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Rams Lead Eagles 17-7 at Start of 4Q

Posted on: Tuesday, 28 December 2004, 00:00 CST

ST. LOUIS - Steven Jackson had 145 yards on 22 carries, the best performance by a Rams running back this season, to help St. Louis take a 17-7 lead over the Philadelphia Eagles after three quarters on Monday night.

The Eagles, who already have clinched home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs and entered at 13-1, played it like a preseason game. Quarterback Donovan McNabb was in for only one series and virtually all of the regulars were out of the game by halftime.

Two healthy Eagles, running back Brian Westbrook and offensive tackle Tra Thomas, were inactive. Neither Westbrook nor Thomas had been listed on the injury report. Last week, coach Andy Reid had indicated all of his regulars would play.

Also sidelined was injured star receiver Terrell Owens, whose earliest return from ankle surgery would be the Super Bowl - if the Eagles make it that far.

The Rams, who took a 10-7 lead on a 28-yard field goal by Jeff Wilkins with 42 seconds left in the first half, were trying to sneak into the playoffs for the fourth time in five seasons under coach Mike Martz. They had lost six of eight and were 6-8 entering the game, trailing the Seahawks in the mediocre NFC West.

St. Louis increased its lead to 10 points on Marc Bulger's 7-yard pass to Isaac Bruce with 7:38 to go in the third quarter. Jackson carried four straight times for 25 yards before the touchdown pass.

Bulger, who missed the last two games with a bruised right shoulder, was 15-for-21 for 169 yards and a touchdown after three quarters.

The Rams totaled only 88 yards rushing on 31 carries the previous two games - both losses. The previous best rushing game was a 139-yard effort by Marshall Faulk against the Seahawks in Week 10.

McNabb produced a 12-play drive, capped by a 7-yard pass to Freddie Mitchell to tie the score at 7, going 3-for-3 for 36 yards before being replaced by Koy Detmer. Detmer was 1-for-6 for 5 yards before being replaced by Jeff Blake at the start of the fourth quarter.

Dorsey Levens, Westbrook's replacement, had 27 yards on four carries in the drive and Mitchell's touchdown catch was his first of the season.

The Eagles had two injuries in the first half. Cornerback Lito Sheppard (bruised quad) was hurt in a violent collision with teammate Dexter Wynn covering a pass on a fake punt early in the second quarter. Tight end Chad Lewis (triceps) also left in the second quarter and his return was doubtful, while Sheppard's return was questionable.

Martz has been criticized in recent weeks for virtually abandoning the run. Perhaps in response, he opened the game with 11 straight runs.

And Jackson, who watched last week's 31-7 loss at Arizona while Faulk totaled 23 yards on 10 carries, was in the feature role. The first running back taken in this year's draft had six carries for 46 yards on the opening, all-run drive capped by his 5-yard run.

Martz said Jackson didn't play last week because he was not up to speed on blitz pickup.

Faulk, who had been limited to 35 yards on 30 carries in his last three games, contributed 27 yards on four carries.

NFL great Reggie White was honored with a video tribute before the game, one day after his death. Fans, one of them holding a sign that read "We Love You 92," stood during the memorial and observed a moment of silence.

Source: Associated Press/AP Online

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