Super Bowl XXXVI

Rams’ weapons locked down

Patriots ground St. Louis’ missiles

By Jeff Reynolds, Associate editor of special projects
Feb. 3, 2002

Marshall Faulk wasn't fully utilized in Rams' Super Bowl defeat

This is why they play the games.

Finding an individual who believed the New England Patriots could win Super Bowl XXXVI Sunday in New Orleans wasn’t easy. The week of hoopla that preceded the big game was weighted heavily in the Rams’ favor. Too much speed. Overwhelming star power. Dome-field advantage.

Nevertheless, when all was said and done, the outcome was a thrilling 20-17 win by the Patriots, slated as a 14-point underdog by the oddsmakers and a magnificent long shot by NFL pundits.

The Rams proved to be resilient, scoring 14 of the game’s final 17 points. But it wasn’t the same Rams, the same pedal-to-the-metal offense, the same cutthroat Mike Martz.

Martz, whose team didn’t punt until 12 minutes remained in the NFC championship game last week against Philadelphia, didn’t call a scoring offensive play until the final 10 minutes of the fourth quarter in his first Super Bowl appearance as a head coach.

The Rams were loose. All week they knew if they played like the Rams, the way they had 16 times earlier this season, the Lombardi Trophy would be going back to St. Louis for the second time in three seasons.

But Martz ignored what got him there. The two best offensive weapons in the league, QB Kurt Warner and RB Marshall Faulk, weren’t put into position to carry St. Louis in the second half. Last week, the Rams came out and made a statement in the second half against the Eagles’ stout defense. Seven consecutive plays, Faulk ran the football. The Eagles were caught off guard by the physical play of the Rams and their offensive line, and the NFC East champs never recovered. Faulk touched the ball only 10 times in the second half Sunday, and for the game, he broke only one play of longer than 20 yards; he had three last week.

Warner was unable to get the ball downfield against nickel and dime defenses mixed by Patriots coach Bill Belichick. It was said throughout the season that the only team that could beat the Rams was the Rams, who turned the ball over 14 times in two regular-season losses to Tampa Bay and New Orleans. The Patriots tallied 17 points off turnovers in this game, and the Rams again beat themselves.

But for my money, this loss is on the head of Martz. Appropriately regarded as an offensive messiah around the NFL, Martz didn’t take shots down the field; Warner attempted only three passes of more than 25 yards. He didn’t get the ball to his big-game receiver, Isaac Bruce, and he couldn’t find a way to utilize the many skills of the versatile Faulk. Some of that blame/credit should be shared with Belichick, who clearly won the chess match in every aspect.

Yet, one thing the Rams are is resilient. With a bulk of their skill-position players back and a strong personnel department, this loss can be spun as a positive by Martz’s staff. The Rams can still become a dynasty. Coaches don’t like to admit it, or confront it, but losses can be positive. For St. Louis, Super Bowl XXXVI can be the beginning, not the end.

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