"Rams fans are probably still scratching their heads wondering why injured quarterback Marc Bulger didn't start Sunday's 38-10 loss to the Vikings when he was able to post a perfect passer rating of 158.3 and a rare touchdown in the final 10 minutes.

Rookie coach Steve Spagnuolo didn't make followers of the 0-5 Rams feel any better in describing why Kyle Boller got his second consecutive start. Bulger and his apparently banged-up passing shoulder stood on the sideline until Boller was knocked out of the game because of a hit to the head after throwing an interception in the end zone on fourth-and-6 from the Vikings 9-yard line with 14:56 left in the game.

"We knew if we had to [play Bulger], we could do it," Spagnuolo said. "But we didn't know that until Friday, Saturday. Kyle had gotten all the reps, so we went with Kyle."

Bulger was inactive last week. Boller started at San Francisco, threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown and the Rams lost 35-0.

Against the Vikings, Boller threw an interception in the end zone and had an unforced fumble returned 52 yards for a touchdown by Jared Allen. The only points he produced -- a 29-yard field goal by Josh Brown -- came on a 14-yard drive set up by rookie linebacker and Wayzata native James Laurinaitis.

Bulger came in and completed all seven of his passes for 88 yards and a 27-yard touchdown to Donnie Avery."