Cardinals-Rams Preview

SCOUTING REPORT

Rams playing better, but Arizona's high-flying offense tough to stopThe Rams are showing signs of life under head coach Jim Haslett, and this home game against the first-place Arizona Cardinals is another chance to build momentum. The Cardinals lost another tough road game on Sunday at Carolina but put on an aerial exhibition with Anquan Boldin returning to the lineup. The pass-heavy Cardinals can move the chains quickly with Boldin, Larry Fitzgerald and rookie Steve Breaston, but at some point they will need to prove they can run the ball. Maybe this is the week to try to grind it out a little more. St. Louis put up a good effort in Sunday's loss to New England despite being without starting RB Steven Jackson. Jackson is likely to return on Sunday, but players like rookie WR Donnie Avery are proving to be capable in their own right when given opportunities. Hard to believe after their disastrous start that the Rams could be thinking playoffs, but it they take care of business at home, this division will truly be up for grabs the rest of the way.

· Full Scouting Report

Matchup
	W-L	PF	PA	HOME	ROAD	DIV	CONF
ARI	9-7	427	426	6-2	3-5	6-0	7-5
STL	2-14	232	465	1-7	1-7	0-6	2-10
· Complete Standings

Individual Leaders

Arizona Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Warner 66.1 3753 26 14 Leinar... 66.2 435 0 3

St. Louis Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Bulger 56.7 1469 5 6 Boller 55.7 899 3 6

Arizona Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Wells 176 793 4.5 7 Highto... 143 598 4.2 8

St. Louis Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Jackso... 324 1416 4.4 4 Darby 27 152 5.6 0

Arizona Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Fitzge... 97 1092 11.3 13 Boldin 84 1024 12.2 4

St. Louis Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Avery 47 589 12.5 5 Gibson 34 348 10.2 1

Full Player Stats: Arizona | St. Louis

TEAM AVERAGES & NFL RANKS
TEAM OFFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Total Yards	ARI	366.0
	STL	287.0
Yards Passing	ARI	292.1
	STL	184.2
Yards Rushing	ARI	73.6
	STL	103.1
TEAM DEFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Yards Allowed	ARI	331.5
	STL	371.9
Pass Yds Allowed	ARI	221.3
	STL	217.2
Rush Yds Allowed	ARI	110.3
	STL	154.7

HEAD TO HEAD MATCHUPS (SINCE 2001)
Series tied 7-7
Dec 30, 2007	ARI 48, @STL 19
Oct 7, 2007	ARI 34, STL 31
Dec 3, 2006	ARI 34, STL 20
Sep 24, 2006	ARI 14, @STL 16
Nov 20, 2005	ARI 38, STL 28
Sep 18, 2005	ARI 12, @STL 17
Dec 19, 2004	ARI 31, @STL 7
Sep 12, 2004	ARI 10, STL 17
Nov 23, 2003	ARI 27, @STL 30
Sep 28, 2003	ARI 13, STL 37
Dec 15, 2002	ARI 28, STL 30
Nov 3, 2002	ARI 14, @STL 27

Though Kurt Warner almost certainly played the best football of his career with the St. Louis Rams nearly a decade ago, his success with the Arizona Cardinals this season is at least making the issue debatable.

Warner looks to continue his best season in years and help the Cardinals rebound from a disheartening loss when he returns to St. Louis to face the NFC West rival Rams on Sunday.

Once an NFL castoff who played overseas and even supported himself by working in a supermarket, Warner emerged as a star with the Rams in 1999, winning the league MVP award and leading the franchise to its only Super Bowl victory. He earned MVP honors again in 2001, when the Rams fell short of a second championship with a 20-17 Super Bowl loss to New England.

While Warner now has plenty of competition in the MVP race, the numbers indicate that the 37-year-old is having his best season since his glory days in St. Louis, as he's helped the Cardinals (4-3) take a two-game lead in the weak NFC West.

"I'm feeling like I'm playing as well as I ever have," said Warner, who admitted earlier this season that he's considered retirement. "I feel like I'm seeing the field, making good decisions, protecting the ball probably better than I ever have. I feel really good about where I'm playing right now."

Approaching the season's midway point, Warner leads the NFL in completion percentage (70.2) and ranks second in completions (184) and passing yards (2,089). Only Phillip Rivers of San Diego and Tony Romo of Dallas have a better quarterback rating than Warner's 102.1 -- his personal best since he compiled a 109.2 rating in his Super Bowl-winning 1999 campaign.

"With the exception of one game, I think he's played excellent football for us," Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt said. "He is doing a great job of managing the game, getting rid of the ball and running our offense."

