Scouting Report: Falcons at Rams

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Two teams with similar records and similar battles with injures will meet Sunday in St. Louis.

The Rams (2-9) and Falcons (3-8) haven't had the season fans and players' hoped for, but neither have given up as the NFL regular season enters its final month. The Falcons have won two of their last four. The Rams had a first-half lead against Seattle last week before losing quarterback Marc Bulger to a concussion (he's out for Sunday) and the game.

St. Louis has still won two of its last three.

"Until you tell me I'm mathematically out of it we’re going to keep playing for this team," quarterback Joey Harrington said. "Even after that point we're going to keep playing for this team. I'm proud to be a part of this team with how well we've stayed together (and) with what we've been through this year."

Head Coach Bobby Petrino talked earlier in the week about putting together a run to close out the regular season.

"Right now what we're trying to do is focus on the game we're playing that week," he said. "Who's healthy is always one of the first questions I get in here. That always has a lot to do with that. Basically, when the season is over, we have to have a good plan and go forward..."

The coach used the Green Bay Packers as an example. Last season the Packers struggled to a 4-8 start, but won four-straight games to close out the season at .500.

"We have to take it one at a time," Petrino said, "but that's really what we'd like to do -- finish the season with momentum."

ON THE GROUND: He may not have the versatility of Marshall Faulk, but Rams running back Steven Jackson has the same impact on the Rams offense that the future Hall of Famer had in the midst of two St. Louis Super Bowl runs.

Jackson leads the Rams with 532 rushing yards and three touchdowns (the team's only rushing touchdowns this season). He has 22 catches for 125 yards. With injuries along the offensive line, look for the Rams to feed Jackson early and often. It's a game plan that has made sense for the team in the past and something the 231-pound running back welcomes.

"I kind of pride myself on carrying the ground game for us and attracting eight- and nine-men boxes to allow our receivers to have one-on-one match ups on the outside," Jackson said Wednesday in a conference call with Atlanta media.

St. Louis was forced to put All-Pro left tackle Orlando Pace earlier in the season and has played four games without Jackson this season (groin). That hasn't helped offensive execution, as the Rams rank 25th in the league with just more than 90 rushing yards per game. The Rams alson rank 26th in total yards (290.5).

"They're trying to get closer as a group," rookie defensive end Jamaal Anderson said of the Rams and the injury-rattled offensive line. "They've had a lot of injuries that have come upon them so they're trying to get together as a unit and just work as one. They have great skill players so that makes up for the loss at the offensive line. If we can get after them we can definitely slow those skill players down."

Atlanta will also look to establish the run behind a young offensive line. Starting left tackle Todd Weiner was placed on injured reserve Thursday, opening the way for second-year man Quinn Ojinnaka to start his third game of the season on the left side. Rookie Justin Blalock and center Todd McClure are the only players on the line to start every game this season.

Petrino said the team, which ranks 22nd in the NFL in rushing, is getting better in the run game behind veteran Warrick Dunn.

“You look at the (last) two wins we had, we ran the offense through Warrick," Petrino said Wednesday. "He did a great job of running the ball. He’s been breaking tackles. We’re certainly going to (continue to use him in the same way).”

Atlanta rushed for 112 yards against Indianapolis, its second highest total of the season.

"We got McClure inside who keeps them all together and runs the show," Petrino said. "Everybody else is battling. The biggest thing about the offensive line is they have to come out here each practice and improve on their techniques and fundamentals. We've had to reduce our package and reduce what we do but they’re going to keep working at it."

THROUGH THE AIR: Anderson and others on the Falcons defense spoke at length about the Rams skill players, which include Torry Holt, Isaac Bruce and 2007 free-agent acquisition Drew Bennett.

Harrington will see one of the league's more aggressive defenses when he drops back to throw this weekend. Petrino said the Rams at one point blitzed the Seahawks 19 straight plays. Seattle quarterback Matt Hasselbeck was sacked five times. The team is led in the category by Will Witherspoon (six).

