By Jim McCabe, Globe Staff, 2/3/2002

EW ORLEANS - If there is a comfort factor for the St. Louis Rams, it's for good reason. Not only are they 14-point favorites, but the Superdome is almost like being at home.

Today's game will be their fourth in the Superdome in 14 months. They visited the Saints Dec. 24 to close out the 2000 regular season, won that game, but had to come right back the next week for a wild-card contest. In that one, the Saints knocked the Rams out of the playoffs, 31-28.

The Rams were back in New Orleans six weeks ago for Week 13 of the regular season, notching a 34-21 win.

Certainly, it's been a comfortable place. Since Kurt Warner and Marshall Faulk joined forces in 1999, the Rams have gone 3-1 in the Superdome, averaging 29.5 points per game.

Individually, both Warner and Faulk have enjoyed life in the Superdome as Rams. Warner has completed 80 of 120 passes (67 percent) for 1,182 yards (295.5 per game) and 10 touchdowns, numbers that don't bode well for the Patriots. Faulk's numbers aren't as overwhelming - 452 yards on 97 carries (4.7-yard average) and three touchdowns - but they're still impressive.

Lovie Smith has a strong personality and is given credit for turning the Rams' defense into one of the league's best. He doesn't deny that he'd love to vault from defensive coordinator to head coach somewhere, but as of now, there's no question as to the chain of command. '' Mike [ Martz] and I have never gotten into a conflict at all. Not a semblance of a conflict at all. He's my boss. He tells me to do something, I'm going to get it done. I'm in charge of the players. I tell them to do something, they should get it done. If they don't, you deal with it then. We haven't had to do that.'' ... There is a sentiment that Dick Vermeil's fingerprints are still on this Rams team, even though he's been gone two seasons now. While that may have been true last year, it's not now. ''You have a lot of guys from that Super Bowl team [of 1999] who are gone,'' said quarterbacks coach John Ramsdell. ''I mean, the offense is still pretty much intact, but the defense is pretty much a total change. Along with Mike, there are only four coaches still here [from 1999]. The team has really taken on the personality of Mike.''

It was their only bad stretch of the year, two losses in a four-week period midway through the season. But at least the coaching staff didn't have to search for answers why, because in losses to the Saints (34-31) and Buccaneers (24-17), the Rams coughed the ball up 13 times - seven fumbles and six interceptions. In fact, turnovers have been the one negative of the Rams, as even in their six-game winning streak to close out the regular season they fumbled seven times and gave up four interceptions. But if you think Martz emphasizes ball security, think again. ''I've found that if you tell a running back not to fumble, he fumbles,'' said Martz. ''And if you tell a quarterback not to throw an interception, he throws an interception. We stress [ball security] but we don't overemphasize it.'' ... Warner said the nervousness doesn't set in Saturday evening, but on the day of the game. ''It's a late game and every time you turn on the TV, that's all they're talking about. It's tough to get your mind off of it.'' The Rams quarterback said he'll get up early today, have breakfast, then go back to his hotel room and try to take a nap. ''I'll try and get as much sleep as possible,'' he said ... And, if the Rams win, how will Warner celebrate, since he doesn't touch alcohol? ''Maybe a Coke. A Coke and a smile.''