Rams end 8-game skid against Arizona, 19-6

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- A 6-6 record isn't all that impressive, unless you've gone 6-42 the past three years.

The St. Louis Rams, 1-15 last season, took another step in their climb back to respectability with a workmanlike 19-6 victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.

St. Louis' victory snapped an eight-game losing streak against Arizona and extended the Cardinals' losing streak to seven games. The Rams weren't at their best, but they didn't need to be against a team with an offense as bad as any in the NFL.

"I don't think there's such a thing as an ugly win," St. Louis defensive end James Hall said. "You know we take them where we can get them."

Steven Jackson ran for 102 yards, including 27 on the game's lone TD, and Josh Brown matched his career best with four field goals to help the Rams win consecutive road games for the first time since Nov. 18, 2007, and remain in a first-place tie with Seattle in the NFC West.

St. Louis has two tough games outside its division — at New Orleans on Sunday, then at home against Kansas City — before finishing against San Francisco and Seattle.

"As games approach us each and every week, we have to continue to be successful," Jackson said. "Games are going to get bigger and I think this team is starting to understand that."

Even though this Arizona team is a far cry from the ones that won the division the past two seasons, the Rams saw the victory as a milestone.

"We really want to make this thing go and turn this thing around," Jackson said. "It has to go through Arizona. They were the division winners last year. I have a lot of respect for this team and to come out with this win was very meaningful for us. It has been a long time."

Rookie John Skelton made his NFL debut for Arizona (3-9) in the fourth quarter and could be the Cardinals' third starting quarterback of the season when the team plays Denver on Sunday.

Derek Anderson was benched and could have a concussion. His backup, Max Hall, then went down with a dislocated left shoulder.

"I don't know right now, to be honest with you," coach Ken Whisenhunt said when asked if Skelton would start. "Something's got to change."

Skelton, who stands 6-foot-6 and has a strong arm, was a fifth-round draft pick out of Fordham.

"That is not for me to say," he said when asked if he expected to start. "Depending on Max's situation or D.A.'s, if they call my number, then I will be ready."

St. Louis scored 19 consecutive points after Jay Feely's first-quarter field goals of 45 and 41 yards put Arizona up 6-0. Up 9-6 at the half, the Rams outscored Arizona 10-0 in the second half, holding the Cardinals to 47 yards.

"We had not played very well and yet we were up by three points," St. Louis coach Steve Spagnuolo said. "We kind of rallied around that in the second half, knowing that we had to play better, and we did that."

Rams rookie quarterback Sam Bradford, coming off his first 300-yard passing game in the NFL, threw for 187 yards and threw just his second interception in the last seven games.

Arizona's Tim Hightower gained 81 yards in 15 carries, but had just 14 yards in six attempts in the second half. Anderson completed seven of 20 passes for 93 yards with one interception.

St. Louis went 85 yards in 10 plays in the third quarter for the game's lone TD. The Rams went without a huddle and Jackson broke free down the sidelines for the 27-yard score that made it 16-6.

The drive came after Kerry Rhodes intercepted Bradford's pass at the Rams 46 but Arizona, as has almost always been the case this season, couldn't take advantage.

"I thought we did some things at the start of the game that showed we had a chance to be a pretty decent team," Whisenhunt said, "but then, obviously, we didn't get it done at the quarterback position through the course of the game and that really hurt us."

Arizona had minus-7 yards in nine plays in the third quarter, with Anderson and Hall going a combined 0 of 6.

Hall was hurt when he fumbled and recovered the ball. That brought on Skelton to the cheers of the crowd.

He threw a couple of completions for the only signs of life for the Arizona offense in the second half.