2006 St. Louis Rams season

:"at University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona"The Rams traveled to Glendale, Arizona for their first game in the new Cardinals Stadium.

With 11:28 left in the first quarter of play, Matt Turk kicked a 31-yard punt giving the Cardinals the ball on the Saint Louis 45. Nine plays later, Kurt Warner threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Larry Fitzgerald. This gave the Cardinals a 7-0 lead with 7:04 left in the quarter. [http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/recap/NFL_20060924_STL@ARI Rams pick off Warner, nip Cardinals 16-14] . "NFL.com". Retrieved 25 September 2006.] [http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/playbyplay/NFL_20060924_STL@ARI GameCenter: Play-by-Play] . "NFL.com". Retrieved 25 September 2006.]

With 11:28 left in the second quarter, Jeff Wilkins hit a 26-yard field goal to put the Rams on the board 7-3. On the Cardinals next drive, Warner was intercepted by O.J. Atogwe giving the Rams the ball on their own 6 yard line. Marc Bulger hit Torry Holt for gains of 42, 26 and 9 yards during the drive, with the final catch ending in a touchdown. It was the second touchdown for Holt and the Rams for the 2006 season. The very first play of the next Cardinals drive, Warner was intercepted again by Fakhir Brown. The Rams drove the ball down the field for 16 yards setting up a Wilkins 47-yard field goal to end the half, giving the Rams a 13-7 lead. Wilkins kicked another field goal with 8:08 left in the third quarter increasing the Rams lead 16-7.

With 4:13 left in the fourth quarter, the Cardinals ended a 16 play, 87 yard drive with a 9-yard Edgerrin James run for a touchdown cutting the Rams lead 16-14. With 1:58 left to play, Bulger fumbled the ball at the Saint Louis 30. It was recovered by Arizona's Antonio Smith. Yet, on the third play of the drive, Warner fumbled the snap and the Rams' Will Witherspoon recovered the ball. The Rams ran the clock out and won the game 16-14.

Rookie Victor Adeyanju got his first start in the game, replacing Anthony Hargrove who did not show up for meetings and practices. [ [http://www.nfl.com/teams/story/STL/9676354 Rams DE Hargrove a no-show for meetings] . "NFL.com". Retrieved 16 October 2006.]

Week 4: vs. Detroit Lions

:"at Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis, Missouri"

Hoping to keep their three-game winning streak going, the Rams returned home for an NFC West fight with the Seattle Seahawks. The Rams struck first, as QB Marc Bulger completed a 9-yard TD pass to WR Torry Holt. Yet, the Seahawks responded with QB Matt Hasselbeck completing a 14-yard TD pass to WR Deion Branch. In the second quarter, St. Louis began pulling away, as RB Steven Jackson ran 2 yards for a touchdown and the duo of Bulger and Holt hooked up again with a 10-yard TD pass. In the third quarter, the Seahawks started to creep back as Hasselbeck completed a 42-yard TD pass to WR Darrell Jackson. In the fourth quarter, Seattle managed to take the lead with kicker Josh Brown nailing a 49-yard field goal, Hasselbeck throwing a 19-yard TD pass to Branch, and Brown kicking another 49-yard field goal. The Rams would respond with Bulger and Holt completing a 67-yard TD pass. Unfortunately, the Seahawks would win as Brown kicked a 54-yard field goal as time ran out, giving Seattle a three-game winning streak against St. Louis. This game was marred by controversy as the 10 second run-off rule did not apply on the last play of the game, giving Josh Brown the chance to win the game.

