NFC NOTES

ST. LOUIS – Another game, another example of why these Rams are more than all flash and dash.

For the second time in as many playoff games, the Rams came up with a sturdy defensive effort. A week ago, they devastated Brett Favre by intercepting him six times and scoring or setting up 35 points with turnovers.

There was nothing quite so gaudy this time around, but the 29-24 victory over the Eagles in the NFC Championship Game contained a large dose of Rams defensive prowess last night.

“You have to give our defense a lot of credit,” cornerback Aeneas Williams said. “We took over in the third quarter. When we get our up front guys playing like that, it’s going to be extremely difficult for anybody to beat us.”

The Rams had their problems in the first half, as the Eagles ran for 84 yards and Donovan McNabb directed two touchdown drives. After halftime, the Eagles got nothing done, and, fittingly, the final last-gasp for was extinguished when McNabb was intercepted by Williams.

The veteran spent the first 10 years of his career with the Cardinals and played in only two playoff games in a decade. In his first year with the Rams, Williams is headed to Super Bowl XXXVI to face the Patriots.

“I have enjoyed a journey,” Williams said. “For the Lord to bless me in this sort of way this late in my career, I couldn’t have written a better script.”

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Rams coach Mike Martz had high praise for the Eagles.

“That’s a great team,” Martz said.

Eagles coach Andy Reid was asked if the Eagles, who reached the NFC title game for the first time since 1980, had taken a step forward.

“You can look at it optimistically or pessimistically,” Reid said. “When you lose a playoff game that’s how you feel. You feel like you’ve lost an opportunity, but I’ll say this, it’s a step forward. It’s a step in the right direction.”