Miserable season ends for St. Louis

ATLANTA — Mike Smith had a simple question for his Atlanta Falcons as they looked ahead to the playoffs:

"Why not us?" Smith asked.

The Falcons, who held off the St. Louis Rams 31-27 on Sunday to clinch the No. 5 seed in the NFC, may believe anything is possible in the playoffs after their improbable regular season.

In his first year as coach, Smith and rookie quarterback Matt Ryan led the Falcons to an 11-5 record one season after a 4-12 finish.

"We came a long way," said Jerious Norwood, who ran for two touchdowns, including the go-ahead 45-yard run with 3 minutes, 41 seconds left. "Whoever would have thought we'd be in the playoffs?"

Michael Turner added 208 yards rushing with a touchdown to counter Steven Jackson's 30 carries for 161 yards and two touchdowns for St. Louis.

Soon after Norwood's go-ahead touchdown late in the game, the video board posted a score which showed New Orleans leading Carolina 31-30. Wins by the Falcons and Saints would have given Atlanta the division championship.

Atlanta gave the Rams (2-14) their 10th straight loss.

"I thought we played about as well as we could play," Rams coach Jim Haslett said. "Our guys played their hearts out. We just didn't get it done. I was proud of the way we played. I think that the way that they played will define who they are next year."

Haslett replaced Scott Linehan after an 0-4 start. He said he didn't know if he'll have an opportunity to return in 2009.

When asked if he'll have an interview for the job, Haslett said, "I have no idea."

The Falcons overcame three turnovers, including two in the fourth quarter.

Turner fumbled into the end zone after a 70-yard run to spoil a scoring opportunity early in the final quarter.

Then on Atlanta's next possession, Ryan's short pass for Roddy White was intercepted by cornerback Jonathan Wade at the Falcons 22.

Ryan's second interception of the game set up Josh Brown's 27-yard field goal, giving St. Louis a 27-24 lead with 6:39 remaining.

Atlanta answered Brown's field goal with Norwood's touchdown run from the St. Louis 45 with 3:41 left. Norwood ran for 56 yards and two touchdowns on three carries.

The Falcons had to hold on after Norwood's second score. The Rams moved quickly from their 10 to the Atlanta 29.

Atlanta's Chauncey Davis, a fill-in starter for Jamaal Anderson, sacked Marc Bulger on second down, and Bulger threw two incomplete passes to end the drive.