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Cardinals looking to pad NFC West lead

Nov 2, 2008 - 2:05 PM ARIZONA (4-3) AT ST. LOUIS (2-5), 1:00 pm EST

ST. LOUIS (Ticker) -- The Arizona Cardinals are just over .500, but they have the opportunity to take a commanding lead in the NFC West Division.

Kurt Warner and the Cardinals look to end a three-game road losing streak and pad their advantage in a lackluster division when they visit the St. Louis Rams on Sunday.

Warner passed for 381 yards and two touchdowns with an interception last Sunday, but Arizona's road woes continued in a 27-23 loss to the Carolina Panthers.

The Cardinals, who have not captured a division crown since 1975 when they were located in St. Louis, currently hold a two-game edge in the NFC West over the Rams and Seattle Seahawks (2-5).

Warner, who beat out Matt Leinart for the starting job in the preseason, has not given coach Ken Wisenhunt many reasons to regret his decision. The two-time MVP has passed for 2,089 yards and 14 scores with six interceptions this season.

Last Sunday, Warner received help from the return of receiver Anquan Boldin, who made a pair of TD catches after missing the previous two contests with a fractured sinus.

Mark Bulger passed for 301 yards and a touchdown with an interception as the Rams failed to win a their third straight contest, suffering a 23-16 loss to the New England Patriots last Sunday.

Bulger appears to have found a new favorite target in rookie Donnie Avery, who hauled in six catches for 163 yards and a score.

Avery, who did not have a catch in the first two games of the season, is improving each week, making 20 receptions for 337 yards and two TDs over that stretch.

The Cardinals have won their previous three meetings with the Rams.