The 2001 season was the St. Louis Rams' 65th in the National Football League (NFL), their seventh in St. Louis and their second under head coach Mike Martz. The Rams finished 14–2, including a perfect 8–0 record in road games. Their 14 regular season wins remain a franchise record. The Rams became the first team in NFL history to open three consecutive seasons with six straight wins and the first to score 500 or more points in three consecutive seasons. Quarterback Kurt Warner won his second league MVP award, marking the third consecutive season that the MVP was awarded to a Ram (Warner in 1999, Marshall Faulk in 2000).
The Rams returned to the Super Bowl for a second time after winning their first Super Bowl and third overall NFL title two years earlier, but this time against the 11–5 New England Patriots, led by second-year head coach Bill Belichick and by a young Tom Brady. The Rams were expected by many to win their 2nd Super Bowl title, but lost 20–17 after Patriots placekicker Adam Vinatieri kicked the game-clinching field goal. This was the Rams' last Super Bowl appearance until the 2018 season, when they defeated the New Orleans Saints 26–23 in the NFC Championship game, and would meet the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LIII in a rematch of Super Bowl XXXVI, but lost to them again 13–3. By that time the Rams would be based in Los Angeles after relocating from St. Louis in 2016. The Rams, however, would win Super Bowl LVI, defeating the Cincinnati Bengals.
This was also the final season with the Rams as "The Greatest Show on Turf" as Kurt Warner struggled the following two seasons with the team. He was then replaced by Marc Bulger.
Prior to the season, Trans World Airlines filed for bankruptcy and was later acquired by AMR Corporation, the parent company of American Airlines, which terminated the naming rights deal to what had been the Trans World Dome. The Rams' home stadium reverted to its original name of The Dome at America's Center throughout the 2001 season until January 25, 2002 when Edward Jones Investments was announced as the franchise's new naming rights partner. Beginning with the NFC Championship Game, the stadium was rechristened as the Edward Jones Dome, a name it would retain for the remainder of the Rams franchise's presence in St. Louis.
Offseason
With one of the worst defenses in the NFL in 2000 (allowing 471 points), the Rams knew an overhaul was needed in this area. First, Lovie Smith was hired away from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to serve as defensive coordinator. Smith brought some of his key contributors from the 1999 Tampa Bay Buccaneers team, who the Rams beat in the NFC Championship Game, namely linebacker Don Davis and defensive linemen Chidi Ahanotu and Tyoka Jackson. Linebacker Mark Fields, who led the 2000 New Orleans Saints in tackles, and defensive back Kim Herring, a key member of the defending Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens defense, were both acquired via trade or free agency. The Rams had three first-round draft picks, and all were used on defense. Defensive tackles Damione Lewis and Ryan Pickett, and Adam Archuleta, a linebacker at Arizona State who would be converted to strong safety, were all drafted, along with Florida State linebacker Tommy Polley in the third round. All would be key contributors.
