Defense Makes It Easy for Rams

The glamour boys played supporting roles as the St. Louis Rams clinched home-field advantage in the NFC playoffs.

Interception returns by Devin Bush and Mike Jones gave the Ram defense its sixth and seventh touchdowns of the season, helping end the New York Giants’ December winning streak with a 31-10 victory Sunday.

“Hopefully, we can score every game,” Bush said. “We shouldn’t expect less.”

Kurt Warner added two touchdown passes to Az-Zahir Hakim and Marshall Faulk had 165 yards in total offense for the NFL’s top-rated offense.

The Giants (7-7), who were 9-0 in December in three seasons under Coach Jim Fassel, got most of their 328 yards after the game was decided. Quarterback Kerry Collins handed the Rams (12-2) two scores.

“We’re still in it,” Fassel said. “Whether we won or lost, it’s still going to come down to the next couple of games.”

Bush, the stand-in starter at free safety for the injured Keith Lyle, intercepted an overthrown ball and returned it 45 yards to give the NFC West champions a 17-3 third-quarter lead. Jones, a linebacker, tied a team record when he scored his third touchdown of the season on a 22-yard return in the fourth quarter to make the score 31-3.

The Rams tied a franchise record for victories in a season.

Warner was 18 for 32 for 319 yards and has 36 touchdown passes, tied for fifth on the NFL’s single-season list.

Marshall Faulk surpassed the 2,000-yard mark in total yardage--he has 2,065--with six catches for 97 yards and 68 yards rushing in 16 carries for the Rams. Last year, he led the NFL with 2,227 yards.