2000 REGULAR SEASON The Super Bowl XXXIV Champion St. Louis Rams posted their second consecutive winning season, posting a 10-6 record and claiming a share of the NFC West Division title for the second straight season. The Rams clinched the sixth and final NFC playoff spot on December 24. The Rams’ 26-21 win at New Orleans, coupled with Chicago’s 23-20 win at Detroit, allowed the Rams to earn a playoff berth.

The Rams began the season with six consecutive wins (vs. Denver 41-36, @ Seattle 37-34, vs. San Francisco 41-24, @ Atlanta 41-20, vs. San Diego 57-31, vs. Atlanta 45-29), before losing at Kansas City (54-34). The Rams rebounded to win at San Francisco (34-24) to finish the first half 7-1. The Rams began the second half with a home loss to Carolina, 27-24, ending a 15-game home winning streak. St. Louis then won at the NFC East Champion N.Y. Giants, 38-24, before losing its next three games (vs. Washington 33-20, vs. New Orleans 31-24, at Carolina 16-3). The Rams won their final home game of the season over NFC Central Champion Minnesota (40-29). The Rams lost at Tampa Bay 38-35 before winning at New Orleans to secure the final playoff berth.

BACK-TO-BACK IN THE POSTSEASON The Rams have earned consecutive postseason appearances for the first time since 1988-89. The Rams will make their 24th playoff appearance, third most in the NFL, following the Dallas Cowboys (26) and New York Giants (25). The Rams have a 16-20 record in the playoffs.

COACHES Mike Martz is the third first-year head coach of a defending Super Bowl champion to lead his team to the playoffs. Martz was the fourth rookie head coach in NFL history to win his first six games, and first since 1977 (Red Miller, Denver). Named the 21st head coach in Rams’ history by Owner Georgia Frontiere on February 2, 2000, Martz is the fifth head coach to take over a Super Bowl champion and the first since Barry Switzer (Dallas Cowboys) in 1994. Martz was the Rams’ offensive coordinator in 1999, and was the mastermind behind one of the most explosive offenses in league history as St. Louis scored an NFL high 526 points, third most in National Football League history. Martz is in his second tour of duty with the Rams. He began his NFL coaching career with the Rams as offensive assistant in 1992, and coached tight ends, receivers, and quarterbacks through the 1996 season. In between, Martz was quarterbacks coach of the Washington Redskins from 1997-98. Martz began his coaching career in 1973 at Bullard High in Fresno before moving to the collegiate ranks at San Diego Mesa C.C. (1974, 1976-77), San Jose State (1975), Santa Ana College (1978), and Fresno State in (1979). Martz served as an assistant at the University of Pacific (1980-81) and Minnesota (1982) before moving to Arizona State, where he coached quarterbacks and receivers from 1983-87, and was offensive coordinator from 1987-91. He is 10-6 as an NFL head coach.

Jim Haslett was named the 13th head coach in New Orleans Saints history on February 3, 2000. Haslett, who joined the Saints after three seasons as defensive coordinator of the Pittsburgh Steelers, led the Saints to the NFC West Division title in his first season as head coach, the first for the Saints since 1991. This is Haslett’s second stint with the Saints, spending two seasons in New Orleans (1995-96), the first year as linebackers coach, the second as defensive coordinator. Haslett joined the NFL coaching ranks with the Los Angeles Raiders, spending two seasons (1991-92) as linebackers coach. Haslett’s professional coaching career began in 1991 as defensive coordinator for the Sacramento Surge of the World League, where he spent two seasons. Haslett was a second-round draft choice of the Buffalo Bills in 1979 out of Penn. Haslett spent eight seasons with the Bills, and ended his playing career in 1987 with the N.Y. Jets. He spent three seasons on the collegiate coaching level at the University of Buffalo (1988-90), the first as linebackers coach, the final two as defensive coordinator. He has a 10-6 record as an NFL head coach.

RAMS-SAINTS CONNECTIONS: RAMS: Jack Faulkner, Administrator/Pro Personnel, was an assistant coach for the Saints from 1967-69…Tom Marino, college scout, was a player personnel scout for the Saints from 1986-99…John Matsko, offensive line coach, served in the same capacity for New Orleans from 1994-96…Rams’ S Matt Bowen and Saints’ TE Austin Wheatley were college teammates at the University of Iowa...RB Marshall Faulk was born in New Orleans and attended Carver High. Faulk was a college teammate of New Orleans DT La’ Roi Glover at San Diego State…WR Az-Zahir Hakim and RB Justin Watson were college teammates with New Orleans T Kyle Turley and DT La’Roi Glover at San Diego State...G Andy McCollum played five seasons for the Saints (1994-98). SAINTS: LB Charlie Clemons played three seasons for the Rams (1997-99). DE Joe Johnson was born in St. Louis and attended Jennings High...RB Jerald Moore was drafted by the Rams in the third round (83rd overall) of the 1996 NFL draft and played three seasons (1996-98) in St. Louis.

NOT IN OUR HOUSE The Rams won a franchise record 15 consecutive home games from 1998-2000, ending this season in a Nov. 5 loss to Carolina. The home winning streak eclipsed the mark of 12, set by the Rams from 1973-74, and tied in 1976-78. The home winning streak is tied for the fourth longest in NFL history.

STRONG IN THE DIVISION The Rams won 12 consecutive games in the NFC West from 1999-2000, a streak that also ended Nov. 5 against Carolina. The streak tied for the fourth longest in NFL history with the Chicago Bears (1986-87) and Kansas City Chiefs (1994-96).

RINGING UP THE POINTS The Rams scored a franchise record of 540 points this season, eclipsing the total of 526 scored by the 1999 Rams. The Rams’ 2000 point total is the third highest in NFL history. It was the eighth time in NFL history a team has scored 500 points in the season; the Rams are the first franchise to do it twice.

2000 RAMS OFFENSIVE NOTES The St. Louis Rams led the NFL in offense for the second straight year, averaging 442.2 yards per game, the third highest per-game average in team history. St. Louis ranked 17th in the NFL (seventh in the NFC) in rushing, averaging 115.2 yards per game. The Rams led the NFL in passing offense for the second straight year, averaging 327.0 yards per game. The Rams are first in points (540), first in third down conversions (86 of 181, 47.5 percent), first in yards per first down attempt (6.89), first in red zone offense touchdown percentage (49 of 78, 62.8 percent), with a league high 49 touchdowns and 392 points in the red zone.

100 YARDS RUSHING = RAMS WIN RB Mars ---