Faulk Looks Like Old Self

Marshall Faulk still knows how to get into the end zone, zooming past Hall of Famers Walter Payton and Jim Brown on the career touchdown list.

Faulk ran for three scores to help the St. Louis Rams beat the Minnesota Vikings, 48-17, in a battle of division leaders Sunday.

He had his third consecutive 100-yard game after going 10 games without one. It was even better for him that he passed a couple of childhood heroes, giving him 127 career touchdowns. Faulk now has one more touchdown than Brown and two more than Payton.

“That’s pretty good,” Faulk said. “Those are huge names, guys that I idolized, of course.”

Faulk sat out five games this year because of a broken left hand and surgically repaired right knee and returned three games ago averaging a puny 2.8 yards a carry. In the last three games he has 311 yards, a 5.1-yard average and four touchdowns.

Faulk had 108 yards in 17 carries and scored on runs of 18, five and seven yards. He also concocted a 41-yard end-around pass from Isaac Bruce to Dane Looker that set up one of Faulk’s touchdowns.

The Rams (9-3) retained their one-game NFC West lead -- they’re tied with the Eagles for the best record in the NFC -- and won their 12th consecutive game at home. The North Division-leading Vikings (7-5) are sinking fast after a 6-0 start.

“Well, that wasn’t very good,” Coach Mike Tice said. “That wasn’t very good at all. We’re just very disappointed. I don’t know what else to say.”

Ram quarterback Marc Bulger was impressive, limiting mistakes after throwing 10 interceptions in the previous four games. He shook off a second-quarter interception by Brian Williams that led to a Viking touchdown and completed 15 of 20 passes for 222 yards and one touchdown, again emphasizing Torry Holt.