Rams beat Atlanta, take first place in NFC West

The Associated Press

ST. LOUIS ü Isaac Bruce wouldn't let special teams mistakes and turnovers stop the St. Louis Rams.

Bruce caught 10 passes for 191 yards and two touchdowns, his third 100-yard receiving day in four games, sending the Rams past the Atlanta Falcons 21-19 last night in an unlikely battle for first place in the NFC West.

A sellout crowd of 59,700 watched what could be the final NFL game played at Busch Stadium. A news conference is scheduled for Friday to announce whether the $260 million Trans World Dome will be ready for the Rams-49ers game Oct. 22, but it's likely the Rams (5-1) will have one more game at Busch.

Bruce has caught six touchdown passes in his first year as a starter. In the last two games, he has totaled 372 yards receiving. He set up one of the scores when he ran 51 yards off a lateral on a punt return from Todd Kinchen to the Falcons' 9 late in the first half.

Special teams nearly did the Rams in this time. Kevin Ross returned a blocked field goal attempt 83 yards for a score in the second quarter and Eric Metcalf returned a wobbly Sean Landeta punt 66 yards for a score in the third quarter.

Read Next Article