Rams will take another ugly win

ST. LOUIS -- The bottom line is the only statistic that counts these days for the St. Louis Rams.

The Rams (8-3) have won seven of their last eight despite ongoing problems at quarterback, a depleted defensive line and special teams that have allowed an NFL-high five touchdowns on returns. Marc Bulger has 10 interceptions and only four touchdown passes the last four games.

They had to come from behind to win the last two weeks at underdogs Arizona and Chicago.

Still, they're tied for the best record in the NFC and lead the West by a game entering today's game against the Vikings, a matchup that has early bearing on home-field advantage in the playoffs.

"It would be nice one of these weeks just to have a 20-point lead going into the fourth quarter, and we can relax a little bit," Bulger said. "Fortunately, we're winning those games this year.

"Somehow I'm finding a way to make them closer, and I'm going to try to stop doing that."

The Vikings (7-4) are in a similar situation, leading the NFC North but with a spotty record lately. They snapped a four-game losing streak with a victory over the Lions last week, returning two interceptions for touchdowns and producing four turnovers overall.

Culpepper struggling, too

Like Bulger, Vikings quarterback Daunte Culpepper has come under fire.

"The main thing I try to worry about is trying to win," Culpepper said. "Second, I worry about what my teammates think.

"As long as my teammates have confidence in me to go out and get the job done, that's all I really worry about."

Coach Mike Tice said it's just human nature to complain.

"Everybody seeks perfection and everybody at least talks about excellence," Tice said. "I think as a fan sometimes when things aren't perfect you get frustrated. Sometimes rightfully so, most of the time not."

The game features two of the NFL's best offenses, and three of the league's best wide receivers. The Vikings have Randy Moss, who has 10 touchdowns, and the Rams have Torry Holt, who leads the league in receptions and yardage, plus Isaac Bruce.

Holt caught nine passes for 145 yards last week, pretty much an average game for him. He has seven 100-yard games on the year.

"He is spectacular," coach Mike Martz said. "I think he's probably one of the most dominant players in the league on offense, if not the most dominant. I think he's way out there."

Holt benefits from attention drawn by Bruce, also among the league leaders with 61 catches and a 14.1-yard average.

The Rams are worried about the 6-4 Moss on jump balls. He's six inches taller than both of the St. Louis cornerbacks, Travis Fisher and Jerametrius Butler.

Tice doesn't mind Moss' frequent complaints, either.

"Randy is misunderstood," Tice said. "He's a great competitor almost to a fault. When we're not winning or not doing well, that's when he gets frustrated and that's how the great ones are."

All three should get revved up on the artificial turf in St. Louis.

"That turf is tough on Monday but on Sunday it's the best turf in the league," Rams defensive lineman Tyoka Jackson said. "You don't do a whole lot of slipping, you can make cuts quicker, you can change directions quicker and you can get off the ball quicker."

The Rams' defense is expected to get end Leonard Little, the team leader with seven sacks, back after missing four games with a partially torn pectoral muscle. Tackle Damione Lewis also should return after a four-game absence due to a high ankle sprain.

That's big news for a team that just survived a tough stretch. Four of the last five games were on the road, and the Rams went 4-1 in that stretch.

"It's like being tempered or put into the fire, so to speak, and coming out a little stronger," Martz said. "I think that's what it's done to this team."

The key for the Vikings appears to be avoiding mistakes. They've produced 22 turnovers with seven giveaways in their victories, and have four takeaways and 10 turnovers in their four-game loisng streak.

"We could have won each one of those games and that's what we look at as a positive," Culpepper said. "We have to minimize the penalties and small mistakes because ultimately it could hurt us."