RAMS AND BEARS MEET FOR 89TH TIME
Sunday, December 6, 2009, Soldier Field, Noon (CST)

The Rams travel to Soldier Field this week to face the Chicago Bears. The Rams and Bears last met in 2008, but the Rams have not traveled to Chicago since 2003 when the Rams defeated the Bears, 23-21.

The Rams have played the Bears more times than all but two other NFL teams – San Francisco (120), Green Bay (91) – as this will be the 89th meeting between the teams. The Bears lead the all-time series, 50-35-3, but the Rams have won five of the past last nine meetings since moving to St. Louis in 1995.

Chicago enters the game vs. the Rams with a 4-7 record after losing 36-10 to the Minnesota Vikings last week.

The Rams enter the game with a 1-10 record and are coming off a 27-17 defeat to the Seattle Seahawks. RB Steven Jackson totaled 116 yards from scrimmage and one touchdown for the Rams despite dealing with a back injury throughout the week leading up to the game. QB Kyle Boller made his third start of the season for the Rams in place of an injured Marc Bulger and produced career highs in attempts (46) and completions (28). LB James Laurinaitis led the way for the Rams on defense as he tallied his first career sack and tied for the team lead with 10 tackles.

Passing

K. Boller
Rams
763 yards

Rushing

S. Jackson
Rams
1120 yards

Receiving

D. Avery
Rams
466 yards

Passing

J. Cutler
Bears
2671 yards

Rushing

M. Forte
Bears
543 yards

Receiving

D. Hester
Bears
634 yards

WR Donnie Avery leads the Rams with 466 receiving yards and a
career-high five touchdowns this season as he continues to build on
a productive 2008 season.

Avery, the first wide receiver selected in the 2008 NFL Draft (33rd
overall) made an impact in his first NFL season, finishing second on
the team with 53 receptions for 674 yards and three touchdowns.
Avery also rushed 10 times for 69 yards and one touchdown. His 53
receptions stand as the second-most by a Rams’ rookie receiver,
behind only WR Eddie Kennison’s 54 receptions in 1996.

4th Quarter

3rd Quarter

- The Rams opened the second half with the ball and went three and out.

- But the defense responded with a three and out of its own, highlighted by Chris Long’s fourth sack of the season and Paris Lenon’s tackle for loss.

- The Rams again got good field position, starting at Chicago’s 49.

- On second down, Amendola picked up 8 yards and had 15 more tacked on by a facemask penalty.

- The Rams had to settle for a field goal, though as Brown converted from 48 yards out to make it 10-6 Bears with 8:50 to go in the half.

- The Bears came right back with a 76-yard drive ended when Cutler hit Bennett for a 3-yard touchdown and a 17-6 lead with 1:23 to go in the quarter.

- The Rams went three and out on the ensuing possession, punting it back to Chicago, which took over at its 19.

- The Bears lead 17-6 heading into the fourth quarter.

2nd Quarter

- The Rams got a three and out quickly, forcing Chicago to punt from its 8 to open the second quarter.

- A penalty on the return cost the Rams 10 yards of field position and they started from their 41. Another three and out led to another Jones punt.

- Jones dropped his fourth punt in as many chances inside the 20, again pinning Chicago at its 2.

- The Bears went three and out again and the Rams took over with good field position again at Chicago’s 42. But the Rams couldn’t take advantage and a completion from Boller to Brandon Gibson resulted in a fumble that Chicago recovered and returned to the Rams’ 16.

- Surprisingly, the Bears opted for a fake field goal after getting shut down and a shuffle pass to Olson was stopped short by safety David Roach.

- The Rams took over at their 10.

- St. Louis followed by piecing together its best drive of the day.

- Boller hit Kenneth Darby for a gain of 13 and Gibson for gains of 10 and 21. Jackson picked up chunks as well, ripping off gains of 11 and 13, which gave the Rams a first down at Chicago’s 5.

- The Rams couldn’t quite finish the drive, though and had to settle for a 21-yard field goal to trim it to 10-3 Bears with 1:14 to go in the half.

