ST. LOUIS, Dec. 27 -- Rookie Steven Jackson rushed for 148 yards and a touchdown to carry St. Louis to a 20-7 win over the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday night, keeping the Rams in the NFC playoff race, before limping off midway through the fourth quarter with a bruised right knee.
With the Eagles (13-2) playing it safe -- running back Brian Westbrook and tackle Tra Thomas did not play -- their reserves were no match for a Rams squad with its season on the line.
Rams fullback Joey Goodspeed bowls over Eagles cornerback Lito Sheppard during the Rams' victory on Monday night.
(Peter Newcomb - Reuters)
|
| ____ NFL Playoff Picture ____
NFC
Already In
• Eagles (13-2)*
• Falcons (11-4)
• Packers (9-6)
• Seahawks (8-7)
* Clinched home field.
The Other Two Spots
• Vikings (8-7)
• Rams (7-8)
• Panthers (7-8)
• Saints (7-8)
• The Vikings make the playoffs with a Rams loss or tie; or a victory against the Redskins.
• The Rams win the NFC West with a win and a Seattle loss.
• If the Rams lose, the winner of the Panthers-Saints game gets a playoff spot. AFC
Already In
• Steelers (14-1)*
• Patriots (13-2)
• Colts (12-3)
• Chargers (11-4)
* Clinched home field. The Other Two Spots
• Jets (10-5)
• Broncos (9-6)
• Bills (9-6)
• Ravens (8-7)
• Jaguars (8-7)
The Jets and Broncos earn playoff berths with victories. The other teams need victories and some help.
_____ Week 16 Results _____
Sunday
• Dallas 13, Washington 10
• Pittsburgh 20, Baltimore 7
• N.O. 26, Atlanta 13
• Houston 21, Jacksonville 0
• Indiana. 34, San Diego 31 (OT)
• Detroit 19, Chicago 13
• Cincinnati 23, N.Y. Giants 22
• New England 23, N.Y. Jets 7
• Buffalo 41, San Francisco 9
• Carolina 37, Tampa Bay 20
• Seattle 24, Arizona 21
• Miami 10, Cleveland 7
Monday
• St. Louis 20, Philadelphia 7
Saturday
• Kansas City 31, Oakland 30
• Denver 37, Tennessee 16
Friday
• Green Bay 34, Minnesota 31
What's Your Opinion?
• Who's going to win this week?
Two-Minute Drill
• Stars and stats from Week 16
_____ Pro Bowl Vote _____
Note: This is an unscientific survey of washingtonpost.com readers.
| | |
|
Philadelphia gained a mere 155 yards of offense. Starting quarterback Donovan McNabb played only the opening series, which netted 63 yards and the Eagles' only score, a seven-yard touchdown pass to Freddie Mitchell.
With the victory, St. Louis ensured a meaningful finale against the New York Jets. If the Rams (7-8) beat the Jets on Sunday and Seattle loses to Atlanta, St. Louis will win the NFC West. If the Seahawks win and take the division, St. Louis can make the playoffs by winning and having Minnesota lose at Washington, or by Carolina and New Orleans tying.
A win for the Jets would put them into the AFC playoffs.
"After all the drama we've been through this year, to be in position to get into the playoffs, how awesome is that?" Rams Coach Mike Martz said. "We will show up next week and lay it all out there."
Also returning for the Rams, who piled up 419 yards of offense, was quarterback Marc Bulger, out the past two games with an ailing right shoulder. He completed 20 of 27 passes for 233 yards, and hit Isaac Bruce for a seven-yard touchdown in the third quarter.
Martz, who revealed after the game that Bulger has been playing hurt since the season opener, called 10 running plays on the opening drive that covered 73 yards. Jackson ran for 46 yards and Marshall Faulk for 27 before Jackson surged in from the 5.
After Mitchell's touchdown, Jeff Wilkins made a 28-yard field goal to give the Rams a 10-7 halftime lead. He later added a 29-yarder.
After McNabb departed, the Eagles remained in their protective mode with nothing to gain from the game. Koy Detmer was dismal, going 1 for 6 for five yards before third-stringer Jeff Blake came on in the fourth quarter.
The Eagles got a scare in the first half when cornerbacks Lito Sheppard, a Pro Bowler, and Dexter Wynn collided chasing a pass by Wilkins on a fake punt. Both lay on the ground for several minutes before walking off, and Sheppard stayed out with a quadriceps contusion. Rookie fullback Thomas Tapeh was carted off with 28 seconds remaining with a dislocated hip.
