A lack of a consistent pass rush only magnifies the problem in Green Bay and it will not get any easier for the much-maligned Packers defense against the St. Louis Rams Sunday in St. Louis. The Rams are not playing as well as they would like, but the passing game appears to be back with Marc Bulger at the helm. The speed and quickness of the Rams receivers will pose an overwhelming challenge to the coverage-suspect Packers. One area that the Rams are missing the boat on is with the running game. Starter Marshall Faulk struggled prior to going down with a broken hand and his replacement, Lamar Gordon has shown some spark, but is under-utilized by head coach Mike Martz. The St. Louis is average and getting better. Handling the explosive potential of the Green Bay Packers will be a difficult task for this Rams defense, as the Packers utilize a two-headed monster attack of quarterback Brett Favre and running back Ahman Green. Favre and Green have been tremendous in recent weeks as the Packers had been on a roll until running into the Kansas City buzzsaw. Green Bay will have some pass-protection problems against a St. Louis defense that is quick coming off the corners, if the Packers can slide their protection to enable Favre time to throw the football they will be successful, as Green will run on this Rams defense that is not consistent up the middle. The Packers will score plenty of points Sunday, but the Rams will easily expose the weak defensive backfield of the Packers, which could lead to the Rams winning what will look like a track-meet.

Green Bay
OUT - DE Joe Johnson (quadricep)
QUESTIONABLE - S Antuan Edwards (ankle); RB Tony Fisher (groin); DE Aaron Kampman (ankle); CB Mike McKenzie (back); DE Chukie Nwokorie (shoulder)
PROBABLE - DT Gilbert Brown (knee); RB William Henderson (neck)

St. Louis
OUT - RB Marshall Faulk (hand/knee); WR Mike Furrey (appendix)
DOUBTFUL - S Jason Sehorn (foot)
QUESTIONABLE - S Adam Archuleta (ankle); DE Courtland Bullard (hamstring); WR Kevin Curtis (leg); CB Kevin Garrett (hamstring)
PROBABLE - RB Lamar Gordon (wrist/ankle); LB Robert Thomas (groin)

2003 rankings:
Packers: offense 8th (5th rush, 17th pass); defense 27th (19th rush, 30th pass).
Rams: offense 3rd (22nd rush, 1st pass); defense 8th (13th rush, 8th pass)