The 6-foot-1, 240-pound linebacker became a larger part of the Rams blitz package after the team placed defensive end Leonard Little on injured reserve. The team also changed up its scheme to include 3-4 and 4-3 looks. Falcons fans are familiar with Witherspoon' work, as he spent the first four years of his career with division-rival Carolina.

"We’ve been seeing that all year," Harrington said. "With the exception of maybe last week in the Indy game – that’s just not their style. We’ve been seeing that from everybody this year. I don’t think it’s going to be anything new. We have to do the same thing we’ve needed to do all year, that’s pick up pressure and make some plays down the field."

"They bring a lot more pressure (and) have a lot of exotic looks in passing situations," added Blalock. "We're going to have to do a good job in preparation to be ready for it when it comes. They're obviously going to do a lot of crazy things. We’re going to have to get as many looks at it as we can out here at practice so we can be somewhat familiar with it when it comes up on Sunday."

Beyond an aggressive front seven, the Rams rely on veteran safety Corey Chavous, who is third on the team with seven tackles. The team's interception leader is O.J. Atogwe (four).

Holt, Bruce, Bennett and tight end Randy McMichael present another set of challenges for the Falcons, who will face backup quarterback Gus Frerotte Sunday at the Edward Jones Dome.

Holt leads the team in receptions and yards (66 for 809). He also has five touchdown receptions. Bruce and McMichael have combined for four touchdown grabs. In all, six Rams have 20 or more catches.

"I used to watch Tory Holt (and) Isaac Bruce," cornerback Chris Houston said. "They're two great receivers and they run good routes. They've got good hands… Just coming from college I faced the best wide receivers each week and it's not changing here. I have my work cut out for me every week. I just have to come in and play hard.

"Steven Jackson opens up the run game for the passing game. If he's running well they're probably going to keep giving it to him, but they still have those two great guys on the outside. They're going to try to get the ball to their play makers."

The Falcons are No. 8 in the league against the pass this season.

SPECIALTIES: Former Pro Bowler Dante Hall, who has one touchdown off an 85-yard punt return and has returned a kick off 84 yards this year, is out with a knee injury. He's followed on the depth chart by wide receiver Brandon Williams, who has a 7.8-yard return average on punts.

St. Louis calls on veteran Jeff Wilkins for kicking duties. He's 20-of-26 this season on field goals. The 14-year pro has a long of 53-yards this season and is on a streak of eight-straight successful field goals. Punter Donnie Jones is third in the NFL with a 48.6-yard gross average.

SHUFFLING THE CARDS:  Linebacker Michael Boley missed some practice time this week with an elbow injury, but worked through a complete practice Thursday with a protective brace.

Wide receiver Joe Horn, who missed the last three games with hamstring and foot injuries, got his most extensive work of the last three weeks in preparation for St. Louis.

"Joe looked better," Petrino said earlier in the week. "I think there is a real good chance that he’ll be up this week. He has to continue to build his speed and pace himself."

Rookie Laurent Robinson started the last two games in Horn's absence. In those games, Robinson totaled seven catches for 75 yards.

• RELATED: Falcons-Rams injury report

TALE OF THE TAPE: Some stats to consider as the Falcons take on the Rams.

NUMBERS, NOTES AND COLORS: Some digits, thoughts and colors to get you ready for the Rams game...

• The Falcons will be wearing white jerseys Sunday in St. Louis.
• Bulger was on the Falcons practice squad for a brief time in December 2001.
• Rams linebacker Chris Draft played for the Falcons for three seasons.
• St. Louis leads the overall series between these two, old division rivals -- 46-24-2.
• Wilkins has made 360 straight extra point attempts, the longest such streak in the NFL.
• Rams head coach Scott Linehan replaced Petrino as offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at Louisville when Petrino took a job with the Jaguars.The two coached together at the University of Idaho from 1989-1990.
• The Gateway Arch in St. Louis is 630 feet tall.