2002 St. Louis Rams season

NFL team season

2002 St. Louis Rams season

Owner| Georgia Frontiere
Head coach| Mike Martz
Home stadium| Edward Jones Dome
Results
Record| 7–9
Division place| 2nd NFC West
Playoffs| Did not qualify
Pro Bowlers| RB Marshall Faulk
LT Orlando Pace

* ← 2001
* Rams seasons
* 2003 →

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]

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.[2] 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

[edit]

Additions | Subtractions

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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)

### 2002 expansion draft

[edit]

Main article: 2002 NFL expansion draft

St. Louis Rams selected during the expansion draft  Round  | Overall  | Name  | Position  | Expansion team

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—— | 18 | Brian Allen | Linebacker | Houston Texans

### Draft

[edit]

Main article: 2002 NFL draft

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

## Roster

[edit]

2002 St. Louis Rams roster Quarterbacks (QB)

*   * 10 Marc Bulger
*   *  4 Scott Covington
*   * 12 Jamie Martin

Running backs (RB)

*   * 24 Trung Canidate
*   * 28 Marshall Faulk
*   * 34 Lamar Gordon
*   * 44 Chris Hetherington FB
*   * 42 James Hodgins FB
*   * 25 J. R. Niklos FB

Wide receivers (WR)

*   * 80 Isaac Bruce
*   * 88 Troy Edwards
*   * 81 Torry Holt
*   * 89 Dane Looker
*   * 87 Ricky Proehl
*   * 18 Terrence Wilkins

Tight ends (TE)

*   * 84 Ernie Conwell
*   * 86 Brandon Manumaleuna

|  | Offensive linemen (OL)

*   * 60 James Broyles G
*   * 50 Andy Eby G
*   * 65 Frank Garcia C
*   * 63 Heath Irwin
*   * 68 Andy King G
*   * 67 Andy McCollum C
*   * 76 Orlando Pace T
*   * 70 John St. Clair T
*   * 62 Adam Timmerman G

Defensive linemen (DL)

*   * 94 Bryce Fisher DE
*   * 97 Tyoka Jackson DE
*   * 92 Damione Lewis DT
*   * 91 Leonard Little DE
*   * 79 Ryan Pickett DT
*   * 98 Grant Wistrom DE
*   * 66 Brian Young DT
*   * 90 Jeff Zgonina DT

|  | Linebackers (LB)

*   * 53 Hakim Akbar MLB
*   * 57 O. J. Brigance OLB
*   * 51 Courtland Bullard OLB
*   * 58 Don Davis OLB
*   * 59 Jamie Duncan MLB
*   * 52 Tommy Polley OLB
*   * 55 Robert Thomas OLB

Defensive backs (DB)

*   * 31 Adam Archuleta SS
*   * 32 Dré Bly CB
*   * 23 Jerametrius Butler CB
*   * 37 Chad Cota SS
*   * 22 Travis Fisher CB
*   * 20 Kim Herring FS
*   * 21 Dexter McCleon CB
*   * 41 Nick Sorensen SS
*   * 27 James Whitley CB

Special teams (ST)

*   * 17 Mitch Berger P
*   * 45 Chris Massey LS
*   * 14 Jeff Wilkins K

|  | Practice squad

*   * 49 Dauntae Finger TE
*   * 75 Robert Haws T
*   * 15 Ryan Helming QB
*   * 73 Gary Hobbs G
*   * 39 Todd Howard CB

Reserve

*   * 54 Kole Ayi LB (IR)
*   * 30 Steve Bellisari S (IR)
*   * 61 Tom Nütten G (IR)
*   * 64 Travis Scott G (IR)
*   * 13 Kurt Warner QB (IR)
*   * 35 Aeneas Williams CB (IR)
*   * 77 Grant Williams T (IR)

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

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## Regular season

[edit]

### Schedule

[edit]

Week  | Date  | Opponent  | Result  | Record  | Venue  | Attendance

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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 11: vs. Chicago Bears

[edit]

Week 11: Chicago Bears at St. Louis Rams

Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3| 4| Total

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Bears | 0 | 6 | 7| 3| 16
Rams | 7 | 7 | 0| 7| 21

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

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## Standings

[edit]

### Division

[edit]

