Cardinals-Rams: Arizona Clinches NFC West with 34-10 Victory Over St. Louis

The Arizona Cardinals are AFC West Champions for the first time since 1975. Even though it was inevitable, this has to be a great feeling for Ken Whisenhut’s team, as they booked their ticket to the postseason. The Cards came out firing on all cylinders, obviously upset after two straight losses to NFC East opponents.

The Rams continue their futility and clearly just want this season to end. The Cards had the division virtually handed to them this year, and will most likely get to host a playoff game at home where they are 5-1 this season.

The Cardinals had this game under control early, and scored on four of their five first half drives. Kurt Warner led his team on two early touchdown drives of 76 and 63 yards respectively.

The only offense the Rams could muster up in the first half, was when Warner was picked off, giving the Rams the ball at the Cardinals six-yard line.

Steven Jackson would end up getting into the end zone on a three-yard reception. However, the Cards would go on to score field goals on their next two drives, taking a 20-7 lead into the half.

The second half was uneventful, and marred with St. Louis turnovers. The Rams turned the ball over three straight times to begin the second half. The Cards would only capitalize on one of them, as Darnell Dockett recovered a fumble and took it in for the score.

The Cards would also get another defensive touchdown late when rookie corner Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie took an interception back 99 yards to the house. Rodgers-Cromartie has really been coming on of late, and now has three picks on the season.

Whisenhut know has some decisions to make about how much he is going to play his starters. We’ve witnessed, in the past, teams who rest their starters losing in the first round, so it will be interesting to see what he does.

We may even see Matt Leinart get in for some game action, as he hasn’t seen the field all season. With Warner’s contract expiring, and the fact that he is in his late 30s, the Cards may want to see what they have in Leinart.

The Rams have nothing to play for, and look for sweeping changes this off season. The offense doesn’t look anything close to what it used to be in the past, and look for them to part ways with quarterback Marc Bulger, as well as some other aging veterans such as Orlando Pace.