Editor: Joe Bryant. Game Recap Contributors: Mike Anderson, Michael Brown, Chris Burtt, J.D. Caldwell, David Dodds, Bobby Elder, Jim Enochs, Joel Faulhaber, Michael Flynn, Kevin Goldblum, Clayton Gray, Bob Harris, Fred Hebert, Jesse Hilsenrad, Drew Kendall, Jeff Lewis, Joey Matusek, Justin Oliver, Steve Prosapio, David Shick, Cody Smith, Scott Smith, Jeffrey Stout. San Diego 24 at St. Louis 28 WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW San Diego Chargers: Drew Brees had another poor game. Even with his bad effort, he was given the chance to win the game on the final drive, but instead, he threw his second interception in the end zone. Tomlinson again ran well. He is a hard runner who is worth starting every week. Stephen Alexander, who was the team's top receiver last week, was not used as much this week. Instead, Tim Dwight got the balls over the middle. The Charger defense remembered how to strip the ball again and forced four fumbling turnovers. The special teams also did great until they allowed the Rams a successful onside kick. St. Louis Rams: Mark Bulger had a career game. He kept his poise and threw strike after strike. His solid play will allow Warner to fully heal before returning. Marshall Faulk was limited most of the game. He was held to only 72 total yards before leaving the field with a high ankle sprain which broke his streak of 3 straight 150+ yard rushing games. Isaac Bruce had a monster day on his birthday. He made several circus type catches and single handedly brought the Rams back to win scoring 3 touchdowns. Jeff Wilkins made two big plays. He kicked a successful on side kick late in the fourth quarter with a textbook high bouncer. Then, after the Rams took the lead, he made a tackle on the kickoff return that could have gone for the game winning touchdown. WHAT YOU OUGHT TO KNOW San Diego Chargers QB: Drew Brees completed 12 of 20 passes for 139 yards without throwing a touchdown. He did not look good all day. The Ram's defense gave him consistent pressure and Brees had trouble setting his feet. He threw many bad passes including two interceptions. Even after his poor performance throughout the game, he had a chance to lead the team to victory on a final scoring drive which ended in his second interception. RB: LaDainian Tomlinson carried the ball 24 times for 120 yards and one touchdown. He ran well and had a second touchdown called back by a penalty. He also added 24 yards on 3 receptions. He is a powerful runner that can also cut back. His touchdown was a sweep to the left from the one yard line where he used his speed to get around the corner to score without being touched. WR: Curtis Conway had only 2 catches for 19 yards. Brees did not have enough time for Conway to get open downfield. Tim Dwight led the team in receiving with 53 yards on 4 catches. He dropped one pass that could have been a touchdown. Unlike last week, Dwight was the primary target over the middle of the field as Alexander was kept in to block. Reche Caldwell made one nice catch for 18 yards. He has good hands, but the rookie #3 receiver on the running based Chargers has little fantasy value this year. TE: Stephen Alexander had only one catch for 12 yards. He was often kept in to block to help establish the running game. He was not a big part of the offense like he was last week. Pass Defense: The Charger pass defense did not show up. They did not pressure Bulger and at least one receiver was almost always open. The one thing the pass defense did well was strip the ball. The Charger defense forced 4 fumbles and recovered all 4, returning 2 of them for touchdowns. The first was a 5 yard fumble return for touchdown by corner back Ryan McNeil and the second was an 89 yard fumble return for touchdown by linebacker Donnie Edwards. Rookie corner back Quentin Jammer is learning the pro game quickly. In addition to leading the team in tackles with 7 solo, he knocked down a couple of passes. Rushing Defense: The Charger rushing defense was solid. The goal appeared to be to stop Marshall Faulk and make Bulger beat them. Well, the Chargers held Faulk to only 72 total yards, but Bulger was able to beat them. They stopped the run, but left the pass wide open. /**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/** St. Louis Rams QB: Marc Bulger completed 36 of 48 passes for 453 yards and 4 touchdowns without throwing an interception. He threw strike after strike moving the chains down the field. The four fumbles by his teammates were the only thing that could stop him. He was quoted after the game saying "I looked at my first read and he was open every time. It was great play calling." That was the truth. The Chargers didn't pressure him and a receiver was always open. Bulger played a near flawless game and proved himself a worthy NFL starter. His solid performance will allow Warner to completely heal before coming back. Note: You may hear some folks in your league talking about a supposed "shoving incident" on the sidelines between Warner and Bulger where people are saying they were arguing late in the game. Sounds like there's nothing to it all. "It's crazy," Bulger said. "Kurt gave me a hug on the field, and we hugged in the locker room. He was the first one out there hugging me after we scored the touchdown. I have no clue what anyone is talking about. Kurt was more happy for me than I was for myself. He's a great person and he's been terrific to me the whole time. He'd be the last guy I'd shove. I can't thank him enough for the way he's supported me." RB: Marshall Faulk entered the game on a streak of 3 straight 150+ yard rushing games. He was held to 36 yards on 13 carries and 36 receiving yards on 6 catches before leaving the game with a high ankle sprain. He also fumbled once in the red zone. The Chargers were able to limit Faulk, but at a cost of not stopping the pass. Faulk is saying he'll be ready to go next week. ``Marshall should be all right,'' coach Mike Martz said. ``He assured me he'll be all right. When Marshall says that, he'll be OK. ``I'm not going to worry about it until he tells me I should worry.'' Lamar Gordon entered the game as Faulk's backup instead of Candidate like last week. He had only 1 carry for 9 yards and 4 catches for 27 yards, but he wasn't in the game that long. Gordon's value is if Faulk's ankle injury keeps him out for any period of time. WR: Isaac Bruce did fumble the ball twice, but he still had a happy birthday. He led the team with 10 catches for 163 yards and 3 touchdowns. It was not just the number of catches that was impressive; it was the level of difficulty of those catches. He made several circus type catches that are highlight reel material. For at least one game, Bruce regained his 2000 ability. Torry Holt had a very quiet 7 catches for 118 yards. He ran great routes and caught 10 yard out after 20 yard out after 15 yard out� He did nothing incredible like Bruce; he just ran well run routes to get open to move the chains. Ricky Proehl made 3 catches for 37 yards. He came in and made the tough catch over the middle when the Rams needed it. He is a better NFL receiver than a fantasy receiver. TE: Ernie Conwell caught 2 passes for 10 yards and a touchdown. He is a good red zone target, but wasn't used much in the middle of the field. Brandon Manumaleuna caught 2 passes for 38 yards. He is a load. Both his catches were short passes where he then turned up field and ran through defensive backs. Junior Seau hit him running full speed and bounced off of him. He is fun to watch run over people, but he probably is not a good fantasy option as long as Conwell is around. Pass Defense: The Ram pass defense did a good job on pressuring Brees and not giving him much time to throw. The unit held Brees to only 139 yards passing and intercepted him twice. Safety Kim Herring and corner back Dexter McCleon had the two interceptions. Defensive tackle Tyoka Jackson had the only sack of the game. Rushing Defense: The Ram rushing defense got pushed around. They allowed Tomlinson to average 5 yards a carry on 24 attempts. Safety Adam Archuleta filled the holes to try and stop the run and led the team with 8 solo tackles. Tomlinson was moderately successful running up the middle, but broke several good runs running outside the tackles. Basically, the Charger line pushed around the Ram rushing defense. Penalties and Drew Brees were the only things to stop Tomlinson.