Bye bye, bye week, hello Saints

Another Sunday is upon us, no bye week this time, we get the real deal. (weak opening, sorry). Rested, reassured and ready. The St. Louis Rams take on a tough opponent today in the 8-0 New Orleans Saints. Some digestible material for this Sunday a.m.

Here's QB Marc Bulger's take on this game:

I think right now, coming off the bye, it's going to be fun. We have nothing to lose. New Orleans is probably considered the No. 1 or No. 2 team right now in the league. We have the opportunity to go out there and lay it all on the line and see if we can somehow pull out a win.

I'd like to see the team key on that nothing to lose bit, mix in some surprises, muscle some takeaways on defense, etc. If we're going to win, that's the route.

The Times-Picayune's Madden '10 simulation forecasts a 35-20 Saints win. The Rams, with just over 140 yards of offense, get their points on turnovers.

Of course, a good day from Steven Jackson will be needed. Mike Sando points out that SJ39 can keep Brees and Co. off the field, not they need much time to pinpoint a couple of TDs, but still. 

One guy trying to stop Jackson will be former Rams DL Anthony Hargrove, this week's Horatio Alger story. I can't blame the Rams for cutting bait on him back in '06, ditto the Bills. He finally got into the league's substance abuse program, and now is playing like a D-lineman we could only wish to have this season. 

A couple of college football notes:

• Washington QB Jake Locker had a pedestrian outing against #23 Oregon State, completing 14 of 23 passes for 153 yards, 3 TDs and 1 INT. If you saw the game, how did he look? Is he still among the top group of QBs this year in you mind?
• TCU is undefeated, but they haven't played the kind of schedule a team needs for championship cred in the BCS. How would this team fare against Texas? Florida? Alabama?
• I saw Arkansas take apart Troy yesterday, and let me tell you that Ryan Mallett is one impressive dude. Granted, it was Troy, not Alabama, but he's a good QB...and a red shirt sophomore at a program on the rise. He'll stick around for another season or two to help Arkansas and put his name in first round contention.