Green Bay is coming off a gut-wrenching loss to Kansas City in overtime last weekend - that wound is still fresh. Lurking in the minds of those who were on the team in 2001 is another bad flashback - a crushing 45-17 playoff loss to the Rams here in Jan. 2002.
Well, there's no time like the present for the Pack to put both the recent and distant past behind them and get a fresh start with their noon kickoff today in the Edward Jones Dome. Green Bay brings an injury-hampered defense to meet Rams QB Marc Bulger and an air attack which leads the league. (The Rams offense is ranked third overall). Meanwhile, Green Bay's defense ranked 29th in pass defense, allowing 248 yards per game. With cornerback Mike McKenzie hurting and the pass rush getting thinner by the week, it could be tough for the Pack to turn that around today.
No doubt Bulger and favorite target Tory Holt will try to take advantage of the Packers' defensive woes. Holt's 41 receptions are tied for the league lead, while he leads inthe NFL with a 107.4 yards per game average.
Green Bay counters with its ground game. Ahman Green leads the NFL in rushing with 699 yards and is tied for the top spot with 8 rushing touchdowns. The Packers' rushing offense is ranked fifth overall, while the Rams defense is a lackluster 19th against the run.
Notes
Easy does it: Rams piled up their big offensive numbers in their last two games against two struggling teams, Atlanta and Arizona. Both were at home, with a bye week sandwiched in between.
Old friend: The Packers will reunite with offensive lineman Aaron Timmerman, who played in Super Bowls XXXI and XXXII for the Packers before going to the Rams as a free agent in 1999.
New kid on the block: Rams' QB Marc Bulger is 9-2 as a starter since replacing an injured Kurt Warner last year. Warner returned briefly, fumbling six times in a opening day loss to New York, but Bulger soon resumed as the starter.