Rams could clinch playoff spot Monday

ST. LOUIS -- The Rams could have a chance to clinch a playoff berth on national television this week, but coach Mike Martz says he doesn't expect his team to play any harder or better than any other game.

"I think that it means more," Martz said. "Does it make us play better? If it does, I'd be disappointed."

Martz said he remembers watching an assistant coach on another NFL team standing in front of his team telling players to play their best because of the national audience watching Monday Night Football.

"And I'm thinking to myself, am I missing something here?" Martz said. "What were we doing last week? How about next week? You just wait 'til Monday night to play your best? I don't get that, I don't understand that, and I hope our players don't either.

"That's what's expected out of them every time they put the uniform on."

The Rams (9-3) will know by game time whether a playoff spot is within reach. To clinch a berth this week, they'll need a win Monday at Cleveland (4-8), plus a New Orleans loss against Tampa Bay on Sunday. St. Louis could also lock up a playoff spot with a more unlikely scenario involving a tie against Cleveland, a New Orleans loss and a tie or loss by Green Bay at Chicago.

But the Rams don't want to worry about other teams' losses.

"We're thinking about winning," defensive lineman Tyoka Jackson said. "All that other stuff, that works itself out. We're fortunate enough to be in a position where we don't have to worry about what other people do, so all we have to do is win and all that other stuff just kind of sorts itself out.

"Winning puts you where you want to be. Just win the game and everything else will take care of itself."

Five teams can clinch

As many as five teams could clinch playoff spots this week: St. Louis, Carolina, Philadelphia, Kansas City and New England. As it stands now, St. Louis would be the second seed in the NFC because it has a worse conference record than Philadelphia. If the season ended now, the Eagles would have home field throughout the conference playoffs.

The Rams, who have 12 straight at home, would get a bye week before hosting a divisional playoff game. But St. Louis would like to earn the top spot and keep cozy in the Edward Jones Dome.

"I think we all understand a slip-up this week would hurt our chances for where we want to be," quarterback Marc Bulger said. "We certainly want to be home throughout the playoffs, but we haven't looked too far because the Browns are a good team."

The Browns have lost five of their past six games. But the Rams trailed late in the fourth quarter of away games against Arizona and Chicago, teams with losing records.