St. Louis may turn to the run

TEMPE, Ariz. -- The sinking Arizona Cardinals could be just what the St. Louis Rams need to breathe some life into their offense, and their chances for a playoff berth.

The Rams come to Arizona today with a 6-7 record after last week's 20-7 loss at Carolina. But in the NFC West, that losing record is good enough to be just one game behind the equally unimpressive Seattle Seahawks.

"Basically, we have to win these last three games," said Rams safety Adam Archuleta, returning to the Arizona State field where he was a college star. "We have a chance to still get into the playoffs, so we just have to play well and start peaking."

The Cardinals (4-9), losers of four in a row, have struggled mightily stopping the run.

With Marshall Faulk and Stephen Jackson back in good health, St. Louis coach Mike Martz -- despite his love affair with the passing game -- might simply try to run through the Arizona defense Sunday.

"I know how much he hates to do it," Cardinals linebacker Ronald McKinnon said, "but I think he's definitely going to try to run the ball 40 times or more."

That would especially be the case if Chris Chandler gets the start in place of Marc Bulger, who missed last week's loss with a sprained shoulder. The 39-year-old Chandler threw a career-worst six interceptions last week in a loss to Carolina.

"It was just hard," Martz said. "We played so well at so many different places, he just feels the burden of the loss. Obviously he didn't play very well, but he's better than that, and I know he is. We'll just be supportive, and prop him up and get him going again."

Arizona coach Dennis Green expected St. Louis to have its regular starter back, considering the significance of the game to the Rams' playoff berth.

"I think Bulger will play, I really do," Green said. "This is a stage now where they know that they're going to have to come out and play. I think we'll come out and play. We played them before, and it was a very physical football game. I don't think they're going to take us lightly."

Martz says his team's defense has improved, finally adjusting to the new style of defensive coordinator Larry Marmie, a former Cardinals assistant. Martz said he made a mistake when he and Marmie decided to ease into the transition rather than implementing it from the start.

"We should have changed it immediately," Martz said. "I think it wouldn't have taken this long to get to where we are."

The Cardinals believe they can move the ball against the Rams, especially because of the size advantage Arizona's big receivers have against their defenders.

"It's a defense that we feel we match up well against," wide receiver Anquan Boldin said. "We think we have some mismatches outside. They're a small defense, but they're fast. We feel like we can run the ball, also. I mean, we're going to have a challenge on our hands like we do every week, but we think we're a lot better than they are."

The Cardinals haven't shown they are better than anyone lately. Last Sunday, they came from 25 points down against San Francisco to force overtime, but still lost 31-28. Arizona has given the 49ers their only two victories of the season.

"We're not at the point where we're such a good team that we take anybody for granted," Martz said. "First of all, I don't think that happens in this league anymore. I think most teams realize that anybody can beat anybody."

The Rams are 5-0 against NFC West foes, 1-7 against everyone else. St. Louis finishes the season at home against NFC East powerhouse Philadelphia and the AFC's New York Jets.

Josh McCown will be at quarterback for Arizona for the second game after being benched for the first three of the four-game skid. After a slow start, he threw for a career-best 303 yards against San Francisco.

Just how motivated the Cardinals are remains to be seen. Green questioned the dedication of some of his players earlier this week. But McCown doesn't expect a letdown.

"We all want to go out and fight hard, and play hard, and be professionals about our work," McCown said. "At the end of the day, what you put out on the field is how you are perceived. Nobody wants to be perceived as a bad football team, so I don't think anybody is giving up."