Hard not to be pleased with last night's results. While Baltimore's offense didn't pose the biggest challenge, their defense still earns plenty of respect, with a front seven synonymous with elite defenders. (The Ravens were without starting nose tackle Kelley Gregg and starting d-backs Ed Reed and Chris McAlister).

The first team offense, sans LT Orlando Pace, scored, twice. Players looked sharp, and gave fans exactly what they wanted to see, what they needed to see. Last game's ought to help ticket sales at least a little. You wonder what might have been possible with Steven Jackson in there. I wouldn't start booking Super Bowl travel plans just yet, but finally we saw a competitive team, with the precision parts working like their supposed to. After watching the Rams struggle through their recent past, it finally feels like a new era.

Some positive notes:

• Bulger executed. We all knew he could, but the last two games doubts about what happens to man after he's sacked 6,546 times (or whatever ungodly number it really is), thinking, wondering if he still had it in him. 
• Rookie WRs Donnie Avery, playing his first preseason game, and Keenan Burton looked good playing with the first team. It's still preseason, but these guys look like they can contribute. Be patient. Rookies will make mistakes, but Avery and Burton are looking like solid draft picks. 
• Antonio Pittman has the speed to be an adequate backup and change of pace guy. 
• The o-line allowed NO sacks. Hell might be frozen. Adam Goldberg had a good night starting in his place. Baltimore smothered the run game to some extent, but this game was all about getting the pass going anyway. 
• The defense. It's almost getting to the point where you take the defense for granted. After the first loss to the Titans, they've been sharp. Little had another sack, but not seeing Long or Carriker's name in the box score with a tackle or two next to them doesn't sit well.