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2002 St. Louis Rams season

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2002 St. Louis Rams season
OwnerGeorgia Frontiere
Head coachMike Martz
Home stadiumEdward Jones Dome
Results
Record7–9
Division place2nd NFC West
PlayoffsDid not qualify
Pro BowlersRB Marshall Faulk
LT Orlando Pace

The 2002 season was the St. Louis Rams' 65th in the National Football League (NFL), their eighth in St. Louis and their third under head coach Mike Martz.

Fresh off their trip from Super Bowl XXXVI which ended with a loss to the 11–5 Patriots, the Rams collapsed and missed the playoffs for the first time since 1998, losing their first five games.[1]

The season saw the emergence of new quarterback Marc Bulger, who filled in for an injured Kurt Warner and Jamie Martin. The Rams won six straight games where Bulger started and finished, but his season ended in Week 16 at Seattle.

However, the Rams did end the season on a high note with a 31–20 victory at home against the 49ers in Week 17 and they finished the season with a 7–9 record.

History

[edit]

Beginning in the offseason before the 1999 season, the Rams traded for Marshall Faulk, a running back. They then signed the quarterback, Trent Green and drafted a young wide receiver prospect, Torry Holt thereby making significant changes to their front line. Unfortunately, Green experienced a season-ending injury which brought in Kurt Warner, a relatively unknown player with little experience in the NFL

The injury marked the decline of Kurt Warner and the end of the so called "Greatest Show On Turf." This also marked the first season where the Rams did not make the playoffs under Mike Martz.

Star running back Marshall Faulk started in just 10 games due to ankle injury he suffered against San Diego. This weakened the Rams' running game and he finished the season with just 953 yards rushing, his lowest since 1996, where he rushed for 587 yards. At that time, he was a member of the Indianapolis Colts. His 953 rushing yards this season ended his streak of five straight 1,000 yard rushing seasons. Despite a down year, Faulk was still voted to play in the Pro Bowl after the season for the seventh and final time in his Hall of Fame career.

For the season, the team changed their uniforms, removing the side panels on the jersey.

Offseason

[edit]
AdditionsSubtractions
FS Chad Cota (Colts)T Ryan Tucker (Browns)
FB Chris Hetherington (Panthers)S Rich Coady (Titans)
WR Terrence Wilkins (Colts)LB Mark Fields (Panthers)
LB Jamie Duncan (Buccaneers)LB London Fletcher (Bills)
WR Troy Edwards (Steelers)WR Az-Zahir Hakim (Lions)
P Mitch Berger (Vikings)RB Robert Holcombe (Titans)
TE/LS Jeff Robinson (Cowboys)
DE Sean Moran (49ers)

2002 expansion draft

[edit]
St. Louis Rams selected during the expansion draft
Round Overall Name Position Expansion team
——18Brian AllenLinebackerHouston Texans

Draft

[edit]
2002 St. Louis Rams draft
Round Pick Player Position College Notes
1 31 Robert Thomas  LB UCLA
2 64 Travis Fisher  CB Central Florida
3 84 Lamar Gordon  RB North Dakota State
3 95 Eric Crouch  WR Nebraska
4 130 Travis Scott  G Arizona St
5 167 Courtland Bullard  LB Ohio St
6 205 Steve Bellisari  QB Ohio St
7 243 Chris Massey  FB Marshall
      Made roster    †   Pro Football Hall of Fame    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

Undrafted free agents

[edit]
2002 undrafted free agents of note
Player Position College
James Broyles Guard Southwest Missouri State
Alonzo Cunningham Guard Iowa
Maurice Douglas Running back Northwest Missouri State
Marques Glaze Running back Bloomsburg
Todd Howard Cornerback Michigan
Andy King Guard Illinois State
Michael Malan Running back Brown

Roster

[edit]
2002 St. Louis Rams roster
Quarterbacks (QB)

Running backs (RB)

Wide receivers (WR)