Warner was 35-for-49 for 381 yards, two touchdowns and one interception last Sunday. He helped Arizona build a 17-3 lead early in third quarter, but the Cardinals gave up 24 of the game's final 30 points in the 27-23 loss to Carolina.

"We did a lot of good things," Warner said. "It's a good football team, but bottom line we made one too many mistakes."

The Cardinals hope to cut back on those mistakes as Warner makes his third visit to St. Louis since the Rams cut him before the 2004 season. He's won both of his return trips, completing 41 of 67 passes for 475 yards, four touchdowns and one interception.

The Rams (2-5) are hoping for a resurgence like Warner's, and under new coach Jim Haslett, they certainly have shown improvement.

St. Louis finished last in the NFC West with a 3-13 record last season, then lost its first four games of 2008 by a combined 147-43 before firing Scott Linehan and promoting Haslett, previously the defensive coordinator.

The Rams responded with back-to-back victories over NFC East contenders Washington and Dallas before a 23-16 loss at New England last Sunday. After taking a 16-13 lead early in the fourth quarter, they gave up 10 unanswered points.

With their newfound confidence, the Rams couldn't accept a moral victory.

"Four weeks ago, we would have looked at this game as a win," quarterback Marc Bulger said, "but we're disappointed."

Bulger, benched by Linehan before regaining his starting job in Haslett's debut, was 18-for-34 for a season-high 301 yards last week. He connected six times with rookie Donnie Avery, who totaled 163 yards including a 69-yard touchdown reception.

"The numbers don't count if you can't get the win," said Avery, a second-round pick out of Houston.

Arizona wideout Anquan Boldin was thinking the same thing last week after he returned from a two-game absence to catch nine passes for 63 yards and two touchdowns. It was his first game since a crushing hit Sept. 28 required him to have surgery to repair facial fractures.

"It was just good to be back out there," he told the Cardinals' official Web site. "But for us to go from a good team to a great team, we have to win these games."

The Cardinals swept their two games against the Rams last season, including a 34-31 win in St. Louis on Oct. 7. Warner didn't start that game, but went 14-for-28 for 190 yards, a touchdown and an interception in relief of Matt Leinart. He was 23-for-39 with 300 yards, three TDs and two picks in the second meetings, a 48-19 Arizona victory on Dec. 30.

Police: Lack of evidence against Rams' Jackson

Rams running back Steven Jackson won't face criminal charges over allegations that he beat a girlfriend who was nine months pregnant with the couple's child at his Las Vegas home last year, a police spokeswoman said Tuesday.

Wickersham: The future of the NFL

Seth Wickersham looks at the labor dispute that is hanging over the NFL and what the future may hold for the league.

Owners talk labor situation; status quo reigns

NFL owners have met for several hours to discuss the labor situation, although it appears they are no closer to reaching an agreement with the players' union for a new collective bargaining agreement.

Cards sign ex-CFL LB Baggs to one-year deal

The Cardinals have signed outside linebacker Stevie Baggs to a one-year contract.

Sendlein played through pain in '08

It was surprising this off-season when the Cardinals opted not to try and upgrade their center position, given the occasional struggles of starter Lyle Sendlein in 2008.

Breaston blooms in Boldin's absence

Cardinals receiver Steve Breaston, seen here in action against the 49ers last season, is taking advantage of Anquan Boldin's absence in summer workouts.

The Risk Remains

Wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald breaks the huddle during 11-on-11 drills Monday after coming down awkwardly on a catch earlier in the workout.

Fitzgerald OK after awkward catch

For a minute or two, it looked as if the first day of June would bring gloom to the Cardinals.

Boldin hires Condon as agent

Receiver Anquan Boldin has hired Tom Condon as his agent, replacing Drew Rosenhaus, who was fired last week.

St. Louis Rams coach Spagnuolo mum on sale talk

If coach Steve Spagnuolo has any thoughts on the sale talks that suddenly are swirling about his new team, he wasn't interested in sharing them Tuesday after practice at Rams Park.

Rams keep focus on the job

The focus on the fields Tuesday at Rams Park was dealing with the first real heat during a practice this offseason, while also finishing preparations for the team's third, and final, spring minicamp later this week.

Video: If sold, will the Rams stay in St. Louis?

Dierdorf says, "It's going to be the Cowboys new $1.1 billion dollar stadium that's opening this year in Dallas.

As sale looms, Rams fans can do their part

If the Rams eventually move from St. Louis, it won't be because of the fans. The customers have stayed loyal during hard times, buying up about 95 percent of the seats at the Edward Jones Dome over the last two seasons.

Vobora now seen as relevant for Rams

A year ago at this time, Rams linebacker David Vobora was irrelevant, as in "Mr. Irrelevant," the last player taken in the draft.