Rams defense continues to excel despite injuries

ST. LOUIS -- The stops keep coming from the St. Louis Rams' defense, no matter who's in there.

The Rams entered Sunday's game against the Atlanta Falcons minus five front-line defenders, including both safeties and their best pass rusher. But they wouldn't let the Falcons in the end zone in a 35-6 victory that kept St. Louis (9-2) tied for the NFC's best record heading into next week's showdown against the San Francisco 49ers (9-2).

Despite the problems, St. Louis has the third-rated defense in the NFL -- and it's less than a yard behind second-place Baltimore -- to go with the top offense.

"We had some guys, including myself, who had to step up," cornerback Dre' Bly said. "It was crazy, guys even had to swap positions."

Cornerback Dexter McCleon made his first career start at free safety, with Kim Herring dressed but nursing a hip pointer, and Bly, who moved into McCleon's spot, had a 56-yard interception return on the Falcons' first series.

McCleon moved back to corner and Herring had to play when Aeneas Williams had to leave with a neck injury in the first half.

The Rams also made do without end Leonard Little, who has nine sacks, for the second game due to a knee injury. Strong safety Adam Archuleta missed his second game with a sprained ankle, linebacker Don Davis has been out a month with a dislocated wrist and rookie tackle Damione Lewis, the Rams' top draft pick, is out for the year with a broken foot.

It's like the Rams' offseason rebuilding project all over again. St. Louis began the season with eight new starters and a new defensive coordinator, Lovie Smith.

"Guys keep going down, and you don't know the combination you're going to have," Smith said. "It's just fun watching them, it really is.

"Now, guys are seeing that when one player goes down, life doesn't have to stop."

Bly had seven tackles as the stand-in starter at cornerback. Polley, who's filling in for Davis, had 16 tackles. Rich Coady, playing in place of Archuleta, had 11 tackles.

Without Little, the Rams lose most of their pass rush. They're compensating by blitzing more, getting half of their four sacks in the second half against the Falcons.

"Leonard is a guy that can beat people one-on-one, and without him it's tough," Smith said. "But like everything else, when someone else has to step up we're find out things about other people."

The situation should get better this week with Herring back as a starter, Davis returning as a reserve and perhaps Archuleta coming back as well. Archuleta will test the ankle in practice on Wednesday.

Little, making a rapid recovery from a torn knee ligament, could return next week. Williams returned in the second half and said Monday he felt fine.

"We're getting closer," Smith said. "Aside from Leonard, we're about as healthy as we could possibly be.