Injuries: We'll start here because any hope of a respectable season went down the tubes today with the injuries.  Marc Bulger was injured in the first quarter with what is termed a shoulder injury.  He will be examined on Monday but I would expect him to miss a couple of games.  Laurent Robinson, the true number on receiver, went out with an ankle injury and had to be carted off.  That also looks like a couple of weeks.  Safety James Butler went out with a knee injury.  That could be a really bad one.  Add on top of that an injury to Donnie Avery in the game and number one draft pick Jason Smith was a scratch before the game with an injury and you have got yourself a complete disaster.  Everyone knows that the roster is thin to begin with and now there are four starters that will most likely be out come next week in San Francisco.  Just a complete disaster.

No Pass Rush:  The Green Bay Packers surrendered five sacks to Antwan Odom by himself last week.  The Rams today got to Aaron Rodgers just twice.  The Rams have played three games and they have three sacks.  One of the reasons the Rams hired Steve Spagnuolo is because he was good at creating confusing defenses that got to the opposing team's quarterback.  Again no one expected Spagnuolo to work miracles but where is the pass rush?  I know the Rams defense does not have the parts the New York Giants did, but I think most Rams fans were expecting something more than this.

Ron Bartell:  What has happened to Ron Bartell?  He was the Rams best defensive back in 2008 and that was the reason he received the big contract in the offseason.  Bartell has been the worst defensive back in 2009.  He was twice beaten deep and has been the problem and not the answer in the secondary.  When the Rams released Tye Hill there was concern that Jonathan Wade was not going to be able to handle the other cornerback position.  Three weeks into the season Wade is playing much better then Bartell.

Turnovers: After a great preseason and a good first game in the turnover department the Rams have not forced a turnover and are now coughing the ball up on the offensive side of the ball.  The Rams were -3 in the turnover ratio and when your talent level is as low as the Rams is you can't expect to win or even be competitive.  One of the things that Spagnuolo's teams were going to be was smart with the football and forcing turnovers on defense.  Today was nowhere near that vision.

What Went Right:

Steven Jackson: The Rams only offensive option tried to carry the load today and had a good afternoon statistically.  Jackson had 117 yards rushing and 163 yards total.  More importantly Jackson received 32 touches which is going to be a key if the Rams expect to win any games this season.  Jackson is the only reason to watch the Rams offensively right now.  The only knock on Jackson in this game is the fumble that cost the Rams some points.

Danny Amendola:  Credit Rams GM Billy Devaney on this one.  The Rams return game was awful and all you can ask out of your return guy is that he runs as hard and as fast as he can when he gets the ball.  Amendola definitely did that and gives the Rams at least a threat of a return game.  It was a terrific signing and a definite upgrade at the position.

Daniel Fells:  The tight end today had his best game ever in the NFL with two touchdown catches.  Fells who forced the Rams to jettison Joe Klopfenstein in the offseason because of his play continues to impress each time he gets an opportunity.  With Randy McMichael clearly struggling with his play at tight end it was good to see Fells step up and get an opportunity.

Donnie Jones:  He is the best punter in the league and if you read this column I want you to stuff the ballot box for Jones making the Pro Bowl.  Jones is one bright spot on this team, again averaging over 50 yards a punt and downing the ball inside the 5 once.  We have to get one Ram to the Pro Bowl this year and he deserves it for last year's snub.

Offensive Line: It should be noted that the Rams had a 100 yard rusher and only had one sack against them.  That means the offensive line did something right today.  It clearly wasn't enough but it is a positive in a dreary game.

Red Zone Defense:  Once again the Rams defense forced the Packers to kick field goals instead of surrendering touchdowns.  This game could have been a 50+ point game for the Packers if the Rams defense did not stiffen up for a little while in the first quarter.  Again it is not enough but it is something to note.

I stated that this game was the most important game for the St. Louis Rams franchise since the Rams lost in the Divisional Playoff Game to the Atlanta Falcons in 2005.  A win today gives the Rams fanbase some hope heading forward into the 2009 season.  It provides fans a reason to come to the Dome and believe.  It also keeps the Rams on the local sports radar because the Cardinals will be in the playoffs starting next week, the Blues open the season with a lot of buzz around them and the Missouri Tigers are off to a 4-0 start.  As things turned out today the Rams would have also been playing for a shot at first place in the NFC West next week in San Francisco.  It would have been HUGE.  Instead the Rams will struggle to sell tickets the rest of the way, the team will battle to stay relevant and it seems like more of the same. 

Three losses do not define the Steve Spagnuolo era but it was a bigger loss than just one game in Week Three.  It meant so much more and the Rams didn't deliver.  Rams fans we are a long way away from being back to respectable and now with 13 straight losses and the Detroit Lions winning today the harsh reality is that St. Louis now owns the worst football team in the NFL.  It is as simple as that.

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