NFL: CAROLINA (0-0) at ST LOUIS (0-0) <h3>Rams look to ride momentum into opener against Panthers</h3> Carolina (7-9) at St Louis (8-8) Sunday 1:00 pm EDT ST. LOUIS (Ticker) -- The St. Louis Rams have reason to be upbeatafter closing the 2006 season with three consecutive victories. In their second year under coach Scott Linehan, the Rams hostthe Carolina Panthers in Sunday's season opener. Both squads qualified as major disappointments last season, witheach failing to make the playoffs. A woeful defense and a midseason five-game losing streak -capped by a 15-0 loss to the Panthers - doomed St. Louis, whichallowed 381 points, the fifth-highest total in the league. St. Louis' defense does not appear to be appreciably better thisseason, with the exception of rookie defensive end AdamCarriker, the 13th overall pick. The Rams did rebound to win their final three and, while notmatching the "Greatest Show on Turf" offensive exploits of theMike Martz era, they did outscore the opposition, 98-52, in thatclosing stretch. The key components in the offense return. Quarterback MarcBulger threw for 4,301 yards and had 24 touchdown passes vs.only eight interceptions. Torry Holt (93 receptions, 10 TDs)and ageless Isaac Bruce (74/3) return at the wide receiverspots. Running back Steven Jackson is coming off a monster season, onegood enough to evoke memories of Marshall Faulk. Jackson scoreda total of 16 touchdowns, rushing for 1,508 yards and catching90 passes for another 806 yards. The Panthers had just the opposite problems of the Rams. Toutedas a Super Bowl contender, Carolina managed just 270 points -second-worst in the NFC - despite the presence of arguably thegame's best receiver in Steve Smith. The main culprits for the offensive woes were an inefficientrunning game that produced a mere seven rushing touchdowns andthe inconsistent play of quarterback Jake Delhomme. Two seasons removed from leading the Panthers to the Super Bowl,Delhomme's touchdown passes have dwindled from a career-high 29in 2004 to 24 in 2005 and down to 17 last season. Carolina still has plenty of high-profile talent on defense, ledby Pro Bowlers Kris Jenkins and Julius Peppers, who collected13.5 sacks last season. That unit, however, faltered badly down the stretch, allowing108 points during a four-game losing streak that dashed thePanthers' postseason hopes.
NFL: CAROLINA at ST LOUIS <div class="pre">NFL CAROLINA 0 ST LOUIS 0 14:56 LEFT, 1ST QTR CAR BALL ON CAR 22 YD LINE 1ST AND 10</div>
NFL: CAROLINA at ST LOUIS <div class="pre">NFL TD CAR DREW CARTER 10 YD PASS FROM JAKE DELHOMME (JOHN KASAY KICK) CAROLINA 7 ST LOUIS 0 9:20 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>
NFL: CAROLINA at ST LOUIS <div class="pre">NFL TD STL TORRY HOLT 3 YD PASS FROM MARC BULGER (JEFF WILKINS KICK) CAROLINA 7 ST LOUIS 7 2:00 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>
NFL: CAROLINA at ST LOUIS <div class="pre">NFL END, 1ST QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL --- --- --- --- ----- CAROLINA 7 7 ST LOUIS 7 7 END, 1ST QTR SCORING SUMMARY 1ST QUARTER: CAR - TD, DREW CARTER 10 YD PASS FROM JAKE DELHOMME (JOHN KASAY KICK), 5:40. Drive: 9 plays, 78 yards in 5:40. Key plays: Delhomme 11-yard pass to Smith to Carolina 30; 29-yard pass-interference penalty on Rams' Atogwe on 3rd-and-2 to St. Louis 41; Delhomme 11-yard run to St. Louis 24. CAROLINA 7-0 STL - TD, TORRY HOLT 3 YD PASS FROM MARC BULGER (JEFF WILKINS KICK), 13:00. Drive: 15 plays, 67 yards in 7:20. Key plays: Bulger 9-yd pass to Holt on 3rd-and-4 to St. Louis 48; Jackson 8-yard run on 3rd-and-1 to Carolina 35; Jackson 2-yard run on 3rd-and-1 to Carolina 24; Bulger 12-yard pass to Hall on 3rd-and-6 to Carolina 8. CAROLINA 7-7</div>
NFL: CAROLINA at ST LOUIS <div class="pre">NFL MISSED FG CAR JOHN KASAY 47 YD ATTEMPT WIDE RIGHT CAROLINA 7 ST LOUIS 7 13:16 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>
NFL: CAROLINA at ST LOUIS <div class="pre">NFL CAROLINA 7 ST LOUIS 7 13:16 LEFT, 2ND QTR STL BALL ON STL 37 YD LINE 1ST AND 10</div>
NFL: CAROLINA at ST LOUIS <div class="pre">NFL CAROLINA 7 ST LOUIS 7 11:02 LEFT, 2ND QTR CAR BALL ON CAR 10 YD LINE 1ST AND 10</div>
NFL: CAROLINA at ST LOUIS <div class="pre">NFL CAROLINA 7 ST LOUIS 7 10:01 LEFT, 2ND QTR STL BALL ON STL 24 YD LINE 1ST AND 10</div>
NFL: CAROLINA at ST LOUIS <div class="pre">NFL CAROLINA 7 ST LOUIS 7 7:45 LEFT, 2ND QTR CAR BALL ON CAR 22 YD LINE 1ST AND 10</div>
NFL: CAROLINA at ST LOUIS <div class="pre">NFL CAROLINA 7 ST LOUIS 7 5:41 LEFT, 2ND QTR STL BALL ON STL 8 YD LINE 1ST AND 10</div>
NFL: CAROLINA at ST LOUIS <div class="pre">NFL CAROLINA 7 ST LOUIS 7 2:52 LEFT, 2ND QTR CAR BALL ON CAR 15 YD LINE 1ST AND 10</div>
NFL: CAROLINA at ST LOUIS <div class="pre">NFL TWO MINUTE WARNING, 1ST HALF CAROLINA 7 ST LOUIS 7 CAR BALL ON CAR 10 YD LINE 4TH AND 25</div>
NFL: CAROLINA at ST LOUIS <div class="pre">NFL CAROLINA 7 ST LOUIS 7 1:50 LEFT, 2ND QTR STL BALL ON STL 42 YD LINE 1ST AND 10</div>
NFL: CAROLINA at ST LOUIS <div class="pre">NFL FG STL JEFF WILKINS 42 YD CAROLINA 7 ST LOUIS 10 0:00 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>
