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 The Cardinals lead the NFC with a record of 8-1, the best start
since the franchise had the same record in 1948 as the Chicago
Cardinals.
Arizona has won 15 of its last 18 games under coach Bruce Arians,
whose team is 5-0 at home and in complete control of the NFC West.
The Rams fell to 3-6.
"It always takes 60 minutes to play this game. That's why they put
it on the clock,'" Cardinals coach Bruce Arians said. "It wasn't the
prettiest 45, but it sure was a nice 15."
It didn't look good for the Cardinals early in the fourth quarter.
Palmer was harassed by safety Mark Barron, who grabbed the
quarterback's jersey just enough for Palmer to buckle under his own
weight.
He had to be helped off the field and was done for the day. Early
reports indicated the Cardinals fear Palmer tore the ACL in his left
knee, the same injury that led to reconstructive surgery for Palmer
in 2006 with the Cincinnati Bengals.
 Rookie kicker Chandler Catanzaro, who had been a perfect 17 of 17 on
field-goal attempts, missed a 53-yarder with the Cardinals trailing
14-10.
In stepped backup Drew Stanton, who was forced to start three games
earlier in the season when Palmer was out with a nerve issue in his
right shoulder. Stanton completed his first two passes, then went
deep down the middle and connected with rookie receiver John Brown
for a 48-yard touchdown.
It was Brown's fifth touchdown reception, all of which have come at
University of Phoenix Stadium.
"I didn't see it," Stanton said, as he was pulled down after
throwing the ball. "It's one of those things that's a trust factor.
You're putting it up to a spot and 'Smokey' went up there and made
an unbelievable catch for me."
After that, the Cardinals' defense led the way, as cornerback
Patrick Peterson returned his second interception in as many
possessions 30 yards for a touchdown. Fellow cornerback Antonio
Cromartie returned a fumble by quarterback Austin Davis 14 yards for
another score.
The Cardinals forced three turnovers in the fourth quarter, a
portion of the game they've owned all season. They've now outscored
their opponents 91-34 in the fourth quarter. Only the Chiefs have
allowed fewer fourth-quarter points (28).
"Well, I think we learned today that this game is four quarters
long. Three doesn't get it done for you," Rams coach Jeff Fisher
said. "I'm disappointed for (our) guys as hard as they played.
Arizona is a good football team. Anytime, regardless of who you're
playing in a close game, you give up three scores like we did in the
fourth quarter -- however they happen, you don't have a chance to
win."
 With the three forced turnovers, the Cardinals are now tied with the
Patriots for the best turnover ratio (plus-12) in the NFL. Of their
19 total takeaways, an NFL-high 12 have come in the fourth quarter.
"That's pretty good," Cromartie said. "We're playing the way we're
supposed to be playing. We have to put a complete game together,
though, which is something we haven't done yet."
The Cardinals sacked Davis six times and they entered the game with
a total of just eight, tied for the second-fewest in the league.
Davis ended the game 17 of 30 for 216 yards and one touchdown.
Before he left the game, Palmer was 25 of 36 for 241 yards with no
touchdowns and one interception.
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"I think we played a pretty good ballgame for about three quarters,"
Davis said. "Then a couple mistakes just kind of led to a meltdown.
A couple interceptions on me - that can't happen. That just kind of
killed the momentum of the game. It turned it and they capitalized."
Stanton was 3 of 5 for 85 yards and a touchdown.
The momentum started to shift late in the third quarter with the
Cardinals mounting a drive behind six Palmer completions. He had
gotten them down to the Rams' 15-yard line when on third and 11, he
tried to lead rookie running back Marion Grice with a pass across
the middle.
Grice, getting his first serious action of the season, seemed to
stop running his route and Rams linebacker Alec Olgetree was only
more than happy to step in and intercept the pass. He returned it 43
yards.
St. Louis couldn't convert the turnover into any points, however,
and defensive end Calais Campbell's second sack of the game forced
the Rams to punt.
The Rams went into halftime holding a 14-10 lead thanks to a 59-yard
touchdown pass from Davis to tight end Jared Cook with 1 minute, 50
seconds remaining in the second quarter.
Cook got the inside track on rookie safety Deon Bucannon and roared
downfield, hauling in a perfectly thrown ball from Davis and keeping
his feet inbounds just before crossing the goal line.
St. Louis scored first, driving 62 yards on its third possession of
the game with Benny Cunningham capping the honors with a 3-yard run.
The Cardinals answered right back. Palmer completed five passes to
four different receivers and Andre Ellington ran a little toss sweep
for a 3-yard touchdown of his own.
Catanzaro gave the Cardinals a 10-7 lead with a 43-yard field goal
after a 36-yard, 11-play drive stalled at the Rams' 25.
Wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald led the Cardinals with nine reception
for 112 yards.
NOTES: With his 15-yard catch early in the second quarter, Cardinals
WR Larry Fitzgerald increased his career receiving yardage to 11,905
to move past Hall of Famer Michael Irvin (11,904) and into 23rd
place on the NFL's all-time list. ... After missing the past two
games with a knee injury, Rams CB Janoris Jenkins was back in the
starting lineup and was matched mostly against Fitzgerald. ... St.
Louis rookie FS Lamarcus Joyner suffered a groin injury in the
second quarter and did not return. His status wasn't immediately
known. ... Cardinals rookie DE Ed Stinson wasn't expected to play
after suffering a groin injury at the end of Friday's practice, but
he was in Arizona's regular rotation among along the defensive line.
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