PHILADELPHIA - A year ago, the St. Louis Rams outlasted the Philadelphia Eagles to win the NFC championship game and reach the Super Bowl. Nothing has been the same for the Rams since.
Yesterday, these two ships passed in the frigid night, surging in opposite directions toward totally different destinations.
The Eagles not only turned the tables, they also snuffed out St. Louis' would-be dynasty with a cruelly efficient 10-3 victory at Veterans Stadium.
They sacked quarterback Kurt Warner eight times, forced five turnovers and completely dismantled what had once been the NFL's most prolific offense.
Equally shocking, the Eagles did it with their third-team quarterback, A.J. Feeley, who was making his first NFL start.
Here's a stunning contrast: On successive weeks, the Eagles won with Koy Detmer and a first-time starter at quarterback. And on back-to-back weeks, the Rams lost to Washington's Danny Wuerffel and Feeley.
A still more stunning contrast: At 9-3, the Eagles are tied with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Green Bay Packers for home-field advantage in the NFC, despite losing quarterback Donovan McNabb. At 5-7, the Rams are essentially eliminated from wild-card contention.
"I don't know how to go out there and not compete," Warner said in the Rams' somber aftermath. "This team will be back on top. We'll keep plugging forward."
Injuries and countless offensive mistakes ruined what was one of the Rams' best defensive games. Warner was betrayed by at least a half-dozen dropped passes, his own arm and a patchwork offensive line.
Winless in six starts this season, Warner threw two interceptions. Late in the first quarter, wide receiver Ricky Proehl settled in a narrow seam between two defenders. But when Warner threw the ball, cornerback Bobby Taylor broke on it perfectly, stepped in front of Proehl for the interception and skittered 23 yards for the game's only touchdown.
"I didn't see him [Taylor] until I let it go," Warner said.
The second interception was just as devastating because it cost the Rams a touchdown. Five minutes into the second half, receiver Isaac Bruce ran a post pattern past cornerback Troy Vincent. But Warner underthrew the ball and Vincent recovered to make the drive-killing interception.
"If I put it where it needs to be, it's a touchdown," Warner said.
Warner completed 20 of 42 throws in weather conditions that made ball-handling treacherous. There were nine turnovers altogether, and Warner was responsible for three, including a first-quarter fumble.
Rams coach Mike Martz did not absolve Warner - or indict him - afterward.
"I don't know," Martz said when asked to evaluate Warner's game. "I wouldn't make that assessment until I get a chance to really look at the game on tape and see how well he threw and what the pressure was like."
Warner was constantly pressured. Once left tackle Orlando Pace left with a hamstring injury on the third offensive series, Warner was an easy target.
Martz moved right tackle John St. Clair to Pace's side, and then put practice squad tackle Andy King on the right side. King was victimized for four sacks by N.D. Kalu, who had two sacks in the previous 11 games.
"Here's a guy who hadn't played," Martz said. "He hadn't taken any snaps and lined up yet. He was on the practice squad a week ago. It's not his fault. He's just not ready."
Even the return of running back Marshall Faulk (29 rushing yards, 22 receiving yards) from foot and ankle injuries could not spark St. Louis' offense.
The Rams' only points came on a 22-yard field goal by Jeff Wilkins with 20 seconds left in the first half. St. Louis got as close as the 4-yard line when Warner threw a poor pass for Bruce that was nearly intercepted.