Morten Andersen’s 27-yard field goal with 2 seconds remaining won it for Atlanta (2-7).
Andersen, with 24 game-winning kicks in his 16-year career, missed his last game-ending try, a 30-yarder in the final game last season that allowed Jacksonville to win 19-17 and reach the playoffs.
The Rams (2-7) squandered a 233-yard receiving performance by Isaac Bruce. St. Louis couldn’t shut down an Atlanta offense that was 28th overall in the NFL.
“The defense has been carrying us,” St. Louis coach Dick Vermeil said. “Sooner or later, that was going to catch up with us.”
Chris Chandler, who had failed to finish any of Atlanta’s first four home games because of injuries, finally made it all the way to the end. He was 19 of 32 for 276 yards and three touchdowns–two to Bert Emanuel.
“I didn’t get touched much at all today,” Chandler said. “That’s the best way to avoid that kind of stuff (injuries).”
Atlanta’s Jamal Anderson rushed for a career-high 159 yards and a touchdown.
