Before I get started, I need to apologize to all of you readers for the lateness of this post. I had a family matter yesterday, and then a host of computer issues… Anyhow, it’s good to be back blogging again! Speaking of which…

Here we, the faithful of Rams Nation, stood again, on the heels of another game the Rams could have won, but didn’t. I’ve got to tell you, even in the face of a 1-7 season, even going against an unbeaten NFL powerhouse like New Orleans, I was pretty sick over Sunday’s 28-23 loss.

My palms were sweaty. I was little shaky. I got an adrenaline-induced headache. I had that postgame queasiness that only comes after your team drops what would have been a huge victory late in the game.

And I loved it.

It has been a very long while since the Rams and their fans actually suffered a defeat that carried a sting, that excited us fans enough to make it sting, rather than feeling numb to another failed effort that was in the books midway through the third quarter.

Sure, the Rams added another loss to their portfolio, but as losses go, this one was rife with positive implications for the Rams.

It was fun to see the Rams offense have a truly productive day. Steven Jackson was his usual beast-like self, posting 176 yards on 35 touches and a five yards-per-touch average. Although number 39’s output was at the crux of a very solid offensive performance, games like this are starting to become the norm for Jackson, so much so that it’s starting to feel redundant to point him out. Still, it seems like he does something every game to grab attention, even when you know he’s going to be the focal point of the Rams’ offense. Jackson’s head-turner in this game would have to be his first quarter run that quite literally took ten defenders to stop. WOW. The more I watch Jackson, the more I find myself hoping that the Rams can somehow accelerate their turnaround process so that the can take advantage of the bruising back to reach loftier team goals while he’s still in his prime.

While huge games for Jackson may be typical, less typical of late have been big outings for quarterback Marc Bulger. Well, the embattled Rams QB put together a pretty good one Sunday, going 26 of 40 passing for a season high 298 yards and two touchdowns. True, Bulger didn’t escape the day unblemished, as he threw an interception in the end-zone to Saints safety Usama Young that probably represented the difference in the game, but Bulger generally threw the ball well and looked comfortable running the offense. Maybe things are finally starting to click for the Rams in offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur’s new scheme. We’ll see if Bulger can be as effective moving the ball next week against the Cardinals.

Of course, a clicking offense also requires playmakers to catch the ball, and it was encouraging to see some of the Rams’ young receivers step up and have a significant impact on the game. Donnie Avery did his part to help the Rams keep pace with the Saints by catching both of Bulger’s touchdown passes. After a slow start, Avery has been making more of an impact in recent weeks. The Rams will need Avery to continue to step up, especially in light of the season-ending knee injury suffered by fellow starter Keenan Burton.

Also, how about Brandon Gibson?! The rookie wideout looked like the real deal while getting his first significant playing time for the Rams, making seven grabs for 93 yards, the highest reception and yardage totals by any Rams receiver in a single game this year. Gibson also showed some clutch ability, lunging forward for an 11 yard reception in the third quarter when it appeared he was stopped short of the first down marker, and going low to catch a nine yard throw from Bulger to keep the Rams’ last, potentially game-winning, drive alive. Gibson’s accomplishments Sunday are further magnified by the fact that he was unexpectedly pressed into heavy duty after Burton’s injury. I’m not going to go overboard on Gibson’s potential after one game, but, for a week at least, I can stop looking at the trade that sent Will Witherspoon to Philadelphia in exchange for Gibson and a fifth round draft pick as a colossal blunder for the new regime. If Gibson keeps playing like he did Sunday, next year’s potential receiving corps of Avery, Burton, Gibson, Danny Amendola, and Laurent Robinson doesn’t sound too bad to me.

I also think the Rams’ defense deserves some credit for the game against New Orleans. They will be maligned for giving up a lot of rushing yardage to the Saints, and for failing to pressure Saints QB Drew Brees more effectively, and rightly so. But, the defense forced two timely turnovers to snuff out Saints drives, and they held Brees and company to 21 points (the defense can’t be faulted for Courtney Roby’s kickoff return to open the second half). Before this game, if anyone would have said the Rams would hold the Saints to three scores, I think most people would have considered that a worthy effort, especially considering most pregame predictions had New Orleans hanging 40 or more on the Rams. Yes, the defense played a flawed game against the Saints, but they did enough to make it a game, rather than a blowout.

I think the biggest kudos of the day have to go to Steve Spagnuolo and his coaching staff. This is the part of the season where most teams in the Rams’ situation begin to deflate and play flat, accepting as grim reality their doormat status for another season. However, the Rams aren’t withering away. Instead, Spagnuolo and his assistants have the Rams continuing to grow and make strides, giving a team with championship aspirations like New Orleans a run for their money. In some ways, a loss like this one, a last-second defeat against a high-powered contender, seems more significant than a win over a league sparring partner like Detroit. No one can say the intensity of this contest had as much to do with the opponent playing poorly as it did the Rams playing well.

All I know is, I spent better part of Sunday afternoon planning and jotting down all the things I would write about a monumental Rams upset over a big time opponent. It really could have happened this time, and when it didn’t, I was sick.

It’s a sweet feeling to finally care enough to be sick once more.