Rams try to regain mastery at dome

ST. LOUIS -- "Dome Sweet Dome," a full-page fixture in the St. Louis Rams' weekly release all season chronicling the team's dominance at home, has vanished.

It figures, the way the Rams' home-field advantage also has gone bye-bye. The Rams (9-2) have lost two straight and are a mediocre 4-5 in their last nine games at the Dome at America's Center entering today's game against the San Francisco 49ers (9-2).

Before the Rams' seven-turnover loss to the New Orleans Saints on Oct. 28, Kurt Warner had been 16-0 in the Dome. Trent Green was subbing for him when they dropped three in a row last season. St. Louis coughed up five more turnovers in a loss to the Buccaneers Nov. 26.

"I'm not worried about how we're going to show up and play in the dome," Warner said. "We've just got to get focused and ready to play, and we haven't been a couple of games this year."

The slump couldn't come at a worse time for a team that has, inexplicably, won seven in a row on the road. today's winner will be guaranteed at least a tie for the NFC's best record, and the inside track on home-field advantage in the playoffs.

Distractions at home

It's gotten so bad coach Mike Martz made it a point this week to offer players hotel rooms on the night before the game, the better to cut down on potential distractions.

"We've extended that opportunity," Martz said. "We've done it all year long, I've just emphasized it this week."

Martz could use a room himself.

"These players, most of them are married and have families, and I'm the worst one," he said. "My family comes in and it's the only game you're playing that year, everything should stop.

"You love them dearly, but by the same token you've got to separate yourself from this stuff."

Warner believes home-field advantage is worth fighting for, even if visitors are winning close to half of the games league-wide this year.

"It seems like it might be a little overrated when you're talking about in season," Warner said. "But for some reason it's a huge benefit in the playoffs.

"I know I don't want to be traveling at playoff time."

Players shouldn't have such a difficult time focusing this week. Rams vs. 49ers is one of the NFL's biggest rivalries, dating to the days when both franchises were in California.

Although the Rams have won five in a row, the 49ers took 17 straight before that, from 1990-98.

The Rams' streak almost ended at four in Week 2, a 30-26 victory in San Francisco. Now the teams meet with first place on the line this late in the season for the first time since 1988.

The 49ers are one of the NFL's big turnaround stories after going 6-10 last year. They've won eight of nine since losing to the Rams.

"It's nice to be fighting for a divisional championship, particularly this late in the season," 49ers coach Steve Mariucci said. "We're still building this team and they've had that offense together for a while."

The Rams, who lead the league with 33 turnovers, stopped that trend with zero giveaways in a dominating 35-6 victory over the Falcons last week. Marshall Faulk caught three touchdown passes and accounted for 198 yards.