NFC WEST Bulger rallies Rams past 49ers in overtime

Terrell Owens' TD catch late in the game forced the extra session.
ST. LOUIS (AP) -- The St. Louis Rams have a decision to make.
Marc Bulger, starting in place of Kurt Warner, threw two touchdown passes and rebounded from a shaky start to lead the Rams past the San Francisco 49ers 27-24 in overtime Sunday.
Austintown native Jeff Wilkins kicked a 28-yard field goal with 13 minutes remaining in the extra period.
St. Louis coach Mike Martz wouldn't say if Bulger or Warner, the two-time MVP who sustained a concussion in the opener, would start next week at Seattle.
Martz said he'd make an announcement today, although he didn't hesitate to shower praise on Bulger.
"I think he got shook up in the first half pretty good," Martz said. "What he did, and what great players will do, they put it to rest immediately and they don't let it affect the next series or the next down."
Fumbles
Bulger lost two fumbles in the first half, meaning Rams quarterbacks have eight fumbles in two games. But Bulger was 15-for-17 for 155 yards after the break and finished 25-for-36 for 236 yards and two touchdowns.
The Rams (1-1) have won eight of the last nine over the 49ers (1-1), the defending NFC West champions. They rallied behind Bulger after being held to 67 yards in the first half, emphasizing the run more.
"I don't know what happened in the second half," 49ers defensive tackle Bryant Young said. "I don't know if it was a combination of us not being in the right spot to make the play, or them making great plays."
The 49ers didn't go quietly, forcing the extra period on Terrell Owens' 13-yard touchdown catch from Jeff Garcia with 19 seconds to go. The score capped an 85-yard, 11-play march and came from a pair of players who sustained mild concussions in the first half.
Concussion caution
Garcia had two touchdown passes and an interception, going 19-for-35 for 222 yards. He minimized his injury, which likely came on a hard hit from Leonard Little in the first quarter.
"Just because of what has happened to most quarterbacks in this league, not just this year but in the past, doctors are going to be extra cautious," Garcia said.
San Francisco got one last chance to win it when Arnaz Battle recovered Jeff Chandler's onside kick at midfield with 13 seconds to go. The 49ers still had one timeout, but they ran out of time on Garcia's 29-yard pass to Cedrick Wilson to the St. Louis 26.
The Rams hemmed in Wilson so the clock would run out on a play that started with nine seconds to go.
"You'd like to say he should have gone down, but he didn't," 49ers coach Dennis Erickson said. "He was trying to make a play."
The 49ers had the call on the coin toss for overtime, guessed tails and never saw the ball again.
Rookie Arlen Harris made up for fumbling a punt at the St. Louis 11 that led to the 49ers' first touchdown, returning the overtime kickoff 46 yards to the Rams 48. A 15-yard facemask penalty on 49ers linebacker Jeff Ulbrich gave the Rams the ball at the 49ers 36, and Bulger and Marshall Faulk hooked up on a 22-yard screen pass to the 10.