However, left tackle Orlando Pace was lost for the season in the second quarter of that game, running Steven Jackson fumbled twice in the third quarter, and the Rams lost.

That started a string of eight consecutive defeats that resulted in a 3-13 season.

Now, one year later, the Rams head to Philadelphia for an opening game they hope will begin showing they are a lot better than that 2007 record.

Much will depend on the health and continuity of an offensive line that was decimated last season. The current group will be seriously tested against an Eagles defense in the first game of the season that is always difficult to attack.

"They do a ton of things," quarterback Marc Bulger said. "Just like coach (Jim) Haslett (Rams defensive coordinator), you have to prepare for everything so if it is during the year you get to see everything and have to prepare for everything so you get real nervous about it, but right now you don't know what to expect. So again we have prepared for everything but there is not that anticipation that they have four or five new ones, we think they will have new blitzes but we haven't seen them so it is kind of, just go out and play."

Asked about the Philadelphia defense, coach Scott Linehan said, "It's creative, aggressive. It's sound. He's been doing the same thing since he's been there, doing it with different faces every couple of years and does it about as good as anybody. It's a scary movie to watch some of these games, because it looks like they have 13 guys on the field, which is tough. I say that because they just really run to the ball great. They have a great pressure package."

As for the offensive line, Bulger said, "You don't want to speak too soon, but I think those guys have done a great job. Just the fact that they've been getting a chance to work together and build as a unit, I think they've grown since the spring and my fingers are crossed but I think they can be a special unit. I know we said that about our whole offense last year before the first game but everything is great going into the first game. We have to see, but we're optimistic about it."

Bulger reiterated the task the line will face Sunday. "It will put us right to the test, right away," he said. "Every week in this league is going to be that, but we have a challenge right away. This is a very fast, aggressive type defense. We have to be able to control the line of scrimmage. If you don't control the line of scrimmage with these guys, you're going to be in for a long day and it starts up front."

Linehan concluded, "This has been a really good, long road getting to this point and I am real excited about opening on the road against a really great football team. It is going to be a heck of a challenge.

It's like anything else. We need to start putting it all to use here come Sunday, but there's a lot of positive things we have going."

SERIES HISTORY: 35th regular-season meeting. Rams lead, 17-16-1. The Eagles had won four straight in the series when the Rams won the season opener in Philadelphia, 20-17 in overtime, in 2001. That year, the Rams advanced to the Super Bowl, beating the Eagles at home in the NFC Championship Game. The Eagles won the last meeting, 17-16, in 2005 in St. Louis.