GLENDALE, Ariz. — The final seconds ticked away and the Arizona Cardinals weren't sure how to celebrate. After all, it's been 33 years since the franchise last won a division title.

"My coach was like, 'Act like you've been there before, act like you've been there before,"' defensive tackle Darnell Dockett said. "I said 'Coach, I ain't been there before. I don't know how to act right now.' "

Kurt Warner threw for 279 yards, the defense scored twice and the Cardinals clinched the NFC West championship by beating the woeful St. Louis Rams, 34-10, yesterday.

Long the league's doormat franchise with just one winning season in the past 24 years, the Cardinals earned their first playoff berth since 1998 and first divisional title since they won the NFC East in 1975.

As NFC West champions, the Cardinals will host a playoff game for the first time since, as the Chicago Cardinals, they defeated Philadelphia to win the NFL title in 1947.

The players knew enough about celebrating to dump a bucket of ice water on Ken Whisenhunt, who has the team in the playoffs in his second season as coach.

"It was pretty cold, too," Whisenhunt said. "I was excited to get a bath. That's one of the things I guess as a coach you dream about."

Arizona's defense scored both of the team's second-half touchdowns, including a team record-tying 99-yard interception return by rookie Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie with 3:11 to play.

"He looked like a blur," Whisenhunt said.

The Cardinals (8-5) beat the Rams (2-11) for the fifth straight time and extended the Rams' losing streak to seven games. The Cardinals improved to 5-0 against NFC West foes.

Warner completed 24 of 33 passes against a Rams team he once led to a Super Bowl title. In the process, he reached 347 completions for the season, breaking the Cardinals' record of 345 set by Neil Lomax in 1984.

"If he's not the MVP in the league," Rams coach Jim Haslett said, "I'm sure he's in the top two or three."

SAINTS 29, FALCONS 25

NEW ORLEANS — Pierre Thomas rushed for 102 yards and scored two touchdowns, and the Saints (7-6) kept alive their slim playoff hopes by beating the Falcons (8-5).

Thomas scored his first touchdown on a 7-yard screen early in the fourth quarter. He also scored the winning touchdown on a 5-yard toss sweep, a score he set up with his 88-yard kickoff return after Matt Ryan's 12-yard scramble had given the Falcons a 25-22 lead.

Reggie Bush added 80 yards rushing, including a career-long 43-yard run that set up his 5-yard touchdown catch.

Drew Brees was 18 of 32 for 230 yards and two TDs for New Orleans.

EAGLES 20, GIANTS 14

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. —Brian Westbrook ran 30 yards for a touchdown, caught another 40-yarder from Donovan McNabb, and the Eagles (7-5-1) beat the Giants, who still clinched the NFC East when Dallas lost to Pittsburgh.

The Super Bowl champions' seven-game winning streak ended. The Giants (11-2) were limited to 211 yards.

McNabb finished 19 of 30 for 191 yards on a windy day as the Eagles controlled the ball for almost 35 minutes. Westbrook gained 131 yards on 33 carries and caught six passes for 72 yards.

VIKINGS 20, LIONS 16

DETROIT — The Lions took another big step toward making NFL history. The Lions (0-13) had chances to win, as they did in a two-point loss at Minnesota, but couldn't make enough plays, just as they have failed to throughout a miserable season.

At this point, Detroit is expected to finish the season as the first 0-16 team in league history, with games remaining at Indianapolis, against New Orleans and at Green Bay. The Lions are the fourth team to start 0-13 or worse since 1976, when Tampa Bay finished 0-14 as an expansion team.

The Vikings improved to 8-5.