ST. LOUIS (REUTERS) — The St. Louis Rams rode Marshall Faulk to their second Super Bowl trip in three years.
Faulk rushed for a career playoff-high 159 yards and a pair of second-half touchdowns to lead the Rams to a 29-24 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC championship game.
The Rams (16-2), who had the NFL’s best record in the regular season, will meet the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXVI Feb. 3 at New Orleans.
Coach Mike Martz was the offensive coordinator under Dick Vermeil when the Rams beat Tennessee in Super Bowl XXXIV.
Philadelphia (13-6) held a 17-13 halftime lead, but the Rams took control with a dominant third quarter performance, controlling the ball for more than 12 1/2 minutes by running 22 plays to just five for the Eagles.
Jeff Wilkins kicked a 41-yard field goal to cap a drive which lasted nearly seven minutes, and after the Eagles went three and out, the Rams drove 71 yards in ten plays and took the lead for good when Faulk scored on a one-yard run with 1:18 left in the quarter.
Faulk, who had a season-high 31 carries, scored again on a one-yard run with 6:55 left in the fourth quarter to increase the lead to 29-17.
Quarterback Donovan McNabb scored on a three-yard run to pull the Eagles within 29-24 with 2:56 left.
After the defense held, the Eagles had a final chance to win the game, reaching their own 48. But cornerback Aeneas Williams intercepted a pass intended for Freddie Mitchell to seal the win.
