Faulk Lets His Play Do Talking

ST. LOUIS —  Marshall Faulk’s teammates knew that playing the Indianapolis Colts was important to him, even if he didn’t admit it.

He played as if it was a big deal, scoring four touchdowns and getting 165 total yards in the St. Louis Rams’ 42-17 victory Sunday.

“I’m sure he was a little more excited to play this game, although he’s not ever going to tell us that,” quarterback Kurt Warner said. “I’m sure he had a little more bounce in his step.”

Faulk insisted, before and after the game, that his first chance to play his old team was just another game. The Rams (13-2) acquired him from the Colts (5-10) for second-and fourth-round picks just before the 1999 NFL draft.

“There’s no hard feelings,” Faulk said. “I didn’t feel anything and it didn’t mean anything more than any other victory we’ve had thus far. That’s it.”

Warner and Torry Holt also had big games for the Rams, who clinched the NFC West with one game to play. Warner completed 23 of 30 passes for 359 yards and threw three touchdown passes. Holt had seven receptions for 203 yards and two touchdowns.

Faulk had 118 yards in 25 carries and seven receptions for 47 yards. He scored on first-half runs of one and four yards, had a five-yard touchdown reception before halftime and had a one-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter, joining Emmitt Smith (1994 and ‘95) as the only players to score 20 touchdowns in consecutive seasons.

On the Rams’ second scoring drive, Faulk accounted for all 77 yards in 10 plays.

Faulk has four career four-touchdown games, 20 touchdowns this season and 58 in three seasons for the Rams.

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Ram Tough

Marshall Faulk has become even more dangerous with the Rams than he was with the Colts (numbers are per game):

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Colts Rams 1994-98 1999-2001 Games 77 59 Carries 18 17.3 Yards 69.9 92.0 Avg. 3.8 5.3 Rec. 3.9 5.7 Yards 36.4 60.1 Avg. 9.4 10.5 TD 0.7 (51) 1.0 (59)

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