NFC West: Another step backward for stagnant Rams

Sports Network | October 27, 2009

(Sports Network) - The St. Louis Rams will have the opportunity to stake an unofficial claim to a rather dubious title when they pay a visit to Detroit's Ford Field this upcoming weekend.

After completing the first 0-16 season in NFL history in 2008, the Detroit Lions had been universally upheld as the league's model for futility. With competition from the still-winless Tampa Bay Buccaneers, that unwanted label now arguably belongs to the hapless Rams, whose losing streak grew to 17 games following this past Sunday's 42-6 throttling by the powerhouse Indianapolis Colts at the Edwards Jones Dome.

St. Louis now enters this Sunday's bizarrely-intriguing matchup with the Lions two defeats shy of matching its next opponent's run of 19 consecutive setbacks, a stretch that finally ended with Detroit's 19-14 triumph over Washington on September 27. The skid is the second-longest in NFL annals, bettered only by the 26 straight losses the Buccaneers strung together from 1976-77 in that franchise's first two years of existence.

These current Rams appear to be making a case for inclusion in that exclusive club of ignominy. After being overmatched by the unbeaten Colts, St. Louis has now lost its first seven games of 2009 by an average of 21.5 points. In comparison, last year's Lions had an average of 15.3 points per loss and Tampa Bay's margin was 21.4 points during that team's 0-14 campaign in 1976.

The Rams were demonstrating some recent glimpses of progress, having taken Jacksonville to overtime in a 23-20 loss in their previous outing and amassing a season-best 400 total yards against a quality Minnesota team the week before. Those gains weren't evident, though, in an outing that saw Indianapolis roar out to a 21-3 halftime lead and pull a number of key players by the fourth quarter.

Despite getting a season-best 134 yards from star running back Steven Jackson, St. Louis mustered only two Josh Brown field goals and once again failed to mount a threatening aerial attack. Quarterback Marc Bulger mustered a mere 140 yards and was intercepted twice while completing just 14-of-26 throws behind a turnstile offensive line that couldn't measure up to the Colts' potent pass rush.

While Jackson ranks fourth in the league with an average of 90.7 rushing yards per game, the sixth-year pro has yet to score a touchdown this season. As a team, the Rams have produced an NFL-worst 8.6 points over the course of their 0-7 start.

QUICK HITS: Rookie cornerback Bradley Fletcher and long snapper Chris Massey both suffered season-ending knee injuries in Sunday's loss, while right guard Richie Incognito left in the second half with a sprained left foot that is expected to sideline him for at least one week...First-year defensive lineman C.J. Ah You made his initial career start in place of James Hall (groin strain) and tied a team-high with seven tackles against the Colts...Wide receiver Brandon Gibson, acquired last week from Philadelphia in exchange for linebacker Will Witherspoon, was among the Rams' eight inactives on Sunday.

NEXT UP: The overdue Rams will attempt to end their painfully-long drought when they take on a Detroit club that has lost 22 of its last 23 games. The Lions will be coming in with the benefit of a bye over the weekend, and hope to have rookie quarterback Matthew Stafford back under center after this year's No. 1 overall pick sat out the team's past two tests with a knee injury.

SAN FRANCISCO: With all of the pregame buzz of Sunday's clash with the Houston Texans centering around the long-awaited debut of San Francisco 49ers rookie wide receiver Michael Crabtree, another of the team's first-round draft choices wound up being the topic of discussion by the end of the afternoon.

Quarterback Alex Smith, the almost-forgotten No. 1 overall selection of the 2005 draft, relieved an ineffective Shaun Hill at halftime and showed why the 49ers made the former University of Utah standout their intended offensive centerpiece more than four years ago. In his first regular-season game action in nearly two years, Smith engineered three touchdown drives and nearly led San Francisco back from a sizeable deficit in the 24-21 loss to the host Texans.

The 25-year-old completed 15-of-22 passes for 206 yards and three touchdowns -- all to blossoming tight end Vernon Davis -- upon taking over for Hill with the Niners trailing 21-0 at the start of the third quarter. With Smith at the controls, the San Francisco offense piled up 247 total yards and 14 first downs, a stark upgrade from the 50 total yards and three first downs the unit mustered when guided by the struggling Hill in the first half.

That impressive performance also struck a chord with head coach Mike Singletary, who announced during his Monday press conference that Smith would start this coming Sunday's game at Indianapolis. The injury-plagued signal- caller last began a game on November 12, 2007, a 24-0 Niners loss at Seattle.

Smith aggravated an existing injury to his right throwing shoulder in that contest and missed the rest of the season, as well as all of 2008 after needing a second surgery to repair a cracked bone. He's also had to endure five offensive coordinators in his five professional seasons in addition to the pressure of sky-high expectations that come with being the draft's top pick.

"I think Alex has had a chance to regain some of the confidence, not that he ever lost it, but I think (not playing has) given him a chance to settle in," said Singletary. "There's something about watching a guy and looking at some of the mistakes that he made and how you would do it different. Looking at some of the things he does well and maybe implement those things in your game. Looking at his decision-making process, learning the offense a little bit more, but certainly giving him a chance to develop that hunger, develop that excitement, that enthusiasm for playing."

Smith will not only be trying to resurrect his once-promising career, but also a 49er offense that's sorely in need of a spark. San Francisco has averaged only 262.5 yards over its last four games, losing three times in that span, and presently stands 29th in the NFL in total offense.

Crabtree, meanwhile, had a solid showing in his first game since ending a tension-filled 2 1/2-month holdout earlier this month. The gifted young wideout caught five of the six passes thrown his way and finished with 56 yards.

