2002 St. Louis Rams season

History

The years leading up to the 2002 season had the making of a roller coaster dynasty. It all began in the offseason before the 1999 season. They were able to trade for Marshall Faulk who was arguably the best running back of the time. They signed a franchise quarterback, Trent Green, who knew how to lead a team. They drafted a young wide receiver prospect, Torry Holt, and just like that their offense is completely new. Fast forward to the preseason when Green experienced a season-ending injury and all the fans thought the season was over. In comes 27 year-old Kurt Warner, who nobody knew about and who has barely played in the NFL.

This season marked the decline of Kurt Warner and the end of "The 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

2002 expansion draft

Main article: 2002 NFL expansion draft

Draft

Main article: 2002 NFL draft

Undrafted free agents

Roster

• Marc Bulger

• Scott Covington

• Jamie Martin

• Trung Canidate

• Marshall Faulk

• Lamar Gordon

• Chris Hetherington FB

• James Hodgins FB

• J. R. Niklos FB

• Isaac Bruce

• Troy Edwards

• Torry Holt

• Dane Looker

• Ricky Proehl

• Terrence Wilkins

• Ernie Conwell

• Brandon Manumaleuna

• James Broyles G

• Andy Eby G

• Frank Garcia C

• Heath Irwin

• Andy King G

• Andy McCollum C

• Orlando Pace T

• John St. Clair T

• Adam Timmerman G

• Bryce Fisher DE

• Tyoka Jackson DE

• Damione Lewis DT

• Leonard Little DE

• Ryan Pickett DT

• Grant Wistrom DE

• Brian Young DT

• Jeff Zgonina DT

• Hakim Akbar MLB

• O. J. Brigance OLB

• Courtland Bullard OLB

• Don Davis OLB

• Jamie Duncan MLB

• Tommy Polley OLB

• Robert Thomas OLB

• Adam Archuleta SS

• Dré Bly CB

• Jerametrius Butler CB

• Chad Cota SS

• Travis Fisher CB

• Kim Herring FS

• Dexter McCleon CB

• Nick Sorensen SS

• James Whitley CB

• Mitch Berger P

• Chris Massey LS

• Jeff Wilkins K

• Kole Ayi LB (IR) [[Image:Injuryicon.jpg]]

• Steve Bellisari S (IR) [[Image:Injuryicon.jpg]]

• Tom Nütten G (IR) [[Image:Injuryicon.jpg]]

• Travis Scott G (IR) [[Image:Injuryicon.jpg]]

• Kurt Warner QB (IR) [[Image:Injuryicon.jpg]]

• Aeneas Williams CB (IR) [[Image:Injuryicon.jpg]]

• Grant Williams T (IR) [[Image:Injuryicon.jpg]]

• Dauntae Finger TE

• Robert Haws T

• Ryan Helming QB

• Gary Hobbs G

• Todd Howard CB

Regular season

Schedule

Game summaries

Week 10: vs. San Diego Chargers

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

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

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

Standings

Division

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

Conference

References

References

1. Martin, Jill. ‘2002: When the Patriots Were a Cinderella Team.’; ''[[Cable News Network]]'', January 24, 2019
2. Bryn Swartz. (October 3, 2017). "The Greatest Show On Turf: The Dynasty That Never Was". Bleacher Report.