NFC West

* view
* talk
* edit

| 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

* v
* t
* e

#  | Team  | Division  | W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | SOS | SOV
Division leaders
1[a] | Philadelphia Eagles | East  | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750  | 5–1 | 11–1 | .469 | .432
2[a][b] | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | South  | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750  | 4–2 | 9–3 | .482 | .432
3[a][b] | Green Bay Packers | North  | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750  | 5–1 | 9–3 | .451 | .414
4  | San Francisco 49ers | West  | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625  | 5–1 | 8–4 | .504 | .450
Wild Cards
5  | New York Giants | East  | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625  | 5–1 | 8–4 | .482 | .450
6  | Atlanta Falcons | South  | 9 | 6 | 1 | .594  | 4–2 | 7–5 | .494 | .429
Did not qualify for the postseason
7  | New Orleans Saints | South  | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563  | 3–3 | 7–5 | .498 | .566
8[c] | St. Louis Rams | West  | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438  | 4–2 | 5–7 | .508 | .446
9[c] | Seattle Seahawks | West  | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438  | 2–4 | 5–7 | .506 | .433
10[d] | Washington Redskins | East  | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438  | 1–5 | 4–8 | .527 | .438
11[d] | Carolina Panthers | South  | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438  | 1–5 | 4–8 | .486 | .357
12  | Minnesota Vikings | North  | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375  | 4–2 | 5–7 | .498 | .417
13[e] | Arizona Cardinals | West  | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313  | 1–5 | 5–7 | .500 | .400
14[e] | Dallas Cowboys | East  | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313  | 1–5 | 3–9 | .500 | .475
15  | Chicago Bears | North  | 4 | 12 | 0 | .250  | 2–4 | 3–9 | .521 | .430
16  | Detroit Lions | North  | 3 | 13 | 0 | .188  | 1–5 | 3–9 | .494 | .375
Tiebreakers[f]

1. ^ a b c Philadelphia finished ahead of Tampa Bay and Green Bay based on conference record (11–1 vs 9–3/9–3).
2. ^ a b Tampa Bay finished ahead of Green Bay based on head-to-head victory.
3. ^ a b St. Louis finished ahead of Seattle based on division record (4–2 to 2–4).
4. ^ a b Washington finished ahead of Carolina based on common games (2–3 to 1–4)
5. ^ a b 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
2. ^ Bryn Swartz (October 3, 2017). "The Greatest Show On Turf: The Dynasty That Never Was". Bleacher Report.

* v
* t
* e

Los Angeles Rams

* Founded in 1936
* Played in Cleveland, Ohio (1936–1945) and St. Louis, Missouri (1995–2015)
* Based in Inglewood, California
* Headquartered at the Rams Village at Warner Center in Woodland Hills, California

Franchise|

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Retired numbers|

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Wild card berths (9)|

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Division championships (19)|

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Conference championships (8)|

* 1950
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League championships (4)|

* 1945
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* 2021 (LVI)

Current league affiliations|

* League: National Football League (1937–present)
* Conference: National Football Conference
* Division: West Division

Former league affiliation|

* League: American Football League (1936)

* v
* t
* e

Los Angeles Rams seasons

Played in Cleveland (1936–1945) and St. Louis (1995–2015)

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Bold indicates NFL Championship (1920–1969) or Super Bowl (1966–) victory
Italics indicates NFL Championship (1920–1969) or Super Bowl (1966–) appearance

* v
* t
* e

2002 NFL season

| AFC| East | North| South| West| East| North| South| West | NFC

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Buffalo | Baltimore| Houston| Denver| Dallas| Chicago| Atlanta| Arizona
Miami | Cincinnati| Indianapolis| Kansas City| NY Giants| Detroit| Carolina| St. Louis
New England | Cleveland| Jacksonville| Oakland| Philadelphia| Green Bay| New Orleans| San Francisco
NY Jets | Pittsburgh| Tennessee| San Diego| Washington| Minnesota| Tampa Bay| Seattle

* 2002 NFL draft
* Expansion draft
* NFL playoffs
* Pro Bowl
* Super Bowl XXXVII

*[W]: Wins
*[L]: Losses
*[T]: Ties
*[PCT]: Winning percentage
*[DIV]: Win–Loss record within their division
*[CONF]: Win–Loss record within their conference
*[PF]: Points For (Total points scored)
*[PA]: Points Against (Total points allowed)
*[STK]: Current Winning or Losing Streak
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template
*[SOS]: Strength of Schedule
*[SOV]: Strength of Victory