Associated Press
ST. LOUIS -- Quarterback Drew Brees didn't think the San Diego Chargers did so well, despite a 31-10 exhibition victory Thursday night over the St. Louis Rams.
Brees played the first half and was 12-of-17 for 150 yards, but the Chargers got only three points on a 27-yard field goal by Wade Richey. He missed on a 40-yarder earlier in the second quarter.
"We got inside their 25, I guess, three times and we only get a field goal," Brees said. "That's unacceptable. We definitely want more points, touchdowns."
They got some in the second half, under Doug Flutie, who learned this week that Brees would be the Chargers' starter.
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Flutie threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Josh Norman in the third quarter, one play after Davis Sanchez made his second interception of the preseason and returned it 25 yards. That was the first touchdown pass of the preseason by either of the Chargers' top two quarterbacks,.
"It was fun," Flutie said. "Guys got open and they caught the ball and we got it in the end zone. It was a fun night."
It was especially enjoyable for the San Diego defense, which made Marc Bulger look like an inexperienced reserve backup quarterback, which he is.
Bulger threw two interceptions.
"It wasn't good," he said. "I didn't do many more things wrong, just bigger mistakes."
The Chargers (2-1) put the game away with a 21-point third quarter, getting the first of three touchdowns one play after Bulger's second interception. They also shut down the Rams' starting offense in the first quarter, holding them without a point.
Offensive guard Tom Nutten said coach Mike Martz kept his cool addressing the team after the game.
"He just went over the schedule we've got next week and reminded us we've got a week to go before the real thing," Nutten said. "You saw the game and it's not really a good representation of the Rams."
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The Rams, coming off three straight 500-point seasons, managed only 87 yards in total offense and trailed 3-0 at halftime. They weren't shut out in the first half during the regular season all last year.
The teams meet Nov. 10 in the regular season.
"The bottom line for us is we played hard and we were able to limit some of our errors," coach Marty Schottenheimer said. "Obviously, we have a far more important game to play against them in November."
Kurt Warner played a few snaps into the second quarter and was 5-of-10 for 56 yards for the Rams (0-3). Marshall Faulk, making his first appearance of the preseason, played three series and had one carry for 11 yards and two receptions for 7.
Game statistics, Page 2D
