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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Kurt Warner's high interception total hasn't
cost the St. Louis Rams -- yet.
|  | | Marshall Faulk scored three touchdowns and rushed for 134 yards Sunday to keep the Rams from stubbing their toes against San Francisco. |
Warner threw two touchdown passes and two more interceptions in
a 41-24 victory over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, giving him
six in each category. Last year he had 41 touchdown passes and 13
interceptions.
"I hate to see them, but we're 3-0 and that's all that matters
and I've got to put them behind me," Warner said. "Those are
things I go back and study."
Because of his inaccuracy, the Rams (3-0) had to do it the hard
way, just like their 37-34 victory over Seattle last week and a
41-36 decision over Denver in the opener. They won a
franchise-record 13th straight at home, exceeded 30 points for an
NFL-record ninth straight game and beat the 49ers (0-3) for the
third straight time after losing 17 previous times in the series.
"It's the 49er changeup," safety Keith Lyle said. "It's not
the old 17-0, same old sorry Rams. The 49ers have got to take it."
That it came against a downtrodden team that was a 17-point
underdog with the league's worst defense, and wasn't secured until
Marshall Faulk made it 34-24 on a 4-yard run with about eight
minutes to go, made it less impressive.
"If this is what it takes to win games, get used to it," said
Faulk, whose third score was a 1-yard run with 1:42 to play.
"It's good for the fans, it's good for the sport," Rams
cornerback Todd Lyght said.
Jeff Garcia made it interesting with three touchdown passes for
the 49ers, going 21-for-34 for 290 yards with two interceptions.
One play after Warner was intercepted by Winfred Tubbs on the Rams'
first snap of the game, Garcia hit Fred Beasley for a 29-yard
score.
He also connected with Charlie Garner from 20 yards and cut the
gap to 27-24 on a 12-yarder to Terrell Owens early in the fourth
quarter.
"When you play the Rams, you have to go in with the attitude
that you need to score every single series," Garcia said. "If you
can't keep up, you're going to find yourself in a difficult
situation."
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TOM DONAHOE'S BREAKDOWN |
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Earlier this week, I said that you might need a calculator for this game -- and you did.
The inexperience of the 49ers on defense was evident in this game, but the defensive effort was much better this week. They played hard on defense and they were in the football game until late in the fourth quarter. And they are improving. But they're a young team, especially on defense, and they'll continue to have their problems until some of these players get experience.
This was another impressive statistical peformance by the Rams' offense and Kurt Warner. He threw for almost 400 yards -- he has passed for over 1,200 yards in three games, which is extremely impressive. He's on pace to throw for 8,000 yards, which will never happen. But if he continues to go at close to the rate he's going, he'll break every NFL record for offense. Marshall Faulk also had a strong game with 190-plus all-purpose yards. He's a major factor in the Rams' attack.
The Rams still have some issues on defense, and until they settle them, they'll continue to struggle on D. In this league, you cannot keep winning shootout-type games like the Rams have won the first three weeks this season.
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Warner was 23-for-34 for 394 yards, giving him 300-plus yards
all three games, and led the Rams to 529 yards of total offense. He
avoided a seventh interception when the Rams challenged a call, and
replays took away an interception by Ahmed Plummer on a tipped ball in
the first quarter.
Isaac Bruce caught eight passes for 188 yards, including a
78-yard bomb on the first play of a drive to tie it 17-17 with 1:53
left in the first half.
"We figured we'd take a shot early and maybe we could catch
them waiting for us to throw something underneath," Warner said.
"They had one safety there and Isaac did the rest."
Bruce beat Plummer, one of the 49ers' two first-round draft
picks this year.
"He made about five fakes, and I was playing one of the
fakes," Plummer said. "I guess he pulled that one out of his bag
of tricks."
Kick returner Tony Horne, subbing for injured Ricky Proehl,
added an 18-yard touchdown catch on his first career reception.
Faulk had his 22nd career 100-yard rushing game, gaining 134
yards on 25 carries. His 1-yard run midway through the third
quarter gave the Rams their first lead, 24-17.
Garcia completed his first 10 passes for 113 yards as the 49ers
took early leads of 10-3 and 17-10. He was perfect until throwing
incomplete in the end zone with 10:48 to go in the second.
Coach Steve Mariucci said there's no danger of another
quarterback controversy.
"You guys want to churn that up again, huh?" Mariucci said.
"Jeff will be our starting quarterback next week."
Warner had perhaps his slowest start ever and was 4-for-11 for
47 yards midway through the second quarter. After Dre' Bly's
interception gave the Rams a chance to take the lead near halftime,
Warner threw into a mass of bodies and was intercepted by John
Keith in the end zone.
The Rams defense had its best game, holding the 49ers to seven
points in the second half. St. Louis allowed 70 points the first
two games.
Game notes
Rams first-round pick Trung Canidate, a running back, has
yet to play. He missed most of training camp plus the first two
games with a high right ankle sprain, and now has an injured arch
on his left foot. ... Beasley has scored in every game this year
and has a career-high five touchdowns. ... Jerry Rice caught three
passes for 44 yards, extending his NFL record to 212 straight games
with at least one reception. ... Bruce's 78-yard catch was the
second-longest of his career. He had an 80-yarder against Minnesota
in 1998. Bruce has 407 receptions with the Rams, passing Tom Fears
(400) for second on the team's list.
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ALSO SEE
NFL Scoreboard
San Francisco Clubhouse
St. Louis Clubhouse
Week 3 wrap-ups
Week 3 infirmary report
TJ's Take on Week 3
Week 3 stats leaders
Prime Time Players
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Kurt Warner explains the Rams' scoring mentality.
avi: 1185 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
 Kurt Warner talks about his two interceptions against the 49ers.
wav: 220 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Mike Martz's job is to just get his players the ball, they will do the rest.
wav: 109 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
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