BY STEVE KORTE
News-Democrat
ST. LOUIS - By Steve Korte
The St. Louis Rams had a little more bounce in their step as they got back to work on Monday after using their bye week to refresh their minds as well as their bodies.
"It's always nice to have a week off and heal up a little bit," Rams right guard Adam Timmerman said. "Just a fresh mindset, too. I think everybody needed a little mental break to get ready got the second half of the season."
The Rams (4-4) open the second half of the season against the Seattle Seahawks (6-2) at 3:15 p.m. Sunday at Qwest Field in Seattle.
It's a game that could make or break the Rams' chances of winning the NFC West title.
If they win, the Rams would be only one game behind the Seahawks in the division. If they lose, they'll be three games behind the Seahawks in the division, and on the wrong side of the head-to-head tiebreaker after falling to the Seahawks 37-31 on Oct. 9 at the Edward Jones Dome.
"This is a huge game for us," Rams free safety Mike Furrey said. "We set ourselves up nice the last couple weeks by getting two wins and getting back to .500, but I think this is going to be our big season breaker. If we can come back home with a victory from Seattle, we have four home games, including two division games at home, we'll be alright."
The Seahawks have a four-game winning streak, their longest streak since winning five straight games during the 1999 season.
The Rams have an unlikely two-game winning streak after beating New Orleans and Jacksonville without quarterback
Marc Bulger, wide receivers Isaac Bruce and
Torry Holt and defensive end
Leonard Little.
All four players took part in practice on Monday.
"We're getting a lot of the key pieces back this week," Rams rookie guard Claude Terrell said. "That's going to be a big boost for us. Anytime you get Marc, Torry and Isaac back, that's an all-star roster in itself."
Bulger is returning from a two-game absence due to an injured throwing shoulder.
"I thought he threw the ball well today," Rams interim coach Joe Vitt said of Bulger. "He's excited. He'll be ready to go full (speed) on Wednesday."
Vitt said a final determination on whether Bruce and Holt would play against the Seahawks would be made later this week.
Bruce has missed four games due to a turf toe, while Holt missed two games due to a strained ligament in his knee.
The Rams expect to have cornerback-kickoff returner Chad Johnson (back), cornerback Travis Fisher (groin) and Terrell (neck) available against the Seahawks. All three were inactive against the Jaguars.
"We're about as healthy right now as we have been all year long," Vitt said.
Vitt said he was excited by the return of Little, who missed two games because he was on bereavement leave after his younger brother was shot to death.
"The guy is a playmaker," Vitt said of Little, who is the Rams' sack leader this season with four. "He presents problems for anybody's pass protection. They have to account for him every time. He is great in pursuing the run. It's huge."
Rams rookie right tackle
Alex Barron was tardy for practice on Monday due to problems with his return flight from Florida.
"It got canceled, and I had to wait for the next available," Barron said. "I was in Atlanta for a long time."
Vitt said Barron's late arrival would be "dealt with."
Vitt said running back Marshall Faulk was excused from practice so he could attend to some personal matters.
Vitt had the Rams run sprints and do conditioning exercises after practice.
"A lot of practice today was designed to knock the rust off and get back into the swing of things," Rams center Andy McCollum said.
The Rams' offensive and defensive lineman avoided running sprints as they headed to the weight room for some extra lifting.
"We're in a lot better condition, can't you tell," McCollum said of why the linemen didn't have to run. "They had the big guys in the weight room and the little guys working on the field
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