Tight ends (TE)

 Offensive linemen (OL)

Defensive linemen (DL)

 Linebackers (LB)

Defensive backs (DB)

Special teams (ST)

 Practice squad

Reserve

Rookies in italics
53 active, 7 reserve, 5 practice squad

Regular season

[edit]

Schedule

[edit]
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance
1 September 8 at Denver Broncos L 16–23 0–1 Invesco Field 75,710
2 September 15 New York Giants L 21–26 0–2 Edward Jones Dome 65,932
3 September 23 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 14–26 0–3 Raymond James Stadium 65,652
4 September 29 Dallas Cowboys L 10–13 0–4 Edward Jones Dome 66,165
5 October 6 at San Francisco 49ers L 13–37 0–5 3Com Park 67,853
6 October 13 Oakland Raiders W 28–13 1–5 Edward Jones Dome 66,070
7 October 20 Seattle Seahawks W 37–20 2–5 Edward Jones Dome 65,931
8 Bye
9 November 3 at Arizona Cardinals W 27–14 3–5 Sun Devil Stadium 47,819
10 November 10 San Diego Chargers W 28–24 4–5 Edward Jones Dome 66,093
11 November 18 Chicago Bears W 21–16 5–5 Edward Jones Dome 66,250
12 November 24 at Washington Redskins L 17–20 5–6 FedExField 79,823
13 December 1 at Philadelphia Eagles L 3–10 5–7 Veterans Stadium 65,552
14 December 8 at Kansas City Chiefs L 10–49 5–8 Arrowhead Stadium 78,601
15 December 15 Arizona Cardinals W 30–28 6–8 Edward Jones Dome 65,939
16 December 22 at Seattle Seahawks L 10–30 6–9 Seahawks Stadium 63,953
17 December 30 San Francisco 49ers W 31–20 7–9 Edward Jones Dome 66,118
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

[edit]

Week 7: vs. Seattle Seahawks

[edit]
Week 7: Seattle Seahawks (1–4) at St. Louis Rams (1–5) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Seahawks 0 14 0620
Rams 7 6 101437

at Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis, Missouri

Game information

First quarter

Second quarter

  • STL – Jeff Wilkins 31-yard field goal, 7:11 (STL 10–0)
  • SEA – Koren Robinson 79-yard pass from Trent Dilfer (Rian Lindell kick), 6:51 (STL 10–7)
  • STL – Jeff Wilkins 45-yard field goal, 0:29 (STL 13–7)
  • SEA – Maurice Morris 97-yard kickoff return (Rian Lindell kick), 0:16 (SEA 14–13)

Third quarter

  • STL – Marshall Faulk 3-yard run (Jeff Wilkins kick), 5:08 (STL 20–14)
  • STL – Jeff Wilkins 47-yard field goal, 3:23 (STL 23–14)

Fourth quarter

  • STL – Marshall Faulk 2-yard run (Jeff Wilkins kick), 12:12 (STL 30–14)
  • STL – Marshall Faulk 1-yard run (Jeff Wilkins kick), 6:05 (STL 37–14)
  • SEA – Chad Eaton 1-yard fumble return (PAT failed), 3:28 (STL 37–20)

Top passers

Top rushers

Top receivers

Team – pass – rush – total – to

  • SEA – 240 – 50 – 290 – 3
  • STL – 260 – 218 – 478 – 2

Week 9: vs. St. Louis Rams

[edit]
Week 9: St. Louis Rams (2–5) at Arizona Cardinals (4–3) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Rams 7 10 01027
Cardinals 0 7 0714

at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona

  • Date: November 3
  • Game time: 2:15 p.m. MST
  • Game weather: 76 °F (24 °C)
  • Game attendance: 47,819
  • Referee: Ron Blum
  • TV announcers (FOX): Curt Menefee, Tim Ryan
  • Box Score
Game information

First quarter

Second quarter

Third quarter

  • No scoring plays

Fourth quarter

  • ARI – Justin Lucas 35-yard interception run (Bill Gramática kick), 10:36. Rams 17–14.
  • STL – Jeff Wilkins 42-yard field goal, 3:46. Rams 20–14.
  • STL – Marshall Faulk 13-yard run (Jeff Wilkins kick), 1:53. Rams 27–14.

