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2002 St. Louis Rams season

{{short description|NFL team season}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}

{{Infobox NFL team season

| team = St. Louis Rams

| logo =

| year = 2002

| record = 7–9

| division_place = 2nd NFC West

| coach = Mike Martz

| owner = Georgia Frontiere

| stadium = Edward Jones Dome

| playoffs = Did not qualify

| pro bowlers = RB Marshall Faulk
LT Orlando Pace

| shortnavlink = Rams seasons

}}

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.Martin, Jill. ‘2002: When the Patriots Were a Cinderella Team.’; Cable News Network, January 24, 2019

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

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.{{cite web|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/326662-the-greatest-show-on-turf-the-dynasty-that-never-was|publisher=Bleacher Report|author=Bryn Swartz|title=The Greatest Show On Turf: The Dynasty That Never Was|date=October 3, 2017}} 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

class="wikitable"
Additions || Subtractions
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 =

{{main|2002 NFL expansion draft}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

|+ St. Louis Rams selected during the Expansion Draft

style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|St. Louis Rams|border=2}}" | Round

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|St. Louis Rams|border=2}}" | Overall

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|St. Louis Rams|border=2}}" | Name

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|St. Louis Rams|border=2}}" | Position

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|St. Louis Rams|border=2}}" | Expansion Team

——18Brian AllenLinebackerHouston Texans

= Draft =

{{Main|2002 NFL draft}}

{{NFL team draft start

| year =2002

| teamname =St. Louis Rams

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 1

| pick = 31

| player = Robert Thomas

| position = LB

| college = UCLA

| notes =

| maderoster = yes

| hof =

| probowl =

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 2

| pick = 64

| player = Travis Fisher

| position = CB

| college = Central Florida

| notes =

| maderoster = yes

| hof =

| probowl =

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 3

| pick = 84

| player = Lamar Gordon

| position = RB

| college = North Dakota State

| notes =

| maderoster = yes

| hof =

| probowl =

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 3

| pick = 95

| player = Eric Crouch

| position = WR

| college = Nebraska

| notes =

| maderoster =

| hof =

| probowl =

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 4

| pick = 130

| player = Travis Scott

| position = G

| college = Arizona St

| notes =

| maderoster = no

| hof =

| probowl =

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 5

| pick = 167

| player = Courtland Bullard

| position = LB

| college = Ohio St

| notes =

| maderoster = yes

| hof =

| probowl =

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 6

| pick = 205

| player = Steve Bellisari

| position = QB

| college = Ohio St

| notes =

| maderoster =

| hof =

| probowl =

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 7

| pick = 243

| player = Chris Massey

| position = FB

| college = Marshall

| notes =

| maderoster = yes

| hof =

| probowl =

}}

{{NFL team draft end}}

Roster

{{NFL final roster

|Year=2002

|TeamName=St. Louis Rams

|Active=53

|Inactive=7

|PS=5

|Quarterbacks=

|Running Backs=

|Wide Receivers=

|Tight Ends=

|Offensive Linemen=

|Defensive Linemen=

|Linebackers=

|Defensive Backs=

|Special Teams=

|Reserve Lists=

|Practice Squad=

}}

Regular season

= Schedule =

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|St. Louis Rams|year=2002|border=2}}"| Week

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|St. Louis Rams|year=2002|border=2}}"| Date

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|St. Louis Rams|year=2002|border=2}}"| Opponent

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|St. Louis Rams|year=2002|border=2}}"| Result

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|St. Louis Rams|year=2002|border=2}}"| Record

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|St. Louis Rams|year=2002|border=2}}"| Venue

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|St. Louis Rams|year=2002|border=2}}"| Attendance

style="background:#fcc"

! 1

| September 8

| at Denver Broncos

| L 16–23

| 0–1

| Invesco Field

| 75,710

style="background:#fcc"

