RAMS RETURN HOME TO FACE VIKINGS
Sunday, October 11, 2009, Edward Jones Dome, Noon (CDT)

The Rams welcome the Minnesota Vikings to the Edward Jones Dome this weekend. The game will be the 33rd regular season meeting between the teams as the Vikings lead the series, 16-14-2. The Rams and Vikings have also met seven times in the postseason.

This week’s contest marks the first time the teams have met since 2006. The Rams won the season finale, 41-21, behind RB Steven Jackson’s 166 total yards. Jackson rushed for 142 yards and three touchdowns and added 24 receiving yards and a touchdown. Jackson’s 142 rushing yards made him the first player to rush for 100 or more yards vs. the Vikings in 28 games. The Rams also got a strong performance from CB Ron Bartell in the game as he established a career high with two interceptions, returning one 38 yards for a touchdown.

Passing

K. Boller
Rams
272 yards

Rushing

S. Jackson
Rams
367 yards

Receiving

D. Avery
Rams
109 yards

Passing

B. Favre
Vikings
837 yards

Rushing

A. Peterson
Vikings
412 yards

Receiving

B. Berrian
Vikings
177 yards

To commemorate the 10th anniversary of the St. Louis Rams team
that defeated the Tennessee Titans, 23-16, in Super Bowl XXXIV, the Rams will wear throwback jerseys this week vs. the Vikings (10/11). The Rams will also don the jerseys in Week 15 vs. Houston (12/20).

The uniforms feature the traditional white, blue and yellow-gold color scheme that the team wore from 1973-99. The uniforms were worn during the Rams inaugural season in St. Louis in 1995 through the team’s Super Bowl XXXIV victory following the 1999 season.

“The Rams are one of the most storied franchises in NFL history, and even as we look to start a new chapter in Rams’ history, this is an exciting opportunity to pay homage to our past and celebrate the 10th anniversary of our Super Bowl victory,” Rams Executive Vice President of Football Operations/Chief Operating Officer Kevin
Demoff said. “Our fans at the Minnesota and Houston games will be
part of history as they see their team in the same colors as Rams’
greats from the past.”

4th Quarter

- The Rams came up short and without points for the third time in the red zone on Sunday as a fourth down pass attempt to the end zone was intercepted by Minnesota safety Tyrell Johnson.

- The Vikings marched the field and got another touchdown from Peterson, this time from 5 yards out to make it 31-3 Minnesota with 10:01 to go.

- The Rams finally broke through for a touchdown with 6:45 when quarterback Marc Bulger hit Avery for a 27-yard touchdown to trim it to 31-10.

- Bulger replaced Boller, who took a blow to the head on the previous drive and was shaken up.

- The Vikings moved down the field again, this time scoring on a 1-yard run by Chester Taylor. The extra point made it 38-10 Minnesota with 1:55 to go.

- That did it for the scoring and the Rams dropped to 0-5 with a 38-10 loss.

3rd Quarter

- The Rams went three and out to open the half and Minnesota quickly moved down for a score on its next possession.

- Favre hit Sidney Rice for a gain of 47 yards and then hit tight end Visanthe Shiancoe for a 13-yard touchdown to make it 24-3 Vikings with 9:15 left in the quarter.

- The Rams again went three and out but the defense got it right back with a three and done of its own.

- The following drive was another long, solid one as the Rams have a third-and-6 at Minnesota’s 9 at the end of the third quarter, trailing 24-3.

2nd Quarter

- The Rams got a 13-yard run from Jackson to Minnesota’s 1 when a faulty exchange on a handoff to Jackson resulted in a fumble. Allen recovered it at Minnesota’s 4, ending the drive.

- The Rams had marched 90 yards on the possession on 14 plays in perhaps the best drive of the season for the offense.

- The Vikings took over at their 4.

- The Rams defense created a turnover of its own to get the ball back as James Laurinaitis came up with his first career interception.

- On third and 9, Boller hit Daniel Fells for a gain of 14 yards. But the Rams couldn’t find the end zone and settled for a 29-yard field goal from Josh Brown to trim Minnesota’s lead to 14-3 with 7:38 to go in the half.

- Minnesota got excellent field position on the following kickoff after a horse collar penalty on Quincy Butler, to give the Vikings first down at their 44.

- The Vikings got a 19-yard completion to Harvin but that was about it and kicker Ryan Longwell booted a 47-yard field goal to make it 17-3 Minnesota with 5:34 to go in the half.

- The Rams responded with another strong drive, moving deep into Minnesota territory for a first down at Minnesota’s 12, sparked by a 25-yard catch and run from Jackson.

- Again, a killer turnover ended the drive when Fells coughed it up inside Minnesota’s 5.

- The Vikings took over but were unable to score and took a 17-3 lead into the locker room.

- The Rams outgained Minnesota 207 to 157 but the turnovers killed them and held the ball over 17 minutes to more than 12 minutes for the Vikings.

1st Quarter

- The Vikings won the toss and elected to receive. And they wasted no time in taking advantage of that initial possession.

- Quarterback Brett Favre hit Percy Harvin for gains of 22 and 24 yards to help set up a 5-yard touchdown run by Adrian Peterson. Minnesota leads 7-0 with 10:17 to go in the quarter.

- The Rams’ first possession got off to an excellent start as Boller hit Randy McMichael for a 35-yard catch and run. The next three plays were all runs for Steven Jackson who netted 11 yards and a first down.

- On first and 10 at Minnesota’s 35, Boller dropped back to pass and lost the ball as he cocked to throw. Minnesota end Jared Allen recovered and raced 52 yards for a touchdown. The extra point made it 14-0 Minnesota with eight minutes to go in the quarter.

- The Rams challenged the Boller fumble but the replay held up the initial ruling of a fumble and the play stood.

- On the ensuing possession, the Rams pieced together another solid drive and have a first down at Minnesota’s 24 trailing 14-0 at the end of the first.

Pregame Notes

- Greetings from the Edward Jones Dome, where the Rams and Vikings are prepared to square off with a noon start today.

- The Rams are relatively healthy at receiver as the only wideout down this week is Ruvell Martin (hamstring injury).

- The inactives for the Rams are Martin, safety Anthony Smith, safety James Butler, guard Roger Allen III, guard John Greco, defensive end Victor Adeyanju and defensive tackle Darell Scott.

- Craig Dahl will get the start in place of Butler at strong safety.

- Nate Jones will make his first active NFL appearance at receiver with Martin inactive. He could get some action as the team’s fourth wideout, especially with Donnie Avery and Keenan Burton having sore hamstrings.

- Keith Null will be the third quarterback today with Marc Bulger as the second quarterback. Kyle Boller will start.

- Jason Smith will be active for the first time since his knee injury. Smith is listed at the top of the depth chart but no announcement on his status as a starter has been made.

- For Minnesota, players of note who are inactive include tackle Phil Loadholt. He will be replaced by Artis Hicks.

- Receiver Greg Lewis is also inactive for the Vikings.

- The Rams are wearing their throwback uniforms for the first time since the 1999 season as they celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Super Bowl XXXIV win.

- Today is also the Rams’ awareness drive for breast cancer meaning there will still be plenty of pink on cleats, gloves, etc.

- Rams captains for today are guard Richie Incognito, defensive tackle Clifton Ryan and running back Kenneth Darby.

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.

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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).