St. Louis quarterback Sam Bradford (left) has been well protected, in sharp contrast to Atlanta's Matt Ryan, who was sacked three times last week. Chris Lee/St. Louis Post-Dispatch/Associated Press
ATLANTA - Steven Jackson always wondered how the other half lived.
Spending his first nine seasons with the St. Louis Rams, he put up some impressive numbers individually but made only one trip to the playoffs - as a rookie. He never played on a winning team, which really started to wear on him in the end.
"When you're not on national television a lot, some of the things you've done over the years can get overlooked easily," said Jackson, a three-time Pro Bowl player who has rushed for more than 10,000 yards. "You can only have so much individual success to kind of pacify you through your career."
So, with St. Louis looking to go younger in the backfield, Jackson moved on to the Atlanta Falcons, who came oh-so-close to making the Super Bowl last season.
Well, look who he'll be facing in Week 2 with his new team.
Yep, the Rams (1-0), who are trying to build on their first season-opening victory since 2006.
"I was on the outside," Jackson said. "Now, being on the inside and seeing what a good team looks like, I saw what I was missing. I'm happy to be given this opportunity."
Atlanta (0-1) dropped its opener at New Orleans, the bid for a game-winning touchdown stopped on fourth down at the Saints 3 with less than a minute remaining.
But Jackson turned in the sort of all-around performance the Falcons were looking for when they signed him to replace Michael Turner, rushing 11 times for 77 yards and catching five passes for 45 yards.
At age 30, he's still got game - and the respect of his former team.
"Obviously, Jack was a huge part of me growing up," Rams quarterback and former Oklahoma star Sam Bradford said. "I learned most how to be a leader. I watched the way he handled himself in different situations in the locker room, on the field, in practice, during games. I learned a ton from Jack. I really couldn't imagine having to start my career here without him."
So, with much of the attention on Jackson facing his former team, here are five other things to look for when the Falcons host the Rams on Sunday:
Five keys to victory
Protecting the QB: Bradford hasn't been sacked in three consecutive games going back to last season, the first time the Rams have done that since 1973. Contrast that with the Falcons, who have only two offensive line starters at the same positions as last season. That lack of continuity showed throughout the preseason and in Week 1, when Matt Ryan was sacked three times and hurried on many more throws. The Rams will be looking to tee off on Ryan after getting four sacks in their opener.
Roddy's ankle: Falcons WR Roddy White has played in 129 consecutive games, tied for the fourth-longest streak in franchise history, but he's been bothered by a high ankle sprain since the preseason. White was clearly not at full strength in the opener, catching only two passes for 19 yards. If he's still hobbled, the Rams can slide their coverages toward WR Julio Jones and TE Tony Gonzalez.
Cooking up a record: Jared Cook had quite a debut with the Rams, setting a franchise record for receiving yards by a tight end with 141 on seven catches. He also had a pair of touchdowns, giving the Falcons defense another dynamic tight end to account for after facing Jimmy Graham of the Saints.
Rookie corners: Desmond Trufant and Robert Alford had to play key roles in the Atlanta secondary with Asante Samuel sidelined by an injury in Week 1. They both held up well against Drew Brees and the high-powered Saints. Alford had an interception and broke up two passes, while Trufant also knocked away a throw. The Falcons are hoping to get Samuel back, but Trufant remains a starter and Alford should continue getting extensive playing time.
Bouncing back: The Falcons haven't had a losing streak since 2009. They are 20-3 after losses under coach Mike Smith and riding a 12-game winning streak in those situations. The Rams have their work cut out for them - especially playing at the Georgia Dome, where the Falcons are 33-7 in the regular season over the last five years.
Up next
At Atlanta
Noon Sunday
Original Print Headline: Jackson, original team set to reunite
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