Tuesday, September 24, 2002
Faulk's injury wrecks Rams' offense
The Associated Press
TAMPA, Fla. — After Marshall Faulk was flipped, the St. Louis Rams flopped.
Just when the Rams expected to shake off their 0-2 start and re-establish themselves as one of the NFL's premier powers, a neck injury to their MVP-caliber running back cost them any chance to beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday night.
Bucs linebacker Derrick Brooks didn't just send Faulk end over end for a headfirst landing and a 1-yard loss, he practically sealed Tampa's 26-14 win with nearly three quarters to play.
When Faulk slowly walked to the locker room for X-rays on his aching neck, he took the Rams' offense with him.
Over the next two quarters, St. Louis managed just 91 yards from scrimmage. By the time the Rams found another way to move the ball, the hole was too deep to climb out of.
“I missed Marshall,” St. Louis coach Mike Martz admitted. “It threw me off.”
The Buccaneers knew the Rams were in trouble, too.
“Giving the ball to Faulk, the greatest running back in the game, less than 25 times,” Tampa Bay defensive tackle Warren Sapp said, “they're not going to win.”
Now, the Rams have to figure out how to survive without one of the biggest producers in the Greatest Show on Turf.
Faulk, scheduled for an MRI exam on Tuesday, said he expects to play when St. Louis hosts Dallas this weekend. However, the longer he talked, doubt began creeping into his words.
“Usually, I have the last say, but it seems like they're going to be a little more stern on this one,” said Faulk, who finished with nine rushing yards and a touchdown on six carries and 27 yards receiving on two catches.
Martz sounded even less optimistic about Faulk's return, going as far as to say Lamar Gordon played himself into a starting job with a 44-yard fourth quarter.
With Faulk healthy, the Rams looked like the offensive force that struck fear into the league for three seasons.
On St. Louis' first series following a Tampa field goal, Faulk touched the ball five times in a crisp nine-play, 91-yard touchdown drive.
With the Rams facing a 3rd-and-3 at the Bucs 28, Faulk caught a pass as a safety valve in the middle and raced 23 yards before being brought down. On the next play, he took a pitch around right end and easily won the foot race to the end zone with 4:28 remaining in the first period.
But that was Faulk's last highlight, as Brooks planted him six plays into the Rams' next series.
From there, Martz was at a loss to replace him. Trung Canidate got the call first, but he wore out his coach's patience after running for 15 yards on six carries.
“I'm very disappointed in Trung Canidate. Very disappointed,” said a seething Martz, who refused to elaborate. Canidate also refused to shed light on why he was pulled.
That left Gordon. The rookie from North Dakota State delivered, rushing for a 21-yard touchdown on a 4th-and-1 to bring the Rams within 19-14.
But any hopes St. Louis had for a comeback were dashed on the Rams' next possession. Kurt Warner threw his fourth interception of the game to Brooks, who returned it 39 yards for a touchdown with 59 seconds left.
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Faulk's injury wrecks Rams' offense 