QUICK HITS: Davis, who ended with 93 yards on seven receptions, became the first 49ers player with three touchdown catches in a game since Terrell Owens did so at Atlanta on October 14, 2001...Running back Frank Gore, playing for the first time since sitting out two games with a right ankle strain, managed just 32 yards on 13 attempts versus the Texans...Veteran offensive lineman Tony Pashos made his first start of the season at right tackle, but was removed in the second quarter with a left shoulder contusion...Defensive end Justin Smith (strained left calf) and inside linebacker Takeo Spikes (strained right shoulder) also left in Sunday's loss...Hill threw for only 45 yards on 6-of-11 passing.

NEXT UP: Smith draws a tough challenge in his return to a starting role, as the 49ers will visit an Indianapolis squad that has allowed a league-low two touchdown passes thus far in 2009 on Sunday. The Colts (6-0) are on a serious roll as well, having won 15 straight regular-season tilts dating back to last year.

ARIZONA: San Francisco's recent stumble after an excellent start has helped the Arizona Cardinals re-establish themselves as the team to beat among the NFC West crop, although the defending division and conference champions have certainly done their part towards earning that status as of late.

Arizona has ripped off three consecutive wins following a 1-2 September to move one game in front of the 49ers for first place. The most notable victory during that stretch came Sunday night at the New Jersey Meadowlands, where the Cardinals put forth an all-around strong effort to knock off the NFC East front-running New York Giants by a 24-17 score.

A resurgent defense led the way for a second straight week, with the Cardinals both smothering and confusing the Giants throughout the evening. Arizona held New York's balanced offense to a harmless 327 total yards and forced four turnovers, while intercepting quarterback Eli Manning three times. Of the Giants' two touchdowns, one came as the result of a short field caused by a pick of the Cards' Kurt Warner, the other was a fluky 62-yard connection from Manning to Hakeem Nicks in which the opportunistic receiver had a deflected pass by Arizona cornerback Dominique-Rodgers Cromartie land squarely in his hands.

Arizona was undaunted by the bad break, which occurred with 2:09 remaining in the first half and briefly put the team in a 14-7 hole. The group forced a pair of three-and-outs and an interception over the Giants' opening three possessions of the third quarter, leading to a pair of touchdowns that put the Cardinals ahead to stay.

"I know that that was a play that if it had happened two years ago, it would have been tough for us to recover from," Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt said of Nicks' score. "But after we recovered at the Super Bowl last year after that devastating play right before the half (an interception return by Pittsburgh's James Harrison), I think we learned a lot about our team and I believe now that we can overcome things."

Sunday's outstanding display came one week after the Cardinals limited Seattle to a meager 128 yards and an 0-for-11 success rate on third downs in a 27-3 road rout of the rival Seahawks.

QUICK HITS: Arizona is off to a 3-0 start on the road for the first time since the 1982 season and won away games in back-to-back weeks for the first time since November 25-December 2, 2001...Sunday's victory was only the Cardinals' third in 18 lifetime games at Giants Stadium and snapped a string of 11 straight road losses by the team against NFC East members...Rookie running back Chris Wells scored his first NFL touchdown with a 13-yard run in the second quarter and posted career-bests of 67 yards and 14 rush attempts... Rodgers-Cromartie, who had one of Arizona's three picks of Manning, left the contest in the third quarter with a sprained left ankle.

NEXT UP: The Cardinals return to University of Phoenix Stadium this Sunday to battle the reeling Carolina Panthers in the first meeting between the teams since last January's NFC Divisional Playoffs, when Arizona pressured Carolina quarterback Jake Delhomme into six turnovers en route to a convincing 33-13 win in Charlotte. Delhomme was picked off three times in a 20-9 home defeat to Buffalo over the weekend, which dropped the Panthers to 2-4.

SEATTLE: The bye week brought along good news for the Seattle Seahawks, as two valued members of the defense were back on the field when the team reconvened for practice last week.

Cornerback Marcus Trufant was activated from the physically unable to perform list last Tuesday and participated in team drills for the first time since spring minicamp. The 2007 Pro Bowl honoree has been dealing with a lingering problem in his lower back for the past few months. Also taking part was outside linebacker Leroy Hill, who underwent surgery in September to repair a torn groin muscle he incurred in Seattle's season-opening win over St. Louis on September 13.

Head coach Jim Mora Jr. anticipates both players to be in uniform when the Seahawks travel to Dallas this Sunday. The defense still won't have middle linebacker Lofa Tatupu, though, with the team captain out indefinitely after tearing his pectoral in Seattle's most recent outing, a 27-3 home loss to Arizona in Week 6.

The Seahawks are still also dealing with personnel changes along the offensive line, where All-Pro Walter Jones (knee surgery) and fellow tackle Sean Locklear (high ankle sprain) are doubtful to return from their injuries in time for Sunday's matchup. Damion McIntosh, a 10-year pro with 111 career starts to his credit who was signed in mid-October, is the likely candidate to take over Jones' left tackle spot in the meantime. He would be the fourth player to man the position this year, following Locklear, Brandon Frye (out for the season, neck) and Kyle Williams (released last week).

Mora is also unsure of the status of top pass rusher Patrick Kerney, who aggravated a groin strain in the Arizona game. Regular left guard Rob Sims was back practicing this week and appears to ready to come back from an ankle injury that kept him out of the Seahawks' past two tests.

NEXT UP: The Seahawks begin a stretch of four road games in five weeks with this weekend's trip to Dallas, with visits to Arizona, Minnesota and St. Louis also on the docket for November. Seattle will be aiming to avenge a 34-9 loss at the hands of the Cowboys at the old Texas Stadium last season.