Cardinals 31, Rams 10: Arizona Cruises To Easy Win Against Lowly St. Louis

Glendale, AZ (Sports Network) - Kurt Warner tossed two touchdowns and became just the second player in NFL history to throw at least 100 TDs for two teams, as the NFC West-champion Cardinals earned their third consecutive season sweep of pitiful St. Louis behind a 31-10 decision.

Warner finished with 313 yards on 24-of-38 attempts for Arizona (10-5), which posted its first 10-win season since 1976. Anquan Boldin hauled in eight balls for 116 yards, and Larry Fitzgerald caught a TD for the victors.

Beanie Wells and Tim Hightower each rushed for a score, adding 68 and 32 yards on the ground, respectively, in the win, the club’s third in four games.

Keith Null was picked off three times and logged 171 yards on 20-of-31 attempts for the Rams (1-14), owners of the worst record in the league following their seventh straight loss.

Workhorse running back Steven Jackson did not play for St. Louis due to a nagging back injury.

After a scoreless opening quarter, Warner hit Steve Breaston down the left sideline for a 45-yard gain, setting up Fitzgerald’s 10-yard TD reception on a crossing route with 2:47 gone in the second frame.

Arizona went up 14-0 when Early Doucet made a nice grab across the middle for an 18-yard touchdown, the first of his career.

Mike Nugent’s 19-yard field goal at the end of the half capped a 14-play, 82- yard drive, as the hosts went into the locker room ahead 17-0.

LaJuan Ramsey forced a Warner fumble on the first possession of the second half, and Brandon Gibson halved the Rams’ deficit by making a sensational 21- yard reception in the back of the end zone. The play was originally ruled as incomplete, but St. Louis won its challenge when it was revealed the receiver got his right knee down before landing out of bounds.

The Rams forced a three-and-out, but Danny Amendola was stripped in Arizona territory on the punt return. The turnover turned into a two-yard touchdown run by Hightower with 4:32 remaining in the third stanza.

Josh Brown’s 33-yard field goal at the 8:36 mark of the fourth made it a two- possession game, 24-10.

The Cardinals then took four minutes off the clock despite failing to score, and Adrian Wilson’s interception was quickly followed by Wells’ three-yard run to paydirt, sealing the game’s outcome.

Warner has 100 TDs for Arizona and also had 102 while playing in St. Louis (1998-2003)...Fitzgerald’s TD was his 12th of the year...The loss was the Rams’ 23rd in the last 24 games...Chris Ogbonnaya led the Rams with 45 yards on nine carries, while Gibson ended with 51 yards on five receptions... Fitzgerald logged five catches for 48 yards...Wilson also had a sack, becoming just the 10th player in NFL history with 20-plus sacks and 20-plus interceptions in a career.

Read more at our Cardinals blog, Revenge Of The Birds, and our Rams blog, Turf Show Times.