"If he didn't have some roster spots to decide, and a few starting jobs still up in the air, coach Steve Spagnuolo might just want to call it a preseason and advance to September and the real deal.

That's because the Rams opened Friday's Governor's Cup game against Kansas City about as sharp as can be. Sam Bradford said during the practice week that he wanted to produce some consistent drives Friday, six- to 10-play drives, he said.

And so it was. The Rams opened with a 12-play, 73-yard touchdown drive, and after a three-and-out series by their defense, followed that with a 10-play, 60-yard TD drive. Coupled with some equally strong defensive play in the first half, the Rams took an early 14-0 lead and hung on for a 14-10 victory.

For what it's worth, the Rams are 3-0 to start a preseason for the first time since moving to St. Louis in 1995. The 1996 club is the only other "St. Louis" Rams team to start even 2-0 in exhibition play. The Rams wrap up the preseason Thursday in Jacksonville.

"Obviously, I'm proud of the way the team came out and approached this game, especially after last week," Spagnuolo said. "They were presented with a challenge after struggling at little bit last week (against Tennessee), and I thought all week long they accepted that challenge."

Pro Bowl running back Steven Jackson got oiled up early, carrying on five of the first six plays from scrimmage, including a 25-yarder off right guard to open the game. All told, the Rams outgained the Chiefs 148 yards to 16 in the opening quarter en route to a 14-0 lead.

"We wanted to come out as a team, and especially as an offense, and set the tempo," Jackson said. "Last week we had some up and down possessions, but this week we wanted to reestablish ourselves."

The St. Louis defense, featuring Ben Leber and Brady Poppinga starting at outside linebacker and Darian Stewart starting at safety, was equally sharp. With the Rams' defensive starters playing most, but not all, of the first half Kansas City was limited to 14 yards rushing with Pro Bowl quarterback Matt Cassel completing only six of 13 for 59 yards. The only points given up by the starting unit came on a Ryan Succop field goal that followed a Bradford interception deep in St. Louis territory.

Linebacker Derrick Johnson stepped in front of the pass intended for Greg Salas, giving Kansas City a first down at the St. Louis 7. But with the aid of a holding penalty against KC, the Chiefs had to settle for a 26-yard field goal.

"From my point of reference, that was an excellent play (by Johnson)," Spagnuolo said. "Not a lot of guys in this league can make that play ... I thought it was a pretty good throw, and sometimes those things happen when you play against elite players.''

Even so, just about everything that went wrong last week against Tennessee went right Friday against the Chiefs, who don't look like they're taking the preseason too seriously under third-year head coach Todd Haley. After gaining only 44 yards on 21 carries against the Titans, Jackson topped that total himself on the Rams' first drive with seven carries for 50 yards."