Jacksonville won the pre-game coin toss and elected to put the Rams offense on the field first. What does this say about their perception of the winless Rams?

Marc Bulger opened on a good note, lofting a 21-yard pass to Keenan Burton up the left sideline. Then, using the no-huddle scheme, Bulger hit a quint slant pass to Burton.

On second-and-2, the Rams tried to go back to this well. The Jaguars covered the slant and dumped Bulger when he felt compelled to eat the ball. Was there no second passing option on this play?

On third-and-8, the Rams executed a “throw back” screen to Steven Jackson — and the big man rumbled all the way to the Jacksonville 30. Why do some Rams fans want the team to move this elite talent for draft picks before Tuesday’s trade deadline?

A Jackson run earned five yards, then a little pass to Jackson earned six more yards and another first down.

The Rams reached the red zone! And instead of giving the ball away, the Rams ACTUALLY SCORED A TOUCHDOWN. Bulger’s lofted a 17-yard TD strike to Donnie Avery in the right corner of the end zone.

So maybe Avery and Burton aren’t draft busts after all. This 73-yard scoring drive proved that this team really does have enough talent to compete.

Jacksonville stormed back with an excellent kickoff return and two pass completions to Torry Holt, the latter good for 41 yards up the left sideline.

Do you think the former Rams receiver enjoyed torching his old team (and former teammate Ron Bartell) for the big gainer? He and Jaguars quarterback David Garrard got in sync during this drive.

Maurice Jones-Drew punched in the TD on the ground to cap a swift five-play scoring drive. Jacksonville could have tied the game, but the Jags botched the extra point conversion bid.

So the Rams were clinging to a 7-6 lead as they got the ball back. Kick returner Danny Amendola took off with the ensuing kickoff, racing all the way to the Jacksonville 43.

The Rams tried to strike immediately, but Bulger hung his post-pattern bomb to Donnie Avery just enough for Jaguars cornerback Rashean Mathis to catch up and intercept it.

The result was bad, but it was nice to see the Rams try to stretch the Jacksonville defense. By making the Jaguars defend the whole field, the Rams should open up some more room for Jackson.

The Rams defense picked up the offense with a three-and-out stop, with pass rushing specialist C.J. Ah You hassling Garrard into a third-down incompletion.

Unfortunately, the Rams offense took a three-and-out powder, with Bulger’s third-down completion to Amendola coming up a yard short of the first down marker.

Jaguars wide receiver Mike Sims-Walker is back on the active roster this week, which is bad news for the Rams. Two Garrard completions to Sims-Walker moved the ball all way to the Rams 30. On the latter, safety Craig Dahl was the closest Ram — and he was not close enough.

Garrard scrambled for another first down after getting away from Leonard Little in the backfield. That nifty run moved the ball into the red zone as the entertaining first quarter ended.