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CHARLOTTE, North Carolina (Ticker) -- Marshall Faulk is picking the right time to flash his Most Valuable Player form. Faulk rushed for 202 yards and two touchdowns, including a 70-yard jaunt, as the St. Louis Rams moved closer to winning the NFC West title with a 38-32 victory over the Carolina Panthers, who had their franchise-record losing streak extended to 13 games. The NFL's most versatile back, Faulk scored on a four-yard run in the second quarter before breaking off his long run in the third quarter, giving the Rams a 31-16 advantage. He carried 30 times, falling 18 yards shy of matching the best effort of his career. "I just wanted to go out there and make plays," Faulk said. "The offensive line did a great job. The receivers and tight ends were also blocking great downfield. When they decided to defend against the pass that helped open our running game." "We just felt like we needed to put the ball in Marshall's hands and let him be the deciding factor," Rams coach Mike Martz said. Earlier this season, Faulk rushed for 183 yards in the Rams' 48-14 victory at Carolina. He scored on a 71-yard TD run in that contest. "Marshall destroyed us the last time he played us and he did it again today," Panthers cornerback Jimmy Hitchcock said. While Faulk carried the load on the ground, Kurt Warner did his part through the air, throwing for a pair of touchdowns. He completed 18-of-23 passes for 217 yards and overcame two interceptions. Ricky Proehl and tight end Ernie Conwell had the TD receptions for the Rams (12-2), who have a one-game lead over second-place San Francisco and could win the division with a win or a 49ers loss in the last two weeks. The Rams also concluded a perfect 8-0 road season. They close the season with home contests against Indianapolis and Atlanta. "It's tough to win ballgames in the NFL period. To win eight on the road is special," Faulk said. The last team to finish 8-0 on the road was the 1990 San Francisco 49ers. "We've played good teams on the road. It's a feather in our cap to win eight on the road but we have bigger goals in mind," Warner said. Rookie Chris Weinke went 24-of-51 for a season-high 312 yards and a touchdown for the Panthers (1-13), who have not won since a season-opening victory at Minnesota. Coming off a Monday night victory at New Orleans, the Rams got off to a slow start in this contest after Warner was intercepted on the third play from scrimmage by Hitchcock, who returned the pick 30 yards to the St. Louis 28. Two plays later, Weinke found Isaac Byrd open down the middle for a 27-yard touchdown pass and a 7-0 lead. The normally quick-strike Rams took a long route to tie the game later in the quarter, needing 13 plays to move 80 yards. Faulk was huge on the drive, keeping it alive twice with runs on third down, and he also broke off a 20-yard run into Carolina territory. Warner, however, capped the march by finding Proehl over the middle for a six-yard touchdown, tying the contest at 7-7 with 2:08 left in the quarter. Nearly a two-touchdown underdog, the Panthers took a 10-7 lead with 4:10 left before intermission on John Kasay's 22-yard field goal. But the Rams showed their ability to strike in a hurry, going 74 yards in four plays. Warner found Torry Holt for 46 yards to the Carolina 28, and Faulk capped the drive with a four-yard run, making it 14-10 with 2:06 left in the half. The Rams increased the lead before halftime, thanks to a big play from their special teams. Setting up for a 47-yard field goal with 57 seconds left in the half, the Panthers saw disaster strike when holder Todd Sauerbrun had Jason Kytle's snap go through his arms. Dre' Bly scooped up the ball and lateraled to Dexter McCleon, who ran the final 29 yards for a touchdown to increase the lead to 21-10 with 44 seconds left in the half. Weinke connected with Donald Hayes on a 48-yard pass, setting up Kasay's 29-yard field goal as time expired in the half. Weinke went 13-of-23 for 203 yards in the opening two quarters. "I thought he (Weinke) threw the ball down the field well," Panthers coach George Seifert said. "I think Chris, under the circumstances and all that we've put on him, has done a remarkable job." The second half started like the first for the Rams after Warner was intercepted by rookie linebacker Dan Morgan at the St. Louis 20. But the Panthers could only manage a 30-yard field goal by Kasay following the miscue. Jeff Wilkins answered with a 34-yard field goal with 7:24 left in the quarter before Faulk delivered a crushing blow on the Rams' next offensive possession. On a 1st-and-10 from the St. Louis 30, Faulk took a handoff and moved left. He cut back at the end of the line of scrimmage, darted into the middle of the field and outraced the Carolina secondary for a touchdown and 31-16 cushion with 3:21 left in the period. "You have to go out and make plays," Warner said. "Marshall is just Marshall. You expect the unexpected from him. He's incredible." The Panthers were able to hang in the game after Az-zahir Hakim fumbled a punt and Kyle recovered at the St. Louis 8. A personal foul on running back Robert Holcombe moved the ball closer. This time, Carolina converted as Richard Huntley scored on a four-yard run with five seconds left in the third quarter. Huntley finished with 74 yards on 19 attempts. Warner provided some breathing room in the fourth quarter, finding Conwell with a four-yard TD pass with 8:34 left for a 38-23 advantage. Behind Warner and Faulk, the Rams rolled up 412 total yards and 21 first downs. The Panthers, who had 402 total yards, attempted to make things interesting after Casey Crawford recovered a fumble by Huntley for a touchdown with 4:58 left. But the conversion failed, leaving the deficit at nine. Kasay kicked a 46-yard field goal with 27 seconds left but St. Louis recovered the ensuing onside kick to seal it. |
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