It had to be. Sometimes life can't get any worse. Grubbing for a living in the Arena Football League and NFL Europe is nothing compared to reality. Three years ago, a tornado in Mountain View, Ark., took the lives of his in-laws. Almost a decade ago, Warner's stepson, Zachary, was blinded, the victim of a head injury.

Lugging that mental baggage, Warner probably figured why not? Throw on a jersey and throw for 316 yards and three touchdowns. For good measure, throw away the fears that a once-promising Rams season was doomed because of a season-ending injury to starter Trent Green.

McGwire Mania is dead. Anheuser-Busch hasn't introduced a new brand in the last 45 seconds. The city somehow made it through another stifling summer. What else is there? After 1/16th of a season, Warner is the toast of St. Louis after a 27-10 season-opening victory over the Ravens.

"I always hoped I would be here," Warner said. "I left it up to the Lord. As we've seen he's had a plan for me, and it's not exactly what I would have hoped."

The map of his life would make the Rand-McNally folks wince. Playing for I-AA Northern Iowa, Warner didn't become a starter until he was a fifth-year senior. In 1994, he had a cup of coffee in Packers camp. Two years ago, Warner, 28, was tossing footballs around a carpeted hockey rink for the Arena League's Iowa Barnstormers. He was fun to watch -- still holding all the franchise's passing records -- but so is Roller Derby if you drink enough.

He led the Barnstormers to two Arena Bowls from 1995-97. It was a comfortable, if not football-credible, living.

"Sixty-five thousand dollars," Warner said Sunday, "living in Iowa where the cost of living is low was a good situation."

But it's still Iowa, Kurt. Five days before the end of 1997, the Rams signed him after being intrigued by his Arena numbers. He then led NFL Europe in passing with Amsterdam Admirals in 1998. When the bullets really started flying that fall, as the media guide proudly proclaims, Warner beat out the immortal Will Furrer to be the No. 3 Rams quarterback.

The Rams saw something in Warner when they traded 1998 starter Tony Banks to the Ravens on draft day. After throwing only 11 passes last season, Warner was set to reach the pinnacle of his career -- NFL backup -- when Green blew out his knee in a preseason game on Aug. 28.

Suddenly, Warner was force-fed an intricate offense that has more branches than the Federal Reserve. New offensive coordinator Mike Martz put in only a fraction of the offense Sunday, but it still produced 350 total yards.

The key was the Ravens being content to key on Rams' centerpiece Marshall Faulk (19 carries, 54 yards) and let Warner beat them. He did, hitting eight different receivers.

"That's no average backup quarterback," Rams defensive tackle D'Marco Farr said. "This is not tooting (his) horn, but he practiced against the No. 10 defense (in the NFL) last year. He murdered us every week in practice. We know what he can do.

"Let me clarify that, not practicing against, killing the No. 10 defense. It was tough, man."

There are, and will be, shaky times. Warner locked onto receiver Ricky Proehl inside the Baltimore 20 in the first quarter. Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis stepped in front of Proehl and got an easy interception, returning it 60 yards.

The difference in the Rams, for once, is that their defense absorbed the mistakes. Scott Mitchell was harassed into five sacks while completing only 17 of 40 passes.

Kurt Warner had no problem dodging Ravens, throwing for 316 yards and three touchdowns in his NFL debut.(AP)

The Ravens defense found out what the Rams defense already knows. Warner stood in confidently against Baltimore, completing 19 of 26 for 185 yards and two touchdowns in the first half. While things got less artistic in the second half, Warner made it through like a seasoned Barnstormer, er, pro.

After the Ravens had cut the lead to 17-10, Warner led the offense on two scoring drives in the final quarter to ensure the Rams' biggest season-opening victory since 1988. His three touchdowns were the most by a St. Louis quarterback since Banks almost three years ago.

"I played in a lot of football games," Warner said. "I know this is the NFL. A lot of people like to make it surreal, a big deal. But I played football for a long time. I felt like I was playing another game out there."

The only other reason to crack a smile was when Rams coach Dick Vermeil tried to take credit for Warner and Banks. If Warner succeeds, it will be because he's all the Rams had left. Banks, the first quarterback taken in the 1996 draft, continues to be a flat-out bust despite Vermeil's belief in his talents. He was inactive Sunday, listed only as an emergency No. 3 quarterback for the Ravens.

"I coached quarterbacks most of my career," Vermeil said. "I have a pretty good feel for them. I still think Tony Banks is going to be a good football player. He's (Warner) not going to the Pro Bowl right now, but we can win with Kurt Warner."

If not, Warner's not going to sweat it. He'll always have Iowa.