! 2

| September 15

| New York Giants

| L 21–26

| 0–2

| Edward Jones Dome

| 65,932

style="background:#fcc"

! 3

| {{dow tooltip|September 23, 2002}}

| at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

| L 14–26

| 0–3

| Raymond James Stadium

| 65,652

style="background:#fcc"

! 4

| September 29

| Dallas Cowboys

| L 10–13

| 0–4

| Edward Jones Dome

| 66,165

style="background:#fcc"

! 5

| October 6

| at San Francisco 49ers

| L 13–37

| 0–5

| 3Com Park

| 67,853

style="background:#cfc"

! 6

| October 13

| Oakland Raiders

| W 28–13

| 1–5

| Edward Jones Dome

| 66,070

style="background:#cfc"

! 7

| October 20

| Seattle Seahawks

| W 37–20

| 2–5

| Edward Jones Dome

| 65,931

8

| colspan=6| Bye

style="background:#cfc"

! 9

| November 3

| at Arizona Cardinals

| W 27–14

| 3–5

| Sun Devil Stadium

| 47,819

style="background:#cfc"

! 10

| November 10

| San Diego Chargers

| W 28–24

| 4–5

| Edward Jones Dome

| 66,093

style="background:#cfc"

! 11

| {{dow tooltip|November 18, 2002}}

| Chicago Bears

| W 21–16

| 5–5

| Edward Jones Dome

| 66,250

style="background:#fcc"

! 12

| November 24

| at Washington Redskins

| L 17–20

| 5–6

| FedExField

| 79,823

style="background:#fcc"

! 13

| December 1

| at Philadelphia Eagles

| L 3–10

| 5–7

| Veterans Stadium

| 65,552

style="background:#fcc"

! 14

| December 8

| at Kansas City Chiefs

| L 10–49

| 5–8

| Arrowhead Stadium

| 78,601

style="background:#cfc"

! 15

| December 15

| Arizona Cardinals

| W 30–28

| 6–8

| Edward Jones Dome

| 65,939

style="background:#fcc"

! 16

| December 22

| at Seattle Seahawks

| L 10–30

| 6–9

| Seahawks Stadium

| 63,953

style="background:#cfc"

! 17

| {{dow tooltip|December 30, 2002}}

| San Francisco 49ers

| W 31–20

| 7–9

| Edward Jones Dome

| 66,118

style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|St. Louis Rams|year=2002|border=2}}"

|colspan="8"| Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

= Game summaries =

== Week 11: vs. Chicago Bears ==

{{Americanfootballbox

|titlestyle={{NFLPrimaryStyle|St. Louis Rams|2002|border=2}}; text-align:center

|state=autocollapse

|title=Week 11: Chicago Bears at St. Louis Rams

|date=November 18, 2002

|time=9:00 p.m.

|road=Bears

|R1=0|R2=6|R3=7|R4=3

|home=Rams

|H1=7|H2=7|H3=0|H4=7

|stadium=Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis, Missouri

|attendance=66,250

|weather=None (indoor stadium)

|referee=Gerry Austin (34)

|TV=ABC

|TVAnnouncers=Al Michaels, John Madden and Melissa Stark

|reference=[https://www.nfl.com/games/bears-at-rams-2002-reg-11 Recap], [https://nflcdns.nfl.com/liveupdate/gamecenter/18253/STL_Gamebook.pdf Game Book]

|scoring=

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.

|stats=

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

}}

Standings

= Division =

{{2002 NFC West standings}}

{{note label|NFCWest2|h|h}} St. Louis finished ahead of Seattle in the NFC West based on better division record (4–2 to 2–4).

= Conference =

{{2002 NFC standings}}

References

{{reflist}}

{{Los Angeles Rams}}

{{Los Angeles Rams seasons}}

{{2002 NFL season by team}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:2002 St. Louis Rams Season}}

St. Louis Rams

Category:St. Louis Rams seasons

St Louis

Category:2002 in St. Louis