Rams have made habit of nail-biters in 4-2 start

ST. LOUIS -- If the NFL is all about parity, the St. Louis Rams are the poster boys.

Not that first-year coach Scott Linehan is showing any signs of stress after six straight nail-biters. To Linehan, close games are just a way of life.

"We've been in that position each week," Linehan said. "I think it's pretty common that the last possession's going to make or break games in the NFL. It just so happens it's been really the last play with us."

The Rams (4-2) are using their bye week to recoup from their toughest loss of the season, a 30-28 defeat to NFC West rival Seattle on Josh Brown's 54-yard field goal as time expired.

All six games have been decided by a touchdown or less, and four came down to the final seconds, often ending in bizarre fashion.

The loss to the Seahawks may have been most bizarre of all. The Rams built a 21-7 halftime lead, only to watch Seattle score 20 consecutive points. When Bulger threw his first interception of the season after 204 attempts, the Seahawks were in position for a clinching field goal when Mo Morris fumbled at the St. Louis 7 with 1:44 to play.

Torry Holt made a spectacular catch for a 67-yard score that put the Rams back ahead. The Seahawks responded: three passes and two runs put them at the St. Louis 31.

Hurrying to the line, the Seahawks were called for an illegal formation with 4 seconds to play. Linehan, believing the penalty brought with it a 10-second runoff, began to celebrate. But the penalty does not carry a runoff -- the ball was simply moved back 5 yards, and Brown easily made the long kick.

Rams players said the loss left a bitter taste, but also provided a lesson.

"I've put it away," defensive tackle La'Roi Glover said. "It's something good to learn from. In a situation like that, regardless, you have to dig deep and find a way to win the game for your team."

Added Holt: "We got in a position to come back and make a play and we did that. We scored. So, I'm really psyched and impressed with this football team and how we're able to fight through it and give ourselves a chance to win."

Linehan said the bye week comes at a good time, when the Rams are starting to get a little banged up.

The break also gives Linehan a chance to evaluate his team before an Oct. 29 game at San Diego. That's no easy task.

The loss to Seattle leaves the Rams a half-game out of first place in what has essentially become a two-team race in the NFC West.

"Certainly the loss puts us in a different position than we'd be in if we had won the game, as far as the division," Linehan said, "but we're still in a good position."