- Leonard Little picked up a sack and the Bears decided to sit on it, taking it into the locker room with Chicago leading 10-3.

1st Quarter

- The Bears won the toss and elected to receive, putting Jay Cutler and Co. to work right away.

- After Chicago’s first play went for 2 yards from running back Matt Forte, safety Oshiomogho Atogwe did what he does best, ripping the ball out of Forte’s hands and falling on it for a recovery.

- The Rams got a first down quickly on a 6-yard completion from Kyle Boller to tight end Randy McMichael and a penalty.

- But the Rams couldn’t convert on third and 9 when Boller was sacked for a loss of 8.

- The ensuing punt backed Chicago up to its 15 but the Bears moved quickly down the field.

- Cutler hit Devin Hester for a gain of 48 yards and two players later a 34-yard pass interference call on cornerback Quincy Butler gave Chicago the ball at the Rams’ 2.

- The third try from Forte finally punched it in from 1 yard out to give Chicago a 7-0 lead with about 9:45 to go in the first quarter.

- The Rams picked up a first down on the next drive as Donnie Avery picked up 15 yards on an end around but the Rams could get no further and had to punt. This time, Jones pinned Chicago at its 6.

- After getting just 2 yards on the first two plays, Cutler hit Earl Bennett down the middle for a gain of 71 yards, another big pass play against the Rams. Atogwe caught Bennett from behind and knocked the ball loose again but fortunately for the Bears it rolled out of bounds before the Rams could recover, giving Chicago a first down at the Rams 20.

- The Rams were able to hold, though, and Chicago settled for a 28-yard field goal from kicker Robbie Gould.

- At the end of the first quarter, the Bears lead 10-0 and have possession at their 8.

Pregame Notes

- Greetings from Soldier Field where the Rams and Bears are preparing to kick off in the frigid temperatures with a stiff breeze blowing off the lake.

- Rams running back Steven Jackson again tested his aching back before the game and is again ready to go. Jackson continues to answer the bell for this team even under adverse conditions.

- The Rams pregame inactives are quarterback Marc Bulger, cornerback Danny Gorrer, tackle Jason Smith, fullback Mike Karney, guard Roger Allen III, tackle Phil Trautwein, linebacker Dominic Douglas and running back Chris Ogbonnaya.

- Lineup changes: the Rams will start rookie Darell Scott at defensive tackle in place of LaJuan Ramsey again. With Smith out, Adam Goldberg will again start at right tackle with Richie Incognito reclaiming his role at right guard.

- The Bears inactives are receiver Juaquin Iglesias, safety Craig Steltz, cornerback D.J. Moore, linebacker Lance Briggs, defensive tackle Matt Toeaina, tackle Orlando pace, tight end Desmond Clark and defensive end Gaines Adams.

- Jamar Williams starts in place of Briggs and Kevin Payne will start for Danieal Manning at free safety. Kevin Shaffer starts at right tackle with Chris Williams sliding to left tackle to replace Pace.

2nd Quarter

KTVI, FOX 2 is once again “The Home of the Rams” in 2007.  On Monday evenings at 6:30 p.m., check out Rams Weekly where Fox 2 Sports Director Martin Kilcoyne goes one on one with head coach Scott Linehan and a Rams’ player.

Prior to each game, Kilcoyne will be joined by the St. Louis Post Dispatch’s Bryan Burwell, FOX 2’s Rob Desir and FOX 2’s Maurice Drummond for Rams Gameday pregame show, bringing viewers in-depth analysis, player profiles and the latest inside scoop on every Rams game.

