ST. LOUIS (AP) -- There might never be a better time for the team that has lost the most games in the NFL this decade to play one coming off a Super Bowl season.

The Atlanta Falcons are winless and vulnerable heading into Sunday's game against the St. Louis Rams. Not only have the Falcons (0-2) matched their season loss total from last year, they've lost running back Jamal Anderson for the season, quarterback Chris Chandler is hobbling, and they're coming off a short work week.

As for the Rams (1-0), they're coming off a bye. So they're well-rested and well-prepped.

"I'm not saying this game is already won, because we know better than that," wide receiver Isaac Bruce said. "It's just unfortunate they've had some big injuries these past couple weeks and they're coming in on a downswing."

The Falcons began Monday night's 17-7 loss to Dallas without Chandler, who had a strained hamstring. Then they lost Anderson, who had a franchise-record 1,846 yards rushing and an NFL-record 410 carries last season, for the year.

To the Rams, Anderson is by far the bigger loss. Last year, he ran for 188 and 172 yards against them, and in four career games has 594 yards, seven touchdowns and a 6.5-yard average per carry.

In fact, his three best days have come against the Rams.

Anderson's replacement is third-year back Byron Hanspard, who had 335 yards as a rookie, but missed last season with a knee injury.

"He is not going to run over the top of you," coach Dick Vermeil said. "If you hit him in the backfield, your chances of getting him down are better than when you hit the big guy."

Hanspard had 76 yards on 19 carries against the Cowboys. He's definitely more elusive than Anderson, although coach Dan Reeves doesn't think he has total confidence in his surgically repaired knee yet.

"Jamal is willing to run over anybody at any given time," Hanspard said. "Whatever it is I need to do, that is what I'm capable of doing."

Chandler has been in the NFL since 1988, and has yet to play a full season. Backups Tony Graziani and Danny Kanell both were ineffective against the Cowboys, combining to go 16-for-38 for 262 yards and three interceptions.

The Falcons won't get any sympathy from the Rams, who have been through the injury jinx. Quarterback Trent Green suffered a season-ending knee surgery in the third preseason game.

So far that hasn't spelled disaster. Kurt Warner, previously an obscure backup, threw for 309 yards and three touchdowns in the Rams' opening 27-10 victory over the Baltimore Ravens two weeks ago.

Warner, 28, expects the Falcons to try to exploit his inexperience. Before the opener, his sole NFL experience was fourth-quarter mop-up work in the 1998 season finale at San Francisco.

"He was playing good last year, but obviously it was just in practice so everybody can't see it," tight end Roland Williams said. "We've got so much talent around him now, though, he can't help but be great."

Warner's supporting cast includes Marshall Faulk, the NFL's best all-purpose back last year; Bruce, one of the best receivers in the league when healthy; and first-round pick Torry Holt at the other wideout.

"They've added an awful lot of weapons," Reeves said. "Holt is a tremendous addition and Faulk is an outstanding running back because he does so many things."

Faulk has gotten off to a slow start with the Rams, who acquired him in April from Indianapolis. He had 54 yards and a 2.8-yard average in the opener, although he caught seven passes for 72 yards.

"New things are being thrown at you and you just become more and more comfortable with the whole package," Faulk said. "The terminology is a lot different than what I had with the Colts. It'll start clicking."

ATLANTA Season schedule and results

ST. LOUIS Season schedule and results

September 12 Minnesota L 14-17 September 20 @Dallas L 7-24 September 26 @St. Louis 1:00pm ET October 3 Baltimore 1:00pm ET October 10 @New Orleans 1:00pm ET October 17 St. Louis 1:00pm ET October 25 @Pittsburgh 9:00pm ET October 31 Carolina 1:00pm ET November 7 Jacksonville 1:00pm ET November 21 @Tampa Bay 1:00pm ET November 28 @Carolina 8:20pm ET December 5 New Orleans 1:00pm ET December 12 @San Francisco 4:15pm ET December 19 @Tennessee 1:00pm ET December 26 Arizona 1:00pm ET January 3 San Francisco 9:00pm ET

September 12 Baltimore W 27-10 September 26 Atlanta 1:00pm ET October 3 @Cincinnati 1:00pm ET October 10 San Francisco 1:00pm ET October 17 @Atlanta 1:00pm ET October 24 Cleveland 1:00pm ET October 31 @Tennessee 1:00pm ET November 7 @Detroit 1:00pm ET November 14 Carolina 1:00pm ET November 21 @San Francisco 4:15pm ET November 28 New Orleans 1:00pm ET December 5 @Carolina 1:00pm ET December 12 @New Orleans 1:00pm ET December 19 NY Giants 1:00pm ET December 26 Chicago 1:00pm ET January 2 @Philadelphia 1:00pm ET

Records source: STATS, Inc.

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