St. Louis ? Beating the Super Bowl champions put a bounce in the St. Louis Rams’ step, even if it doesn’t count.

Kim Herring returned a fumble by Keyshawn Johnson 59 yards for a touchdown and the Rams controlled the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ offense in a 26-16 exhibition victory Monday night.

“Preseason or not, this type of game is going to show you where you are,” Herring said. “It showed we’re going to be a pretty good team.”

Kurt Warner was perfect on his only drive of the game, going 7-for-7 for 55 yards to set up a field goal, while the Bucs’ defense failed to lay a hand on him.

“We were able to dominate on both sides of the ball, so it was a very big confidence booster for us,” Warner said.

Coach Mike Martz said Warner’s showing should silence his critics. Warner was 0-6 as the starter last year.

“I know there’s a lot of worry warts out there, but you need not worry,” Martz said. “Kurt’s as good as he’s ever been.”

Raiders coach Jon Gruden also was impressed with Warner.

“He was sharp, he was the MVP guy I remember,” Gruden said. “He played extremely well.”

Tampa Bay quarterback Brad Johnson, right, sets to pass as St. Louis defender Grant Wistrom charges. The Rams beat the Buccaneers, 26-16, Monday in St. Louis.

The Rams (1-1) also ended a five-game losing streak in the preseason. They were 0-4 last year following a Super Bowl loss to the Patriots, and then began the regular season 0-5.

“We got it off our back,” Martz said. “We ended our dry spell.”

The Bucs (2-1) sputtered after totaling 50 points in their first two preseason games, although Brad Johnson was 7-for-9 for 55 yards in a little over one quarter.

Offensive tackle Kenyatta Walker sat out because of a sprained ankle for Tampa Bay, which has won each of the last three regular-season meetings against the Rams.

The Bucs managed only 111 yards of total offense in the first half, falling behind 16-0.

Tampa Bay’s defense, led by Warren Sapp and Derrick Brooks, played most of the first quarter, surrendering only an opening 14-play, 66-yard drive.

“I just don’t think we were on our ‘A’ game,” safety John Lynch said. “We have to accept responsibility when we don’t show up and play well.

“We didn’t play well from the start and that type of thing bothers you.”

Buccaneers third-string quarterback Chris Simms played most of the second half and threw two touchdown passes and two 2-point conversion passes.