Rams try to build on first preseason victory

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Kurt Warner showed a glimpse that he's back on his game. Now it's Drew Bledsoe's turn.

The Buffalo Bills' Bledsoe-led offense, supposed to be the team's strength, is suddenly a cause for concern as Buffalo prepares for its third preseason game, against the visiting St. Louis Rams today.

The Rams (1-1) are coming off an impressive 26-16 win over Tampa Bay, in which Warner went 7-of-7 for 55 yards passing.

The Bills are coming off a mistake-filled 37-24 loss at Tennessee, a game in which the team was flagged 16 times for 178 yards, and the offense combined for two first downs on its first three possessions.

"This is not time for a panic button," Bills receiver Charles Johnson said. "But it's definitely time to go ahead and get something really nice rolling, get a nice showing. And that, definitely, yes, we do need that."

In going 1-1 so far this preseason, Buffalo's offense hasn't yet clicked. While the starters have been mostly limited to the first quarter in both games, Bledsoe has gone a combined 9-of-19 for 74 yards and no touchdowns.

That's a far cry from last season, when Bledsoe set 10 franchise passing records in his first season after being acquired in a trade with New England. And that's not indicative of the comfort level the quarterback expressed he had entering his second season with the Bills.

"We need to address some of the mistakes that we had. And we need to be a little sharper in our execution," Bledsoe said. "Those are two things that we have to get done in the last few days that we have before we head into the regular season."

The Rams don't appear to have similar concerns as Warner bounces back from a difficult year in which he went 0-6 as a starter and was sidelined by both a broken pinky and hand.

Warner's performance against Tampa Bay began to douse questions of whether he can return to his two-time MVP caliber.

"It was a good confidence booster for us," Warner said. "To consistently make plays, we walk away from this (Tampa Bay) game feeling good. But we know we've got a long way to go."

A sudden rash of injuries and the continued holdout of offensive guard Orlando Pace are among the Rams' concerns.

Despite hints that he might rejoin the Rams as soon as next week, Pace has missed all of training camp in a contract dispute, unwilling to sign the team's one-year $5.73 million contract tender.

And he's needed to anchor an offensive line that's missing center Dave Wohlabaugh, who broke his left thumb against Tampa Bay. Tackle Grant Williams has also missed most of training camp with a back injury, but is expected to play this Saturday.

Also out are cornerback Aeneas Williams, recovering from a broken leg, and cornerback Kevin Garrett, who will miss up to eight weeks after breaking his right wrist against Tampa Bay.

The Rams have also been resting star running back Marshall Faulk, whose ankle injury drastically limited his performance down the stretch last year. Faulk, who sat out the first two preseason games, will be a game-time decision at Buffalo.

Rams coach Mike Martz remains impressed by what he's seen.

"I really like where the personality, for lack of a better word, where this football team is," Martz said. "I think we're kind of getting back to where we've been in the past. And I think it's exciting."

The Rams' offense, with or without Faulk, presents a big test for the Bills' revamped defense, bolstered by the offseason additions of linebackers Takeo Spikes and Jeff Posey, and tackle Sam Adams.

Spikes is psyched up for Saturday, not because he's facing the Rams, but because it's his first home game after spending five losing seasons at Cincinnati.

"First impressions are everything," Spikes said. "And I want to come out and give our home fans, in our first home game of the year, a great first impression."