ST. LOUIS (AP) -Marc Bulger will be on the sideline wearing a cap on Sunday while Trent Green does his job. Other St. Louis Rams players know they could have just as easily been singled out as the scapegoat for the franchise’s sorry start.
“Ha ha, you know what, that’s a decision they came up with upstairs,” seven-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Torry Holt said. “That could have been any one of us, man. That could have been me that they put on the bench.
“That could have been anybody on offense and defense and special teams that could have been sent to the bench.”
That’s no exaggeration heading into a seeming mismatch of the discombobulated, winless Rams (0-3) and the opportunistic, perfect Buffalo Bills (3-0). And truth be told, benching Bulger is only the biggest of the moves by beleaguered coach Scott Linehan, who knows his next loss could be his last.
Haslett; Brown seemingly had not had a rougher start than a lot of teammates. He restored cornerback Tye Hill after one game as a backup, promoted outside linebacker Chris Draft and could go with Clifton Ryan ahead of veteran La’Roi Glover at defensive tackle.
There’s nothing to lose for a franchise that has dropped 16 of its last 19 games and has been outscored an average of 39-10 this season. St. Louis is hamstrung by a puny offense that has mustered two touchdowns while allowing 11 sacks, and a porous defense that is allowing 457 yards per game.
Linehan believes players are not giving up. Last week, offensive coordinator Al Saunders defied reporters to identify any quitters.
“If we tank it right now, then we’ve already said we’re done after a fourth of the season and we’re going 0-16,” Holt said. “I don’t think that’s the case right now, I don’t think anybody has tanked it, I don’t think anybody’s lost confidence.
“So I think the best thing we can do is to continue to have a smile on your face, continue to have energy, get yourself and your body ready to go.”
Even if it all finally comes together this week, if Green’s familiarity with an offense he ran for years in Kansas City gets the team moving and the shakeup on defense bears fruit, there’s no guarantee of success. They’re facing a franchise off to its most impressive start since the Jim Kelly era.
st time since 1992, and in first place in the AFC East this late in the season for the first time since Week 13 of 1996. It’s an excellent head start on putting a halt to an eight-season playoff drought, the longest in franchise history, and achieving only their second winning record since 1999.
“It’s really exciting,” wide receiver Josh Reed said. “We’ve had those seasons where we’ve lost those close ones and we were 1-2 at a time like this.
“I think everybody appreciates it more.”
The Bills are a young team gaining confidence following consecutive comeback wins. They scored 17 points in the final 8 minutes to beat the Raiders 24-23 last week on Rian Lindell’s 38-yard field goal as time expired, and edged the Jaguars 20-16 in Week 2. They’ve capitalized on early breaks, beating the Seahawks minus their top two wide receivers and Jacksonville minus three offensive line starters.
Quarterback Trent Edwards, who won the job as a rookie midway through last season, is 8-4 in 12 career starts while directing a balanced attack. He’s been at his best down the stretch, going 21-for-29 the last two weeks for 268 yards and two touchdowns, helping revive an offense that totaled a franchise-low 20 touchdowns, not including returns, last season.
r young quarterbacks in the league.”
Buffalo’s defense, next to last in the NFL in yards allowed last year, has been stingy with the additions of tackle Marcus Stroud and linebacker Kawika Mitchell. Buffalo leads the league in third-down defense, holding opponents to 7-for-39, and has yet to allow an opponent 100 yards rushing.
The close call against the Raiders last week also got their attention, and players vow they won’t take the Rams lightly.
“There’s not a big difference between the best team in the NFL and the worst team,” safety Donte Whitner said. “It’s just a few plays made here, a few mistakes made here, a few players and you’ll be right there.
“We expect to get their best shot.”
The Bills haven’t played the Rams since 2004, but have a definite St. Louis feel. The coaching staff includes former Rams assistants Perry Fewell (defensive coordinator), Bobby April (special teams), Bill Kollar (defensive line) and Matt Sheldon (linebackers), as well as linebacker London Fletcher.
Green brings St. Louis it’s own dose of nostalgia. He was supposed to be the starting quarterback in 1999 before a season-ending knee injury in the preseason thrust unknown Kurt Warner to stardom, and this will be his first start for the Rams since 2000.
fully I can bring some sort of spark and make us more productive.”
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