On the heels of losses to the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles, the Cardinals are home Sunday to face the St. Louis Rams, doormat of the NFL's weakest division.

A victory will earn the Cardinals their first division title in 33 years and, get this, their first home playoff game since 1947. Even if they're upset by a Rams team (2-10) that has lost its last six games, the Cardinals can clinch the NFC West crown if San Francisco loses at home to the New York Jets.

"If I had my choice, I would love to win it at home in front of our home crowd," Arizona coach Ken Whisenhunt said, "because that's something that would be very special to this city, to this team, because it hasn't been done around here and I think everybody should be a part of that."

The Cardinals (7-5) haven't played since a 48-20 Thanksgiving night drubbing in Philadelphia, a loss that made Arizona 3-5 against teams outside its division. But the Cardinals are 4-0 against the NFC West, including a 34-13 victory at St. Louis on Nov. 2.

Arizona has the No. 3 offense in the NFL, but is last in the league in rushing. In their last two games, the Cardinals have 48 yards rushing in 25 carries. But the Rams are the only team Arizona successfully ran the ball against all season.

Tim Hightower gained 109 yards in 22 carries, including a 30-yard touchdown run against St. Louis, the rookie's first NFL start.

"We didn't do a very good job stopping the run, so we feel that's probably how they'll attack us," Rams coach Jim Haslett said. "I think Hightower's a good football player. They'll try to get the running game going. But the bottom line is, with that football team, they've got great receivers and a great quarterback. ... So you've got your hands full. It's a great opportunity for our defense to see if we've come along at all since we've played them."

The Cardinals' defense is coming off one of its poorest efforts of the season. The Eagles, who had struggled to move the ball on the ground all season, rushed for 185 yards, led by Brian Westbrook's 110 yards on 22 carries, including two touchdowns. Westbrook also caught two touchdown passes. In all, Philadelphia gained 510 yards.

"It seemed like the bottom just kind of fell out last week," Arizona nose tackle Bryan Robinson said. "... We kind of get caught up in doing our own thing when things aren't going our way. Guys try to make extra plays. One thing about our defense is that when everybody's doing their job it's pretty effective."

Robinson said he's seen a rededication to a more disciplined defense in practice leading up to the Rams game.

"Maybe that whipping that we got at Philadelphia came at the right time," he said, "because we were starting to feel like there was nothing that could touch us."

The one-sided Thanksgiving loss gave Arizona's coaches plenty of material to throw at the players.

"I've noticed our team's focused," Whisenhunt said, "and I think they're also a little embarrassed by the way we played."

The Rams, coming off a 16-12 home loss to Miami, are expected to rely more on Steven Jackson in the running back's second game back from a thigh injury.

Haslett didn't use Jackson much late against the Dolphins and the coach said afterward he thought the big back was "gassed." Jackson insists he didn't take issue with the comment and the two insisted there was no problem between them.

"Me and coach Haslett, we're good," Jackson said. "We've been able to kind of just look back at that reel and just laugh about it. Everything's fine."

The Cardinals have beaten the Rams four straight times and are two-touchdown favorites to make it five in a row. Don't count Kurt Warner among those who put too much emphasis on one game or on winning the division title on the field rather than backing in with a 49ers' loss.

"I don't care how we win it. The bottom line is just winning it and getting into the playoffs and making a run at a championship. I mean, that's what it's all about," the Arizona quarterback said. "How you get there? Who cares? ... The point is you want to be playing good football at the time and you want to go in with confidence that you can beat anybody, and we'll see how it shakes out."