Top passers

  • STL – Marc Bulger – 20/29, 245 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
  • ARI – Jake Plummer – 19/30, 193 yards, TD, INT

Top rushers

  • STL – Marshall Faulk – 27 rushes, 178 yards, TD
  • ARI – Thomas Jones – 12 rushes, 25 yards

Top receivers

  • STL – Troy Edwards – 4 receptions, 63 yards
  • ARI – Frank Sanders – 6 receptions, 67 yards, TD

Team – pass – rush – total – to

  • STL – 245 – 192 – 415 – 2
  • ARI – 193 – 64 – 235 – 3

Week 10: vs. San Diego Chargers

[edit]
Week 10: San Diego Chargers (6–2) at St. Louis Rams (3–5) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Chargers 7 10 7024
Rams 7 0 71428

at Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis, Missouri

Game information

First quarter

  • STL – Ernie Conwell 17-yard pass from Marc Bulger (Jeff Wilkins kick), 11:43. Rams 7–0. Drive: 5 plays, 85 yards, 3:17.
  • SDG – Ryan McNeil 5-yard fumble return (Steve Christie kick), 7:36. Tied 7–7.

Second quarter

  • SDG – Steve Christie 41-yard field goal, 14:01. Chargers 10–7. Drive: 12 plays, 52 yards, 6:50.
  • SDG – LaDainian Tomlinson 1-yard run (Steve Christie kick), 8:54. Chargers 17–7. Drive: 7 plays, 56 yards, 3:26.

Third quarter

  • STL – Isaac Bruce 27-yard pass from Marc Bulger (Jeff Wilkins kick), 9:12. Chargers 17–14. Drive: 6 plays, 87 yards, 2:22.
  • SDG – Donnie Edwards 82-yard fumble return (Steve Christie kick), 5:09. Chargers 24–14.

Fourth quarter

  • STL – Isaac Bruce 34-yard pass from Marc Bulger (Jeff Wilkins kick), 3:06. Chargers 24–21. Drive: 6 plays, 94 yards, 1:52.
  • STL – Isaac Bruce 7-yard pass from Marc Bulger (Jeff Wilkins kick), 1:14. Rams 28–24. Drive: 9 plays, 54 yards, 1:52.

Top passers

  • SDG – Drew Brees – 12/20, 139 yards, 2 INT
  • STL – Marc Bulger – 36/48, 453 yards, 4 TD

Top rushers

  • SDG – LaDainian Tomlinson – 24 rushes, 120 yards, TD
  • STL – Marshall Faulk – 13 rushes, 36 yards

Top receivers

  • SDG – Tim Dwight – 4 receptions, 53 yards
  • STL – Isaac Bruce – 10 receptions, 163 yards, 3 TD

Week 11: vs. Chicago Bears

[edit]
Week 11: Chicago Bears (2–7) at St. Louis Rams (4–5) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Bears 0 6 7316
Rams 7 7 0721

at Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis, Missouri

  • Date: November 18, 2002
  • Game time: 9:00 p.m.
  • Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
  • Game attendance: 66,250
  • Referee: Gerry Austin (34)
  • TV announcers (ABC): Al Michaels, John Madden and Melissa Stark
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

First quarter

  • STL – Ernie Conwell 1-yard run (Jeff Wilkins kick), 10:05. Rams 7–0. Drive: 10 plays, 65 yards, 4:55.

