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Cardinals vs. Rams Final Score: Arizona Closer To Playoffs, 12-6

By Phil Watson

Dec 11, 2014; St. Louis, MO, USA; Arizona Cardinals running back Kerwynn Williams (33) runs the ball against the St. Louis Rams during the second half at the Edward Jones Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 11, 2014; St. Louis, MO, USA; Arizona Cardinals running back Kerwynn Williams (33) runs the ball against the St. Louis Rams during the second half at the Edward Jones Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Arizona Cardinals lost their second quarterback of the season, but got a win Thursday night, beating the St. Louis Rams 12-6 to improve to 11-3.

The Arizona Cardinals crept closer to a playoff berth with a 12-6 win Thursday night over the St. Louis Rams at the Edward Jones Dome.

51. 12. 32. Final. 6

The Cardinals (11-3) can clinch a playoff berth if Sunday night’s game between the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles doesn’t end in a tie.

The Rams (6-8) were eliminated from playoff contention for the 10th straight season.

Arizona won despite not scoring a touchdown and losing quarterback Drew Stanton to what appeared to be a serious knee injury in the third quarter.

The Cardinals got four field goals from Chandler Catanzaro, who hit from 23 and 44 yards in the second quarter, from 51 yards in the third quarter and booted a 46-yarder in the fourth quarter.

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Stanton, who was 12-for-20 for 109 yards before he was hurt when he was sacked by Rams rookie defensive tackle Aaron Donald, was carted off and taken to the locker room.

Dec 11, 2014; St. Louis, MO, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Drew Stanton (5) is helped off the field by trainers after being sacked during the third quarter of a football game against the St. Louis Rams at the Edward Jones Dome. Mandatory Credit: Scott Kane-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 11, 2014; St. Louis, MO, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Drew Stanton (5) is helped off the field by trainers after being sacked during the third quarter of a football game against the St. Louis Rams at the Edward Jones Dome. Mandatory Credit: Scott Kane-USA TODAY Sports /

Ryan Lindley, who had been released by the Cardinals late in the preseason, relieved Stanton and struggled, going 4-for-10 for 30 yards.

Lindley was a sixth-round pick of the Cardinals in 2012 and was on the San Diego Chargers’ practice squad before Arizona brought him back. The Cardinals added Lindley after starting quarterback Carson Palmer was lost to a torn ACL in early November.

This was his first action since 2012, when he played in six games and started four—going 1-3. He completed 52 percent of his throws for 752 yards and no touchdowns while throwing seven interceptions.

The Rams had gotten into Arizona territory late in the game, but Shaun Hill’s fourth-and-3 pass was batted down by cornerback Jerraud Powers.

Arizona wasn’t able to run out the clock and had to punt back to the Rams. Patrick Peterson intercepted Shaun Hill’s final desperation pass.

Hill finished 20-for-39 for 229 yards and the final interception and Arizona stymied the Rams’ running game, holding them to 69 yards on the ground.

The Cardinals ran the ball well, with Kerwynn Williams following up last week’s 100-yard game in his NFL debut with 75 yards on 15 carries. Stepfan Taylor added 61 yards on 14 attempts.

With the victory, Arizona tied its franchise record with its 11th victory in a season, matching the team’s totals from 1925 and 1948, when the team was in Chicago, and in 1975, when the club played in St. Louis.

The Cardinals host the Seattle Seahawks on Dec. 21 while the Rams will host the New York Giants that day.

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