The Rams lost not only a game, but their stellar running back. Marshall Faulk didn’t play as the Carolina Panthers kicked a last-minute field goal to beat the Rams 27-24. Faulk will need arthroscopic surgery, and will miss at least two to three weeks. Faulk’s replacement, Justin Watson, had just 12 yards on 12 carries, and caught four passes for 27 yards. Trent Green threw for 431 yards, but it wasn’t enough. Joe Nedney kicked a 46 yard field goal with 40 seconds left to win the game. The Rams missed several opportunities: A 79-yard TD pass to Isaac Bruce was wiped out by holding, Bruce fumbled deep in Carolina territory, and Pete Stoyanovich missed two of three field goal attempts, the Rams’ first misses of the year. St. Louis is 7-2, and travels to play the New York Giants next week.
