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THE MARSHALL PLAN
Tuesday, November 5, 2002
For the third consecutive game, RB Marshall Faulk had a season-high
in total yards from scrimmage while becoming just the fourth player
in NFL history to rush for at least 150 yards in three consecutive
games last week at Arizona. Faulk rushed 27 times for 178 yards and
one touchdown, and caught five passes for 58 yards, totaling 32
touches for a season-high 236 yards and one touchdown as the Rams
won their third straight game. Faulk became the 12th player in NFL
history to gain at least 16,000 all-purpose yards and the seventh
player in league history to score at least 120 touchdowns in the
contest as he registered his 33rd career 100-yard rushing game, his
19th as a Ram, and third this season. It is the third time in his
career (all with the Rams) Faulk has posted at least three
consecutive 100-yard rushing games. Faulk joined Hall of Famers Jim
Brown, O.J. Simpson, and Earl Campbell as the only players in NFL
history with at least three consecutive 150-yard rushing games in a
season (Campbell had four straight 150+ rushing games in 1980).
Faulk posted three straight 100-yard rushing games in Games 14-16 of
2001; 202 @ Carolina, 118 vs. Indianapolis, 168 vs. Atlanta. In
1999, Faulk registered a career-best four straight 100-yard rushing
games in games 10-13; 126 @ San Francisco, 102 vs. New Orleans, 118
@ Carolina, 154 @ New Orleans). Faulk had nine runs of at least 10
yards against Arizona, tying his best as a Ram (nine 10+ runs @ New
Orleans 12/24/00). Faulk s 27 rushes tied for the sixth-highest
total of his career, while his 178 rushing yards is his
second-highest of the season and eighth highest of his career. The
rushing touchdown was his 45th as a Ram, moving him to second on the
team s career list of rushing touchdowns, surpassing Dan Towler.
Faulk s 236 total yards is a season high, the sixth-highest total of
his career, the 14th career 200-yard game, his 10th as a Ram, and
second straight 200-yard game, following his 235-yard effort against
Seattle. It is the second time in Faulk s Hall of Fame career he s
had consecutive 200-yard games. (In 1999, Faulk had consecutive
200-yard games @ Atlanta 10/17 {213 yards} and vs. Cleveland 10/24
{200 yards}).
Faulk s four-yard catch on the first play of the fourth quarter was
his 600th career reception, while his 12-yard run in the third
quarter moved him past the 16,000 all-purpose yards mark for his
career. Faulk s nine-yard run on the Rams first play of the fourth
quarter moved him past the century mark in rushing yards, and his
six-yard run midway through the fourth quarter moved him past the
200-yard mark for the game. Faulk earned his third career save in
the fourth quarter, rushing 14 times for 80 yards in the final
period. Faulk touched the ball on 14 of the Rams 21 plays in the
last 15 minutes, rushing six times for 36 yards on the Rams scoring
drive that ended with K Jeff Wilkins 42-yard field goal to extend
the lead to 20-14. On the next possession, it was all Faulk, who
gained all 30 yards on five running plays. Faulk s electrifying,
13-yard cutback touchdown run with 1:53 to play sealed the victory.
Faulk earned two saves in 2001, helping the Rams run out the clock
at San Francisco Sept. 26 (7-48 rushing, 2-20 receiving on the final
drive, elapsing the final 6:35 in a 30-26 win), and at New England
Nov. 18 (6-33 rushing, 2-20 receiving, helping elapse the final 7:46
off the clock in a 24-17 win).
The Rams are now 19-0 when Faulk gains at least 100 rushing yards.
It was also the 27th time as a Ram that Faulk has gained at least
150 yards. St. Louis is 26-1 and has won 24 straight games when
Faulk gains at least 150 yards.
 Faulk,
the NFL s Most Valuable Player in 2000, and the offensive player of
the year each of the past three seasons, has gained at least 2,000
yards from scrimmage each of the past four seasons (an NFL record).
Faulk has scored more points (288) in the past two seasons than any
player in the NFL, and has scored more touchdowns over the past two
(47), three (59), and four (69) seasons than any player in the NFL,
and is third in rushing yards (2,741) since 2000 and 1999 (4,122),
and second in rushing yards over the past four seasons (5,441).
