Byline: Barry Wilner Associated Press
ST. LOUIS -- Like a good veteran, Aeneas Williams knows how to follow instructions.
He couldn't have done a better job Monday night in sparking the St. Louis Rams' 36-0 rout of the Atlanta Falcons. Williams forced two early turnovers, Travis Fisher returned an interception 74 yards for a touchdown and Larry Little tackled T.J. Duckett in the end zone for a safety. Atlanta managed only 209 yards in St. Louis' first shutout in two years and the Rams' first home shutout since 1993, when they played in Anaheim.
'That was the emphasis tonight.' Williams said after his 52nd career pickoff, second among active players to Oakland's Rod Woodson. 'In our meetings, coach Lovie (Smith) would start yelling, interceptions, interceptions.' Even when I would go home, I'd open my refrigerator and hear coach Lovie saying, 'interceptions, interceptions,' and have to close it right away.'
The Rams closed out the Falcons right away, too.
Williams, playing safety this year for the first time after a stellar career as a cornerback, picked off Doug Johnson's ill-advised first-quarter pass in the end zone. Then he knocked the ball free from tight end Alge Crumpler and recovered the fumble in the second quarter.
Both turnovers set up long drives for points as St. Louis took a 10-0 halftime lead.
'They beat our butts,' Johnson said. 'I wouldn't want someone to take credit away from me if I whipped somebody's butt. That's probably the worst game as a team I've ever seen in my life.'
Marc Bulger threw for 352 yards and two touchdowns to Torry Holt, and Lamar Gordon had a career-high 92 yards rushing, but it was the defense that drew the most praise.
'Give credit to the defense,' said Holt, who had 161 yards on 11 receptions. 'A goose egg!'
St. Louis (3-2) won its ninth straight home game and handed the Falcons (1-5) their first shutout defeat since 1993. In a span of four plays in the third quarter, the Rams had three sacks. They never allowed Atlanta, ranked 27th in total offense, to threaten to get head coach Dan Reeves his 200th career victory.
The Falcons have lost five in a row and are in desperate need of a healthy Michael Vick. Johnson, his replacement, made several critical mistakes and the defense recorded the safety when Little nailed Duckett trying to run out of the end zone in the third quarter. It was the fourth safety the Falcons have yielded this season.
'We're just struggling right now in all areas,' Reeves said. 'I don't know that one person can make that much difference.'
Atlanta 0 0 0 0 -- 0
St. Louis 3 7 9 17 -- 36
First quarter
StL -- FG Wilkins 28, 1:17.
Second quarter
StL -- Bulger 3 run (Wilkins kick), 1:22.
Third quarter
StL -- Holt 21 pass from Bulger (Wilkins kick), 12:16.
StL -- Safety, Duckett tackled by Wistrom in end zone, 2:15.
Fourth quarter
StL -- Holt 14 pass from Bulger (Wilkins kick), 10:44.
StL -- FG Wilkins 38, 3:45.
StL -- T.Fisher 74 interception return (Wilkins kick), 1:33.
Atl StL
First downs 9 16
Total Net Yards 209 496
Rushes-yards 21-73 31-119
Passing 136 377
Punt Returns 1-11 2-21
Kickoff Returns 6-142 2-46
Interceptions Ret. 2-6 2-78
Comp-Att-Int 12-28-2 24-35-2
Sacked-Yards Lost 3-19 0-0
Punts 6-40.8 2-36.0
Fumbles-Lost 2-2 2-1
Penalties-Yards 3-30 6-45
Time of Possession 22:40 37:20
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING -- Atlanta, Duckett 16-50, Dunn 5-23. St. Louis, Gordon 19-92, Harris 10-23, Bulger 2-4.
PASSING -- Atlanta, D.Johnson 10-23-1-134, Dantzler 0-0-0-0, Kittner, 2-5-1-21. St. Louis, Bulger 23-34-2-352.
RECEIVING -- Atlanta, Finneran 3-55, Dunn 3-18, Crumpler 2-30, McCord 1-33, Price 1-8, Duckett 1-7, Griffith 1-4. St. Louis, Holt 11-161, Bruce 4-87, Looker 4-43, Manumaleuna 3-56, Harris 1-26, Cleeland 1-4.
CAPTION(S):
Photo
TOM GANNAM/Associated Press
Pisa Tinoisamoa celebrates after the Rams' defense scored a safety in their 36-0 win against Atlanta. It was the fourth safety recorded against the Falcons this season.
