Recap: Arizona vs. St. Louis

By Sports Network

Glendale, AZ (Sports Network) - Kurt Warner threw for 279 yards and a touchdown and the Arizona defense scored twice in the second half in a 34-10 decision over the lowly St. Louis Rams, as the Cardinals finally clinched the NFC West for their first postseason appearance since 1998.

The Cardinals (8-5) fell flat when victories against the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles in the previous two weeks could have given the club its first-ever NFC West title and first division championship of any kind since winning the NFC East back in 1975 while based out of St. Louis.

But the overachievers led by an aging quarterback were not denied a third time, as Warner hit 24-of-33 passes with an interception, while Larry Fitzgerald caught six balls for 73 yards and a score. Tim Hightower rushed for a team-high 31 yards and a TD in a memorable win for the franchise.

Steven Jackson, bothered by a lingering thigh injury, carried the ball 19 times for 64 yards but fumbled twice for St. Louis (2-11), which has fallen in seven straight affairs.

Marc Bulger completed 22-of-37 passes for 228 yards with a touchdown and a pick for the Rams.

The Cardinals took the opening kickoff and easily marched their way down the field. Hightower's one-yard plunge over the goal line was the sixth run of the 10-play, 76-yard drive that took 6:14 off the clock.

After a quick Rams three-and-out the Cardinals went to the air, as Warner connected on 4-of-5 passes and hit Fitzgerald for a 12-yard TD at the 4:13 mark of the first.

A Warner interception deep in Arizona territory led to a short three-yard hookup between Bulger and Jackson to make it a 14-7 game on the second play of the second quarter.

The Cardinals slowly moved down the field with their next touch and settled for a 44-yard Neil Rackers field goal.

The Rams countered with a nice drive off their own but Josh Brown pushed his 42-yard field goal attempt wide right. Warner's 58-yard bomb to Steve Breaston set up Rackers' 22-yard boot for a 20-7 lead just before the break.

Both teams penetrated enemy territory in the second half, but Jackson fumbled at the Cardinals 22, and Arizona punted after Warner was sacked on third down back at the St. Louis 46.

On the second play after the punt, however, another fumble by Jackson was scooped up by Darnell Dockett and run into the end zone from the St. Louis 11 to pump Arizona's lead to 20 with 4:20 to play in the third.

The Rams continued to move the ball against the hosts, but Bulger's 4th-down pass at the Arizona 36 was broken up on the first play of the fourth quarter.

The Cardinals quickly punted but held the Rams to a 51-yard field goal from Brown with 10:21 to play, and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie sealed the historic win with a 99-yard interception return for a touchdown.