Faulk also has more rushing touchdowns than any player in the NFL
over the past two, three, and four seasons (30, 37, 43,
respectively). Faulk has rushed 151 times for 780 yards and eight
touchdowns and has caught 54 passes for 390 yards and two
touchdowns. Faulk has 205 touches for 1,170 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Faulk leads the Rams, is second in the NFC, and is fourth in the NFL
in rushing. He leads the Rams and the NFC, and is fifth in the NFL
in receptions, leads the NFC and is second in the NFL in total yards
from scrimmage, and leads the NFC and tied for second in the NFL in
touchdowns.
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RAMS DEFEAT ARIZONA FOR THIRD CONSECUTIVE WIN
Sunday, November 3, 2002
TEMPE, AZ The Rams improved their record to 3-5 on the season
after a 27-14 win over the Arizona Cardinals at Sun Devil Stadium in
Tempe, Arizona.
It is the third consecutive victory for the Rams and their first win
over the Cardinals in the regular season since moving to St. Louis
in 1995.
Rams RB Marshall Faulk gained 178 yards on 26 carries and scored one
touchdown and made five receptions for 58 yards in the contest. It
was Faulk s 33rd career 100-yard rushing game, 19th as a Ram and
third consecutive contest with 100-rushing yards.
Marshall just continues his track to greatness, Rams head coach
Mike Martz said after the game. Marshall was sick coming into this
game. He had the flu for three days. He took medication last night
in the hotel to try to get him feeling good. He cramped up pretty
good out there today. He wasn t quite 100 percent, but nobody would
know that.
I was a little under the weather during the week, Faulk said. I
had a slight fever throughout the week and with that you get a
little dehydrated. I just started to feel better and I got out there
today and I started cramping up. You can t control that, you either
just have to play through it or succumb to it.
He was playing great and sucking it up out there, Rams QB Marc
Bulger said. He was cramping up, and I saw the look on his face and
I didn t think he was going to make it. He showed something out
there today. He was out there, he knew how important it was and he
got it done.
It was the 14th time in his career that Faulk gained 200 total
yards, 10th time with the Rams.
QB Marc Bulger completed 20 of 29 passes for 245 yards and two
touchdowns with two interceptions. Bulger is now 3-0 as a starter in
his first three NFL games.
It feels the same, Bulger said of earning his first win on the
road. Home or away, they are all the same to me. I am glad we held
on at the end. This is the biggest win I have had so far in three
games.
WR Tory Edwards made his first four receptions as a Ram and was the
team s leader in terms of receiving yards, making four catches for
63 yards, including a long of 48 which set up a Rams touchdown.
The Rams got on the board with 11:18 left in the first quarter as
Bulger and Faulk helped lead them to a 7-0 lead. Bulger completed
three of four passes for 68 yards, including a 31-yard scoring
strike to WR Ricky Proehl. Faulk rushed twice for seven yards and
made two catches for 37 yards.
The Rams jumped out to a 10-0 lead with 13:09 left in the second
quarter when Wilkins kicked a 24-yard field goal.
Cardinals QB Jake Plummer completed an eight-yard pass to WR Frank
Sanders with 2:31 to go in the first half to cut the Rams lead to
10-7 following an eight-play, 69-yard drive.
The Rams extended their lead to 17-7 moments later when Bulger
completed his second touchdown pass of the day to WR Torry Holt, a
seven-yard pass, with 53 seconds left in the first half. The Rams
moved the ball 82 yards in seven plays and took 1:38 off of the
clock.
With 10:36 left in the fourth quarter Arizona CB David Barrett
picked off Bulger s pass at the Cardinals 38-yard line and then
lateraled to S Justin Lucas, who ran 35 yards for the score to cut
the Rams lead to 17-14.
Wilkins kicked his second field goal of the day, from 42 yards, to
extend the Rams lead to 20-14 with 3:46 left in the contest.
Faulk extended the Rams lead to 27-14 with 1:53 left in the game
after a 13-yard scoring run.
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MVQ
2001/2002
Quarterback
Kurt Warner
Do you think the Rams will win the Super Bowl this season?
51% Yes
49% No
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