Rams salute Bruce with a win

Week 8: Panthers (1-6) at Rams (3-4) Oct 31, 2010 12:00 CST 10 20 NFL.com: Recap | Play by Play | Video The darkened Dome was half-filled with emotion half an hour before kickoff, and half-filled with empty seats, a sign that marked the continuing transition of this franchise as it saluted one of its all-time greats. For Isaac Bruce, today’s retirement of his iconic #80 was just a waystation to his eventual induction to the Hall of Fame. (And as I’ve written before, there’s no legitimate debate about his HOF credentials.) For the team, it was an opportunity to try and reunite the fans of last generation, those who swooned before the Greatest Show on Turf, with this new team that’s relying on defensive intensity to carry its still-maturing offense through the season. By all indications from the Dome on Sunday, that new love affair is still a work in progress. Despite a gritty, hard-fought win over an outclassed Carolina Panthers team, the building that onc...