The 2009-2010 broadcast team for Rams Radio is as follows:

Rams Radio Pre-Game Show:
Host: Randy Karraker
Analyst: Coach Jim Hanifan
Reporter: Brian Stull
Gameday Insider: Jim Thomas
Studio Host: Tom Casey
Segment Contributors: Bernie Miklasz, Bryan Burwell, Pat Parris,
D’Marco Farr and Steve Savard
Executive Producer: Chris “Hoss” Neupert

Rams Radio In-Game Coverage:
Play by Play: Steve Savard
Color Analyst: D’Marco Farr
In-Game Reporter: Brian Stull
Studio Host: Tom Casey
Executive Producer: Chris “Hoss” Neupert

Rams Radio Post-Game Show:
Hosts: Steve Savard and Brent Stover
Analysts: D’Marco Farr and Coach Jim Hanifan
Locker Room Interviews: Brian Stull
Studio Host: Tom Casey
Executive Producer: Chris “Hoss” Neupert

All of the Rams game day shows and coverage, along with the weekly Rams programs will be executed under the watchful eye of Executive Producer Chris Neupert. Studio Producer duties will vary by program and schedule, rotating between 101 ESPN Producers Ben Boyd, Todd Wise and Chris Gardner. Steve Bear will be the In-Game Spotter, and engineering responsibilities will be handled by Dodie Rahlman, Craig Rutledge, Marshall Rice, Bob Hoffman and Ken Cunetto.

Along with the Rams game day coverage and pre-and post-game shows, 101 ESPN will broadcast “Rams Rush Hour Shows” weeknights from 7:00 until 8:00 pm. As part of “Rams Rush Hour Shows,” Coach Steve Spagnuolo and General Manager Billy Devaney are expected to do weekly shows.

Have you ever wanted to play for your favorite NFL team? Now you can! The Home Team Challenge is an exciting Fantasy game that lets you play for your favorite team and compete for prizes at the same time! Prove that the Rams' fans are the best Fantasy players! Win great prizes too! Pick an eight-player Fantasy team during any week of the regular season. The more points your Fantasy team scores, the more you help your team in the NFL standings.

Weekly Prize

Seventeen (17) Weekly Team Prizes (1 weekly prize each week for 17 weeks)

• Week 1: Jason Smith Autographed Photo (ARV: $20.00 USD)
• Week 2: Rams Fan Pack: includes Rams hat and Rams t-shirt (ARV: $30.00 USD)
• Week 3: Rams Player Autographed Football. (Choice of autograph is at the sole discretion of St. Louis Rams) (ARV: $59.99 USD)
• Week 4: NFL Wilson Portfolio (ARV: $30.00 USD)
• Week 5: Steven Jackson Autographed Photo (ARV: $20.00 USD)
• Week 6: Rams Fan Pack: includes Rams hat and Rams t-shirt (ARV: $30.00 USD)
• Week 7: Rams Player Autographed Football. (Choice of autograph is at the sole discretion of St. Louis Rams) (ARV: $59.99 USD)
• Week 8: NFL Wilson Portfolio (ARV: $30.00 USD)
• Week 9: Jason Smith Autographed Photo (ARV: $25.00 USD)
• Week 10: Rams Fan Pack: includes Rams hat and Rams t-shirt (ARV: $30.00 USD)
• Week 11: Rams Player Autographed Football. (Choice of autograph is at the sole discretion of St. Louis Rams) (ARV: $59.99 USD)
• Week 12: NFL Wilson Portfolio (ARV: $30.00 USD)
• Week 13: Chris Long Autographed Photo (ARV: $20.00 USD)
• Week 14: Rams Fan Pack: includes Rams hat and Rams t-shirt (ARV: $30.00 USD)
• Week 15: Rams Player Autographed Football. (Choice of autograph is at the sole discretion of St. Louis Rams) (ARV: $59.99 USD)
• Week 16: NFL Wilson Portfolio (ARV: $30.00 USD)
• Week 17: Donnie Avery Autographed Photo (ARV: $20.00 USD)

One (1) Overall Grand Team Prize
Rams 2010 Home Opener Dream Package: Package for two (2) for the Rams 2010 regular season home opener, includes (2) club seat tickets***, two (2) pre-game sidelines passes, one (1) complimentary parking pass, and one (1) Rams gift bag which includes autographed memorabilia (such memorabilia determined by Rams in their sole discretion). (ARV: $1,500.00 USD).