Week 8: at San Diego Chargers

:"at Qwest Field, Seattle, Washington"

Trying to end their three-game skid, the Rams flew to Qwest Field for an NFC West rematch with the Seattle Seahawks. In the first quarter, the Rams struck first with rookie DE Victor Adeyanju returning a fumble 89 yards for a touchdown. Afterwards, the Seahawks responded with QB Seneca Wallace completing a 3-yard TD pass to WR Darrell Jackson. Then, St. Louis had kicker Jeff Wilkins nail a 40-yard field goal. In the second quarter, Seattle took the lead with Wallace completing a 15-yard TD pass to TE Jerramy Stevens. The Rams would respond with Wilkins kicking a 42-yard field goal. In the third quarter, Wilkins gave St. Louis a 35-yard field goal for the only score of the period and the lead. In the fourth quarter, the Seahawks would respond with WR Nate Burleson returning a punt 90 yards for a touchdown. The Rams would retake the lead with RB Steven Jackson getting a 14-yard TD run, yet it was followed up with a failed two-point conversion. However, just like earlier in the year, Seahawks kicker Josh Brown came out with the win, as he kicked a 38-yard field goal. With the loss, the Rams fell to 4-5.

Week 11: at Carolina Panthers

:"at Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis, Missouri"

Coming off their victory over the 49ers, the Rams stayed at home for an NFC West rematch with the Arizona Cardinals. In the first quarter, the Rams trailed early as Cardinals RB Marcel Shipp got a 1-yard TD run. St. Louis would respond with kicker Jeff Wilkins. In the second quarter, the Rams continued to struggle as QB Matt Leinart completed an 11-yard TD pass to WR Larry Fitzgerald, while kicker Neil Rackers nailed a 23-yard field goal. In the third quarter, St. Louis tried to retaliate with QB Marc Bulger completing a 15-yard TD pass to WR Torry Holt, yet the Cards responded with Shipp's 6-yard TD run. In the fourth quarter, the Rams had Wilkins kick a 37-yard field goal. However, the Big Red pulled away with Shipp's 9-yard TD run and Rackers' 20-yard TD run. Even though St. Louis would get another TD, with Bulger completing a 1-yard pass to WR Issac Bruce, Arizona held on to win. With the loss, the Rams fell to 5-7.

Week 14: vs. Chicago Bears

:"at Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis, Missouri"Coming off their dominating road win over the Raiders, the Rams played their last home game of the year as they took on the Washington Redskins. In the first quarter, the Redskins struck first with RB T.J. Duckett getting a 5-yard TD run for the only score of the period. In the second quarter, St. Louis took the lead with QB Marc Bulger completing a 10-yard TD pass to WR Issac Bruce and a 27-yard TD pass to rookie TE Dominique Byrd. However, Washington responded with RB Ladell Betts getting a 6-yard TD run and QB Jason Campbell completing a 9-yard TD pass to TE Chris Cooley. In the third quarter, the Redskins increased its lead with Betts getting a 7-yard TD run. Fortunately, the Rams responded with Bulger completing a 64-yard TD pass to RB Stephen Jackson and a 10-yard TD pass to RB Stephen Davis. In the fourth quarter, St. Louis took the lead with kicker Jeff Wilkins getting a 21-yard field goal, yet Washington managed to tie the game with kicker Shaun Suisham getting a 52-yard field goal. In overtime, the Rams would win with Jackson getting a 21-yard TD run. With the win, St. Louis improved to 7-8.

However, because the New York Giants won a Week 17 match-up against the Washington Redskins, it ended any chance for the Rams to get into the playoffs.

Week 17: at Minnesota Vikings

:"at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota"Trying to end their season on a high note, the Rams flew to the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome to take on the Minnesota Vikings. In the first quarter, St. Louis got off to a fast start as Free Safety Ronald Bartell returned an interception 38 yards for a touchdown. Afterwards, kicker Jeff Wilkins would nail a 42-yard field goal. After that, the Vikings would respond with QB Tarvaris Jackson getting a 1-yard TD run. In the second quarter, the Rams' domination began with RB Stephen Jackson getting a 4-yard TD run and a 10-yard TD pass from QB Marc Bulger. In the third quarter, Wilkins kicked a 53-yard field goal, while Stephen Jackson got a 3-yard TD run. In the fourth quarter, Stephen Jackson wrapped up the game for St. Louis with a 59-yard TD run. Afterwards, Minnesota got their remaining points with RB Chester Taylor getting a 1-yard TD run, while Tarvaris Jackson completed a 3-yard TD pass to WR Travis Taylor. Afterwards, Bulger & Co. ended the game with a victory. With the win, the Rams ended their season at 8-8.

Division standings

Notes and references