The most important acquisition (other than Smith), however, was the trade for veteran cornerback Aeneas Williams. Williams' leadership was the key element in a much-improved Rams defense in 2001. Additions SubtractionsCB Aeneas Williams (Cardinals) CB Taje Allen (Chiefs)FS Kim Herring (Ravens) WR Tony Horne (Chiefs)LB Don Davis (Buccaneers) LB Michael Jones (Steelers)C/G Frank Garcia (Panthers) CB Todd Lyght (Lions)T Rod Jones (Bengals) WR Chris Thomas (Chiefs)LB Mark Fields (Saints) S Keith Lyle (Redskins)QB Jamie Martin (Jaguars) TE Roland Williams (Raiders)DT Tyoka Jackson (Buccaneers) DE Chidi Ahanotu (Buccaneers) NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York, , p. 141
NFL draft
Personnel
Roster St. Louis Rams 2001 final roster Quarterbacks Marc Bulger Jamie Martin Kurt Warner
Running backs Trung Canidate Marshall Faulk James Hodgins FB Robert Holcombe Justin Watson FB
Wide receivers Isaac Bruce Az-Zahir Hakim Torry Holt Yo Murphy Ricky Proehl
Tight ends Ernie Conwell Brandon ManumaleunaOffensive linemen Frank Garcia C/G Rod Jones T Andy McCollum C Kaulana Noa G Tom Nütten G Orlando Pace T Cameron Spikes G John St. Clair T Adam Timmerman G Ryan Tucker T
Defensive linemen Chidi Ahanotu DE Tyoka Jackson DT Leonard Little DE Sean Moran DE Ryan Pickett DT Grant Wistrom DE Brian Young DT Jeff Zgonina DTLinebackers Brian Allen MLB O. J. Brigance OLB Dustin Cohen OLB Don Davis OLB Mark Fields OLB London Fletcher MLB Tommy Polley OLB
Defensive backs Adam Archuleta SS Dré Bly CB Jerametrius Butler Rich Coady SS Willie Gary FS Kim Herring FS Dexter McCleon CB Nick Sorensen SS Aeneas Williams CB
Special teams John Baker P Jeff Wilkins K Jeff Robinson LSReserve lists Damon Griffin WR (IR) Cedric Jones DE (IR) Paul Justin QB (IR) Damione Lewis DT (IR) Jacoby Shepherd CB (IR)
Practice squad Jonathan Brown DE Troy Evans LB Sherrod Gideon WR Mike Newell C Francis St. Paul WR
52 active, 5 inactive, 5 practice squad 2001 St. Louis Rams Statistics & Players – Pro-Football-Reference.com
Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue HOF vs. Miami Dolphins W 17–10 1–0 Fawcett Stadium (Canton, Ohio) 1 August 12 at Buffalo Bills W 24–10 2–0 Ralph Wilson Stadium 2 Tennessee Titans L 10–23 2–1 The Dome at America's Center 3 at San Diego Chargers L 10–13 (OT) 2–2 Qualcomm Stadium 4 Kansas City Chiefs W 21–17 3–2 The Dome at America's Center
Regular season Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 September 9 at Philadelphia Eagles W 20–17 1–0 Veterans Stadium Recap 2 at San Francisco 49ers W 30–26 2–0 3Com Park at Candlestick Point Recap 3 September 30 Miami Dolphins W 42–10 3–0 The Dome at America's CenterRecap 4 at Detroit Lions W 35–0 4–0 Pontiac Silverdome Recap 5 October 14 New York Giants W 15–14 5–0 The Dome at America's CenterRecap 6 October 21 at New York Jets W 34–14 6–0 Giants Stadium Recap 7 October 28 New Orleans Saints L 31–34 6–1 The Dome at America's Center Recap 8Bye 9 November 11 Carolina Panthers W 48–14 7–1 The Dome at America's Center Recap 10 November 18 at New England Patriots W 24–17 8–1 Foxboro Stadium Recap 11 Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 17–24 8–2 The Dome at America's CenterRecap 12 December 2 at Atlanta Falcons W 35–6 9–2 Georgia DomeRecap 13 December 9 San Francisco 49ers W 27–14 10–2 The Dome at America's CenterRecap 14 at New Orleans SaintsW 34–21 11–2 Louisiana SuperdomeRecap 15 December 23 at Carolina Panthers W 38–32 12–2 Ericsson StadiumRecap 16 December 30 Indianapolis Colts W 42–17 13–2 The Dome at America's Center Recap 17 January 6 Atlanta FalconsW 31–13 14–2 The Dome at America's Center Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Postseason Playoff round Date Opponent (seed) Result Record Game site Recap Wild Card First-round bye Divisional Green Bay Packers (4) W 45–17 1–0 The Dome at America's Center Recap NFC Championship January 27, 2002 Philadelphia Eagles (3) W 29–24 2–0 Edward Jones Dome Recap Super Bowl XXXVI February 3, 2002 vs. New England Patriots (A2) L 17–20 2–1 Louisiana Superdome Recap
Standings
Playoffs
Divisional Round Rams vs. Packers
The matchup between two of the league's highly rated quarterbacks — the Packers' Brett Favre and the Rams Kurt Warner, who shared a combined total of five NFL MVP awards, became lopsided thanks to St. Louis' improved defense, which forced 8 turnovers. Although Favre threw for 281 yards, he tied a playoff record by tossing six interceptions, three of which were returned for touchdowns. The Packers generated most of their offense early in the contest, but the turnovers gave the Rams a 24–10 halftime lead. The Rams then returned two interceptions in the second half to put the game away.