Second quarter

  • CHI – Paul Edinger 37-yard field goal, 14:10. Rams 7–3. Drive: 13 plays, 66 yards, 6:59.
  • CHI – Paul Edinger 48-yard field goal, 6:15. Rams 7–6. Drive: 4 plays, 3 yards, 2:08.
  • STL – Lamar Gordon 22-yard pass from Marc Bulger (Jeff Wilkins kick), 0:42. Rams 14–6. Drive: 4 plays, 81 yards, 0:46.

Third quarter

  • CHI – Anthony Thomas 13-yard run (Paul Edinger kick), 9:23. Rams 14–13. Drive: 11 plays, 64 yards, 5:37.

Fourth quarter

  • STL – Ricky Proehl 8-yard pass from Marc Bulger (Jeff Wilkins kick), 9:01. Rams 21–13. Drive: 10 plays, 82 yards, 5:14.
  • CHI – Paul Edinger 50-yard field goal, 3:48. Rams 21–16. Drive: 6 plays, 32 yards, 3:04.

Top passers

  • CHI – Chris Chandler – 20/33, 157 yards
  • STL – Marc Bulger – 21/35, 347 yards, 2 TD, INT

Top rushers

  • CHI – Anthony Thomas – 14 rushes, 61 yards, TD
  • STL – Lamar Gordon – 16 rushes, 45 yards

Top receivers

  • CHI – Marty Booker – 7 receptions, 65 yards
  • STL – Isaac Bruce – 6 receptions, 141 yards

Week 14: at Kansas City Chiefs

[edit]
Week 14: St. Louis Rams (5–7) at Kansas City Chiefs (6–6) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Rams 10 0 0010
Chiefs 14 21 01449

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

  • Date: December 8
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: Mostly cloudy, 38 °F (3 °C)
  • Game attendance: 78,601
  • Referee: Bill Leavy
  • TV announcers (Fox): Sam Rosen, Bill Maas, and Joel Goldberg
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

First quarter

  • STL – Jeff Wilkins 36-yard field goal, 12:01. Rams 3–0. Drive: 5 plays, 13 yards, 1:47.
  • KC – Dante Hall 88-yard kickoff return (Morten Andersen kick), 11:49. Chiefs 7–3.
  • KC – Duane Clemons 42-yard fumble return (Morten Andersen kick), 10:16. Chiefs 14–3.
  • STL – Isaac Bruce 8-yard pass from Jamie Martin (Jeff Wilkins kick), 1:43. Chiefs 14–10. Drive: 4 plays, 51 yards, 2:05.

Second quarter

  • KC – Priest Holmes 2-yard run (Morten Andersen kick), 8:52. Chiefs 21–10. Drive: 8 plays, 66 yards, 4:56.
  • KC – Dante Hall 86-yard punt return (Morten Andersen kick), 6:58. Chiefs 28–10.
  • KC – Priest Holmes 1-yard run (Morten Andersen kick), 1:57. Chiefs 35–10. Drive: 7 plays, 57 yards, 3:25.

Third quarter

  • No scoring plays.

Fourth quarter

  • KC – Marc Boerigter 6-yard pass from Trent Green (Morten Andersen kick), 9:56. Chiefs 42–10. Drive: 12 plays, 89 yards, 7:48.
  • KC – Mike Cloud 1-yard run (Morten Andersen kick), 5:24. Chiefs 49–10. Drive: 7 plays, 56 yards, 3:56.

Top passers

  • STL – Jamie Martin – 24/35, 218 yards, TD, 2 INT
  • KC – Trent Green – 10/15, 100 yards, TD

Top rushers

  • STL – Lamar Gordon – 5 rushes, 14 yards
  • KC – Priest Holmes – 24 rushes, 132 yards, 2 TD

Top receivers

  • STL – Isaac Bruce – 5 receptions, 47 yards, TD
  • KC – Tony Gonzalez – 5 receptions, 38 yards

