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Rams on a fast roll in 3 wins

Detroit is struggling, and things aren't likely to get much easier tonight.

©Associated Press

© St. Petersburg Times,
published October 8, 2001

PONTIAC, Mich. -- Mike Martz and Kurt Warner are saying all the right things.

But a Monday night game between a team coming off a 42-10 rout of one of the NFL's best defensive squads against one whose quarterback threw seven interceptions in its previous start hardly seems like a fair matchup.

That's the situation tonight when the Rams go into the Silverdome to play Detroit. About the only thing going for the Lions is that they were off last week.

"I love playing inside on the turf. I think it fits our strengths with quickness and speed," said Warner, who after three games has his customary 110.6 quarterback rating, second in the league.

The Lions won 31-27 the last time the teams played at the Silverdome in 1999, and the Rams went on to win the Super Bowl.

"I remember it as a tough place to play," Warner said. "The fans are crazy and loud."

Crazy and loud probably won't do it this week -- that was a very different Detroit team. The Lions, with new president Matt Millen and coach Marty Mornhinweg, seem to be in full rebuilding mode.

The Lions also know there's a huge speed discrepancy, although Martz, like any coach, doesn't really want to acknowledge it. "I don't buy into the idea that there's a big mismatch in speed," he said.

The Lions do.

"That's a fair assessment," Detroit wide receiver Herman Moore said. "We're not fast but we're capable of making plays."

St. Louis' win over Miami in its home opener was a major one after two games on the road over Philadelphia and San Francisco.

"We've had some games where we've done very well and excelled in one particular area that overwhelmed things," Martz said. "This was as good a win as I've been a part of in terms of all the phases clicking at the same time."

The Lions still are waiting for any phase to click. Their defense, expected to be a strength, allowed Green Bay 21 points on its first three possessions and Cleveland to take a 17-0 lead.

Starter Charlie Batch was benched after throwing two interceptions and getting sacked seven times against the Packers.

Ty Detmer replaced him and did even worse against the Browns with seven interceptions, one short of the NFL record. Mornhinweg moved Detmer back to the starting role the next day, giving him two weeks to prepare for the Rams.

"You're only as good as your last game, and my last game wasn't very good," Detmer said. "I'm looking forward to playing again."

The St. Louis defense, which gave up a league-high 471 points last season, is the team's biggest improvement.

St. Louis is giving up an average of 17.7 points and 273 yards, an improvement of almost two touchdowns and more than 100 yards from a year ago.

The Rams' challenge might be motivation against the Lions.

"I think there's always that danger when you come off a big win against a top team," Warner said. "When you come off a game like that where your energy is high and you're feeling good about yourself, there's always that chance that you can be overconfident."

Tonight's game

Rams at Lions

WHEN: 9.

WHERE: Silverdome, Pontiac, Mich.

TV/RADIO: Ch. 28; WQYK-AM 1010.

LINE: Rams by 13 1/2.

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