Rams defensive back Aeneas Williams opened up the scoring by returning an interception from Favre 29 yards for a touchdown. The next time Green Bay had the ball, they turned it over again when safety Kim Herring stripped the ball from Ahman Green and rookie Adam Archuleta recovered it. However, the Rams were unable to take advantage of this turnover. A few plays later, Warner's pass was intercepted by Darren Sharper on the Packers 35-yard line. Favre then completed a pair of passes to Corey Bradford and Donald Driver for gains of 27 and 16 yards, before tying the game with a 22-yard touchdown pass to Antonio Freeman. But the Rams stormed right back with a 15-yard completion to Az-Zahir Hakim and a 38-yard burst from running back Marshall Faulk advancing the ball to the Packers 11-yard line. Two plays later, Warner completed a 4-yard touchdown pass to Torry Holt to put the Rams back in the lead. Then on Green Bay's next drive, Herring intercepted a pass from Favre and returned it 45 yards to the Packers 4-yard line, setting up a 4-yard touchdown catch by fullback James Hodgins early in the second quarter. Allen Rossum returned the ensuing kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown, but a holding penalty on Torrance Marshall eliminated the score. Green Bay still managed to score with a Ryan Longwell field goal, but Rams kicker Jeff Wilkins responded with a field goal of his own to give the Rams a 24–10 halftime lead.
In the second half, the Rams scored two touchdowns in a span of 92 seconds. On Green Bay's opening drive, Green's 49-yard run moved the ball into Rams territory. But on the three plays later, Williams stripped the ball from Freeman, dove on it, then got up and returned it for a touchdown. A replay challenge overruled the score, showing Williams was down by contact when he recovered the fumble, but three plays later, Holt's 50-yard reception set up a 7-yard touchdown run by Faulk. Then on Green Bay's next possession, Rams lineman Grant Wistrom deflected a pass from Favre into the arms of linebacker Tommy Polley, who returned the interception 34 yards for a touchdown.
In fourth quarter, the Rams defense scored again with another interception return from Williams, making him the first player ever to return two interceptions for touchdowns in a playoff game. Meanwhile, they managed to pin down the Packers, only allowing a meaningless score on an 8-yard touchdown pass from Favre to Freeman with 5:46 left in the game.
Scoring STL – Williams 29-yard interception return (Wilkins kick) STL 7–0 GB – Freeman 22-yard pass from Favre (Longwell kick) Tie 7–7 STL – Holt 4-yard pass from Warner (Wilkins kick) STL 14–7 STL – Hodgins 4-yard pass from Warner (Wilkins kick) STL 21–7 GB – field goal Longwell 28 yards STL 21–10 STL – field goal Wilkins 27 yards STL 24–10 STL – Faulk 7-yard run (Wilkins kick) STL 31–10 STL – Polley 34-yard interception return (Wilkins kick) STL 38–10 STL – Williams 32-yard interception return (Wilkins kick) STL 45–10 GB – Freeman 8 yard from Favre (Longwell kick) STL 45–17
NFC Championship Game Rams vs. Eagles
Prior to the game, a new naming rights deal was announced as the Rams partnered with Edward Jones Investments. Company logos and signage were added on the field and within the stadium, which was renamed the Edward Jones Dome.
The Eagles had a 17–13 lead at halftime, and had not allowed more than 21 points per game during the season and playoffs. But the Rams roared back thanks to Kurt Warner completing two-thirds of his passes for 212 yards and Marshall Faulk's 159 yards rushing and two touchdowns to earn their second trip to the Super Bowl in three years.