The Rams’ highly inelegant performance in Philadelphia notwithstanding, a sellout for Sunday’s home opener is almost a sure thing, according to team exec Bob Wallace. “Some tickets remain, but we’re very close,” Wallace reported Monday. “I very much anticipate a sellout.”

A major lure is the Giants, the defending Super Bowl champions. Also, optimistic Rams fans boosted single-game sales for the opener. Plus, the late Georgia Frontiere will be honored, and you can bet the team will do everything possible to assure a full house. A non-sellout on the day when the former team owner is being memorialized would be a major embarrassment.

The next home game, Sept, 28. vs. the Bills, also is nearly sold out. The contests against the Cowboys (Oct. 19) and Bears (Nov. 23) are almost sure to draw capacity crowds. As for the four other home games — Cardinals (Nov. 2), Dolphins (Nov. 30), Seahawks (Dec. 14) and 49ers (Dec. 21) — a lot will depend on how the Rams fare over the next few weeks.

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The 38-3 debacle at Philly certainly didn’t lend much hope, but Scott Linehan said Monday that no one at Rams Park is in panic mode just yet.

“You have to keep the perspective that it’s one game,” he said. “But you have to call it like it is: We didn’t play very well, and it’s my job to get the team prepared to play. If you want to put your eyes on the person that didn’t get their job done, it’s me.”

Linehan falling on his sword was a nice gesture, but there was plenty of blame to be shared. The Rams were dominated in all three phases: offense, defense and special teams. The offense had no punch whatsoever; the defensive line didn’t pressure QB Donovan McNabb, and the secondary couldn’t defend his passes; and the Rams still have coverage issues on returns.

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Notes & quotes:

>>WR Drew Bennett is out at least a month with a broken bone in his left foot.

>>DE Leonard Little tweaked his right hamstring; it’s probably a two-week injury.

>>G Jacob Bell also had a hamstring problem. The severity was undetermined.

>>Sunday’s lopsided result probably shouldn’t have come as such a shock: The Rams were outscored 219-98 on the road last year.

>>Donnie Jones covered 485 yards on his punts — or almost three times as much real estate as the Rams’ offense produced.

>>TE Randy McMichael had a nice outing, with five catches for 77 yards. Good to see OC Al Saunders get the TE more involved in the passing game, as promised.

>>The Rams’ 11 possessions ended this way: 10 consecutive punts, and then finally a 46-yard field goal by Josh Brown with 3:06 to go.

>>QB Trent Green and C Brett Romberg were the only Rams in uniform who didn’t get into the game.

All for now . . .