Rams defense embarrassed by a loafing performance

ST. LOUIS -- Every week, St. Louis Rams defensive coordinator Lovie Smith keeps a "loaf chart" as a barometer of his unit's success. The bad plays have never been so numerous as last week.

"A season high, for sure," Smith said Thursday. "You all saw the game. I can't tell you a whole lot of good that came out of it."

All season, the unit that features eight new starters has proved it deserves to share top billing with the NFL's No. 1 offense. The Rams were ranked No. 2 before last week's game at lowly Carolina, having allowed 20 or fewer points in nine games.

After surrendering 402 yards and 32 points to the Panthers, a lowlight that dropped them to third in the league rankings, players are embarrassed.

"There's no time for mulligans," tackle Tyoka Jackson said. "You have a mulligan at the wrong time, it's going to hurt you."

The performance weighed so heavily on Jackson's mind that the Rams' shot at clinching homefield advantage in the playoffs hasn't been a motivating factor. St. Louis needs a victory and a loss or tie by Chicago to do it this week.

"I can't speak for anyone else but I really haven't thought about that," Jackson said. "Because of how our defense played last week, I've just been like I've got to do my job a heck of a lot better."

A somewhat sympathetic coach Mike Martz said the whole team was out of whack in the 38-32 victory over the 1-13 Panthers after a series of emotionally-draining games. The game at Carolina came six days after the Rams beat the New Orleans Saints, also on the road.

"We were a tired, tired team," Martz said. "Defensively, we were exhausted."

Of course, excuses go down easier when you win in spite of the problems. But there also was criticism.

"Just the integrity or the discipline of the defense was lacking in some situations and we gave up some big plays," Martz said.

Players aren't arguing. The Panthers burned them for pass gains of 48, 33 and 27 yards and runs of 23 and 15 yards.

"We felt throughout the year we had been pretty sound and limiting the big plays," cornerback Dre' Bly said. "We just gave up entirely too many yards against Carolina."

It was an odd time for a letdown, considering the Rams had their first-team defense back on the field after a month-long rash of injuries. Strong safety Adam Archuleta was back after two concussions and a sprained ankle and cornerback Dexter McCleon was back at his normal position after emergency duty at safety.

That should have been a boost.

"Yeah, but we just didn't play well," tackle Jeff Zgonina said. "I don't know what it is, we just didn't play well."

And so what if they were mentally and physically tired?

"Every team shows up and plays every Sunday," Jackson said. "That's not a factor, we just didn't play well."

A big turnaround might be a tall order, considering this week's opponent. Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts have the NFL's No. 2 offense, second only to the Rams.

"Thank God we don't have to play our offense," Smith said. "But the next-best offense is the one we're playing this week."

The Rams are a bit skeptical, though, about Manning's antics at the line of scrimmage. Almost every play, he's barking out audibles.

"I don't know how much of it's legit," said quarterback Kurt Warner. "There's no way you can change that much.

"Maybe they all mean something, but I just can't believe they're changing that many different things on each play."

Davis returns to lineup

The return of outside linebacker Don Davis to the lineup is pushing veteran Mark Fields to backup duty instead of rookie.

Tommy Polley, the team's second-round draft pick, will start ahead of Fields, an off-season free-agent pickup who has a cap number of $1 million this season, on Sunday.

"We just really like Tommy's progress," Smith said. "The guy who's made the most plays needs to play, so that's what we've done with Tommy.

"Mark's not totally out of the rotation but he's further down."

Fields missed two games early in the season with pulled cartilage in his rib-cage, but has started since Game 5. He played his first six seasons with the Saints and went to his first Pro Bowl after last year.

Polley started at weak side linebacker when Fields was hurt, then filled in for Davis at the strong side. He has 101 tackles.

Davis dislocated his wrist Oct. 28 against the New Orleans Saints. He missed four games and has been a reserve the last two, getting steadily increased playing time. He tied a career high with seven tackles last week against the Panthers.