Warner Is Only Half Bad in Victory

Kurt Warner shook off a bad first half like a 10-year veteran and led the St. Louis Rams to a 43-12 victory over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.

The NFL’s leading passer completed 10 of 12 passes for 153 yards in the second half.

“I kind of told myself at halftime I didn’t want to go through a whole game playing that way,” said Warner, who completed five of 15 passes for 60 yards in the first half. “It’s not the way I play football, so I took what the defense gave me and tried to go out and play the way I know how.”

Warner’s passing rating in the first half was 68.8, and in the second half it was 146.5. Teammates said his attitude never changed.

“He was very poised,” center Mike Gruttadauria said. “His demeanor was the same.”

Marshall Faulk scored on runs of one and six yards and Torry Holt had two touchdown catches for the Rams (9-2).

The Rams, averaging a winning margin of 25 points at home this season entering the game, won their seventh consecutive game at home dating to last season.

New Orleans (2-9) fell flat following a strong start, but that’s not surprising against the Rams, who have outscored the opposition, 52-0, in the second half.

Warner’s second pass of the game was good for a 25-yard touchdown to Holt, but later he had five incomplete passes in a row, and the Rams led only 15-12.

Warner was five for five for 75 yards on the Rams’ first drive of the second half, capped by Faulk’s six-yard touchdown run.

Warner finished 15 for 27 for 213 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions.

Faulk had only 21 yards in seven carries in the first half, but finished with 102 in 18 carries.