Week 16: at Seattle Seahawks

[edit]
Week 16: St. Louis Rams (6–8) at Seattle Seahawks (5–9) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Rams 0 3 7010
Seahawks 3 10 10730

at Seahawks Stadium, Seattle

  • Date: December 22
  • Game time: 1:05pm local
  • Game weather: cloudy, 45 °F (7 °C), 76% humidity, wind SE 5 miles per hour (8.0 km/h)
  • Game attendance: 63,953
  • Referee: Mike Carey
  • TV announcers (Fox): Kenny Albert, Tim Green & Brent Ringenbach
  • Gamecenter, Gamebook
Game information

First quarter

Second quarter

  • SEA – Rian Lindell 36-yard field goal, 12:12 (SEA 6–0)
  • STL – Jeff Wilkins 45-yard field goal, 5:43 (SEA 6–3)
  • SEA – Shaun Alexander 1-yard run (Rian Lindell kick), 3:43 (SEA 13–3)
  • SEA – Shaun Alexander 1-yard run (Rian Lindell kick), 8:58 (SEA 20–3)

Third quarter

  • STL – Torry Holt 5-yard pass from Jamie Martin (Jeff Wilkins kick), 3:17 (SEA 20–10)
  • SEA – Rian Lindell 22-yard field goal, 0:06 (SEA 23–10)

Fourth quarter

Top passers

Top rushers

Top receivers

Team – pass – rush – total – to

  • STL – 254 – 17 – 271 – 5
  • SEA – 292 – 100 – 392 – 1

Standings

[edit]

Division

[edit]
NFC West
 W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
(4) San Francisco 49ers 10 6 0 .625 5–1 8–4 367 351 L1
St. Louis Rams 7 9 0 .438 4–2 5–7 316 369 W1
Seattle Seahawks 7 9 0 .438 2–4 5–7 355 369 W3
Arizona Cardinals 5 11 0 .313 1–5 5–7 262 417 L3

h St. Louis finished ahead of Seattle in the NFC West based on better division record (4–2 to 2–4).

Conference

[edit]
NFC
# Team Division W L T PCT DIV CONF SOS SOV
Division leaders
1[a] Philadelphia Eagles East 1240.750 5–111–1.469.432
2[a][b] Tampa Bay Buccaneers South 1240.750 4–29–3.482.432
3[a][b] Green Bay Packers North 1240.750 5–19–3.451.414
4 San Francisco 49ers West 1060.625 5–18–4.504.450
Wild Cards
5 New York Giants East 1060.625 5–18–4.482.450
6 Atlanta Falcons South 961.594 4–27–5.494.429
Did not qualify for the postseason
7 New Orleans Saints South 970.563 3–37–5.498.566
8[c] St. Louis Rams West 790.438 4–25–7.508.446
9[c] Seattle Seahawks West 790.438 2–45–7.506.433
10[d] Washington Redskins East 790.438 1–54–8.527.438
11[d] Carolina Panthers South 790.438 1–54–8.486.357
12 Minnesota Vikings North 6100.375 4–25–7.498.417
13[e] Arizona Cardinals West 5110.313 1–55–7.500.400
14[e] Dallas Cowboys East 5110.313 1–53–9.500.475
15 Chicago Bears North 4120.250 2–43–9.521.430
16 Detroit Lions North 3130.188 1–53–9.494.375
Tiebreakers[f]
  1. 1 2 3 Philadelphia finished ahead of Tampa Bay and Green Bay based on conference record (11–1 vs 9–3/9–3).
  2. 1 2 Tampa Bay finished ahead of Green Bay based on head-to-head victory.
  3. 1 2 St. Louis finished ahead of Seattle based on division record (4–2 to 2–4).
  4. 1 2 Washington finished ahead of Carolina based on common games (2–3 to 1–4)
  5. 1 2 Arizona finished ahead of Dallas based on head-to-head victory.
  6. ↑ When breaking ties for three or more teams under the NFL's rules, they are first broken within divisions, then comparing only the highest-ranked remaining team from each division.

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ Martin, Jill. ‘2002: When the Patriots Were a Cinderella Team.’; Cable News Network, January 24, 2019
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