*Rams look to ride momentum into opener against Panthers*
Carolina (7-9) at St Louis (8-8) Sunday 1:00 pm EDT
ST. LOUIS (Ticker) -- The St. Louis Rams have reason to be upbeat after closing the 2006 season with three consecutive victories.
In their second year under coach Scott Linehan, the Rams host the Carolina Panthers in Sunday's season opener.
Both squads qualified as major disappointments last season, with each failing to make the playoffs.
A woeful defense and a midseason five-game losing streak - capped by a 15-0 loss to the Panthers - doomed St. Louis, which allowed 381 points, the fifth-highest total in the league.
St. Louis' defense does not appear to be appreciably better this season, with the exception of rookie defensive end Adam Carriker, the 13th overall pick.
The Rams did rebound to win their final three and, while not matching the "Greatest Show on Turf" offensive exploits of the Mike Martz era, they did outscore the opposition, 98-52, in that closing stretch.
The key components in the offense return. Quarterback Marc Bulger threw for 4,301 yards and had 24 touchdown passes vs. only eight interceptions. Torry Holt (93 receptions, 10 TDs) and ageless Isaac Bruce (74/3) return at the wide receiver spots.
Running back Steven Jackson is coming off a monster season, one good enough to evoke memories of Marshall Faulk. Jackson scored a total of 16 touchdowns, rushing for 1,508 yards and catching 90 passes for another 806 yards.
The Panthers had just the opposite problems of the Rams. Touted as a Super Bowl contender, Carolina managed just 270 points - second-worst in the NFC - despite the presence of arguably the game's best receiver in Steve Smith.
The main culprits for the offensive woes were an inefficient running game that produced a mere seven rushing touchdowns and the inconsistent play of quarterback Jake Delhomme.
Two seasons removed from leading the Panthers to the Super Bowl, Delhomme's touchdown passes have dwindled from a career-high 29 in 2004 to 24 in 2005 and down to 17 last season.
Carolina still has plenty of high-profile talent on defense, led by Pro Bowlers Kris Jenkins and Julius Peppers, who collected 13.5 sacks last season.
That unit, however, faltered badly down the stretch, allowing 108 points during a four-game losing streak that dashed the Panthers' postseason hopes.
