued today. They still are
scoring enough points and moving the ball effectively enough to win, but
their defense just can't seem to come up with key stops when they need to.
When you look at the NFL passer ratings, the top two quarterbacks both wear
Rams' uniforms, so there's not too much negative you can say about Trent
Green's performance. But one of the big differences between them is that
Green may hold the ball a bit longer than Warner does and is not as quick in
his decision-making. That has been a slight adjustment for the offense.
Tom Donahoe, ESPN.com's NFL analyst, was formerly the Steelers' director
of football operations.
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"Whether it be missed passes on my part, or drops or protection
problems, I think everybody took a turn today," Green said.
"There were enough mistakes in all three phases that I don't think
anybody can warrant pointing fingers."
First-year coach Mike Martz remained optimistic.
"We can regroup," Martz said. "We have to. Darn right we
can."
The Saints (8-4) were 13½-point underdogs without injured stars
Jeff Blake and Ricky Williams. But they silenced a sellout crowd
and took control of the NFC West, pulling into a tie with the Rams
(8-4).
The teams meet again in the regular-season finale Dec. 24 in New
Orleans.
"Just looking at us on paper, it might not look like we have a
lot of talent," said Jerald Moore, a Rams castoff who scored a
second-quarter touchdown. "But we really do."
Aaron Brooks, making his first career start, scored his second
touchdown on a quarterback sneak.
"Aaron is a great talent," coach Jim Haslett said. "I've said
all week that people always worry about putting the backup
quarterback in. They guy's really calm and cool."
St. Louis was also without its starting quarterback, Kurt
Warner.
The Rams, who trailed 24-10, rallied to tie it on a 19-yard pass
from Trent Green to Ricky Proehl with 11:06 to go. That was the
first fourth-quarter score in four games for the NFL's top-ranked
offense.
Brooks answered with an 11-play, 85-yard drive that lasted more
than seven minutes.
The big play was a 47-yard pass interference call on Todd Lyght
that gave the Saints a first down at the Rams 11.
"It definitely killed us," said Lyght, a Pro Bowl cornerback
last year who rejoined the starting lineup this week after being
benched. "It was the only play we gave up in the fourth quarter."
New Orleans won despite a team-record 17 penalties, for 116
yards. The previous high was 14, on three occasions. The Rams had
14 penalties for 132 yards.
Brooks, who was 19-for-27 for 190 yards, threw a 4-yard pass to
Brian Milne in the first quarter for the Saints' first score, and
also scored on a 2-yard run in the second quarter to put the Saints
ahead 21-7.
The Saints were 10-for-18 on third-down conversions.
Green, in probably his final start for the Rams, was 20-for-41
for 289 yards. Warner, who broke the little finger of his throwing
hand at Kansas City on Oct. 22, is expected back for next week's
game at Carolina.
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SAINT Packing
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The New Orleans defense held the Rams' offense well below their season averages for points and yards on Sunday, and forced St. Louis into four turnovers. Here' s a look at how the Rams' first 11 games compare to their effort against the Saints. |
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1st 11 gms.
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Sunday vs. NO
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PPG
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37.5
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24
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YPG
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468.0
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279*
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TO per gm.
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1.8
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4
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* Lowest since 12/20/98 vs. CAR
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"I definitely want to be back in there," Warner said. "I'm
tired of losing, just like everybody else."
The Saints opened the door for a possible comeback when Doug
Brien was wide right on a 44-yard field goal with 2:21 to play. The
Rams got possession at their own 34, but two plays later Chris
Oldham intercepted Green.
Marshall Faulk was not much of a factor for the Rams, totaling
43 yards rushing and receiving. He had 27 yards on eight carries
and two catches for 16 yards.
The Saints had the Rams off-balance from the start, when Rob
Kelly recovered Doug Brien's onside kick. The Rams also were
victimized by an onside kick in the second half of last week's loss
to the Redskins and have had three recovered by their opponents
this season.
Game notes
The Saints lost three defensive players -- cornerback Fred
Weary and linebackers Phil Clarke and Corey Terry -- with injuries
in the first quarter. Weary sprained his right knee, Terry ruptured
his right patella tendon and Clarke came out with a pulled right
quadriceps muscle. ... Saints tackle Norman Hand sprained his left
foot in the second quarter. ... Az-Zahir Hakim returned four punts
for a 20-yard average for the Rams.
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ALSO SEE
New Orleans Clubhouse
St. Louis Clubhouse
Warner back in starting spot this week for Rams
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Aaron Brooks is gaining confidence as the Saints QB.
wav: 142 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
La'roi Glover talks with ESPN's Ed Werder about the Saints' defensive effort against the Rams on Sunday.
wav: 380 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Mike Martz voices his displeasure with the Rams' play on Sunday.
wav: 158 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
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