A week ago, after his team had fallen to 0-7 with a 42-6 loss to Indianapolis, Steve Spagnuolo was asked if he received words of encouragement from friends or coaching counterparts.

"When you're winning, you get a lot of phone calls," Spagnuolo joked. "When you're not, everybody's afraid to (call). But really, that's when you want 'em. That's when you need 'em."

Spagnuolo was a winner Sunday for the first time as an NFL head coach, when his Rams edged Detroit 17-10 at Ford Field.

But there's no champagne or parade planned for the bye week, and Kiener Plaza hasn't been booked for a celebratory rally. Mayor Francis G. Slay won't present Spagnuolo with a key to the city. The coach said he slept no better, and no worse, Sunday night.

"I think I slept through," he said. "I've slept through the other weeks, too. I'm so tired, I've got no choice."

One thing was different about this Monday: As if proving his theory, the congratulatory text messages came flooding in on Spagnuolo's mobile phone following the victory Sunday.

"The text (in-box) is full — whatever you call that thing when you get the text messages," Spagnuolo said. "And that's kind of nice. There's some good people in this league. Some of them are going through their own issues, but it was nice of them to think to send me something."

Among the texters was Philadelphia coach Andy Reid, who gave Spagnuolo his first NFL coaching job a decade ago. But there were plenty more.

"Friends, assistant coaches, there was a bunch of them," Spagnuolo said. "And there's still some on there I haven't looked at yet. ... I guess they haven't forgotten about me completely, which is a good thing."

Even better than any of those text messages was what happened in the visitors' locker room at Ford Field late Sunday afternoon. Spagnuolo was presented a game ball by tight end Randy McMichael on behalf of the players.

When asked Monday what it felt like to get that game ball, Spagnuolo almost had a Dick Vermeil moment. There were no moist eyes, but Spagnuolo did have to pause momentarily to regroup.

"Well, that was ah, that was pretty special," Spagnuolo said. "I mean, I hadn't thought about what that was going to be like, or what would happen after a win, but that was special."

On Monday, it was back to work at Rams Park, with Spagnuolo insisting that the end of the losing streak didn't mean a big weight had been lifted from his shoulders.

"It's great to win, don't get me wrong now," he said. "I don't take that for granted. It's hard to win in this league. Players know that; coaches know that. So when you win, you should enjoy it. But then after that enjoyment's done, the 12 hours or whatever you get, it's back to the job."

With the bye week upon them, the pace slows somewhat at Rams Park. Except for mandatory treatment for those who are injured, the players got the day off. Technically, this wasn't even a "victory Monday" because Spagnuolo long ago had decided on this schedule for the start of the bye week. In fact, he informed the players of this plan a couple of weeks ago.

The Rams practice today and Wednesday, and then the players are off until next Monday. Meanwhile, the coaches get the weekend off. For part of the bye week, Spagnuolo and his staff will do self-scouting, evaluate the team in all phases.

"We're not going to be blinded by one game," Spagnuolo said. "We're 1-7. There's a lot of things we've got to look at and get right. That's what we're going to try to do the better part of this week. We'll sprinkle in some New Orleans (preparation) stuff this week, too, to try to get ahead."

The Rams return to action Nov. 15 against New Orleans and the Saints' potent offense led by quarterback Drew Brees. If the Rams were to enter that game distracted by their victory over 1-6 Detroit, the Saints will knock them back to reality.

New Orleans aside, the worst of the schedule is behind the Rams, particularly when it comes to travel. After playing five of their first eight games on the road, the Rams play five of their last eight at the Edward Jones Dome.

In that stretch are three in a row at home, with New Orleans followed by Arizona (Nov. 22) and Seattle (Nov. 29). The Rams don't leave town again until a Dec. 6 contest at Chicago.