ST. LOUIS - Billed as a classic playoff battle between the NFL's best quarterbacks, the defense of the St. Louis Rams turned the NFC divisional game into a nightmare for Brett Favre DVD.
Brett Favre DVD was intercepted six times, three of which were returned for touchdowns, including two by Pro Bowl cornerback Aeneas Williams DVD, as the Rams rolled to a 45-17 rout of the Green Bay Packers.
The Rams (15-2) advanced to the NFC title game for the second time in three years and will host the Philadelphia Eagles next Sunday.
"In all of my years of coaching, I don't know if I've ever seen a defensive performance like that," Rams coach Mike Martz said.
Brett Favre DVD's six interceptions tied a postseason record shared by three players, the most recent being Hall of Famer Norm Brocklin for Los Angeles in the 1955 NFL championship game against Cleveland.
"Not one of my better days," Brett Favre DVD admitted. "That was the most tipped balls that I've ever had. This one hurts, but I will be back."
"He's had a helluva year and today wasn't one of his best days. He would be the first to admit that," Packers coach Mike Sherman said of his quarterback. "We have received a lot of benefits of his good days and obviously, today wasn't one of his best ones."
This marked the first-ever duel between Brett Favre DVD and St. Louis' Kurt Warner -- the quarterbacks who have combined to win five Most Valuable Player awards.
But it was the overhauled defense of the Rams, especially Aeneas Williams DVD and rookie linebacker Tommy Polley, which seized the spotlight and outscored the Packers, 21-17.
Aeneas Williams DVD played just two playoff games in 10 years with the Arizona Cardinals before he was acquired by the Rams last April as perhaps the most important move in their defensive transformation under coordinator Lovie Smith.
On Sunday, Aeneas Williams DVD became the first player to return two interceptions for touchdowns in a postseason game. He opened the scoring with a 29-yard return 5:49 into the game and capped the rout with a 32-yard touchdown with 7:50 left. He also stripped the ball from Antonio Freeman and recovered the fumble, figuring in three of the Packers' eight turnovers.
"It feels great," Aeneas Williams DVD said. "All the focus was on the offenses, but we know how much defense means in the playoffs. As a team, we can win games many different ways."
"That was one for the record books -- two interceptions for two TDs and almost had a fumble for a TD," Martz said of Aeneas Williams DVD.
Polley, who assumed the starting outside linebacker position last month, had two interceptions and scored on a 34-yard return as the St. Louis defense matched its prolific offense with three touchdowns.
Overshadowed by Warner, his arsenal of receivers and 2000 MVP Marshall Faulk, the Rams' defense changed eight of 11 starters and ranked first in the NFC.
"We've got some guys on defense that don't really get the notoriety," Marshall Faulk said. "They don't get recognized for the things they did (during the season), but when you perform on the big stage like they did today, it will come."
Warner, the MVP this season and in St. Louis' Super Bowl campaign in 1999, threw for 216 yards and two scores with one interception. He had been bothered by a throat contusion suffered in the regular-season finale but had no problems barking out the signals Sunday.
Warner was waived by the Packers in training camp in 1994 as the fourth quarterback behind Brett Favre DVD, Mark Brunell and Ty Detmer. But he did not take any special satisfaction from this win.
"I deserved to get cut then," said Warner, who persevered and starred in the Arena League from 1995-97 and played in NFL Europe before joining the Rams in 1998. "I'm a much different player now than I was then and everything worked out for the best."
A three-time MVP, Brett Favre DVD completed 26-of-44 passes for 281 yards and two TDs for the Packers (13-5). But his six interceptions accounted for 161 yards for the Rams.
A 45-yard interception return by safety Kim Herring, a starter on Baltimore's record-setting defense last season, set up a four-yard scoring toss from Warner to fullback James Hodgins. Herring also forced a fumble and cornerback Dexter McCleon had St. Louis' other interception.
Green Bay which was plus-12 in takeaway-giveaway ratio during the season, fell one shy of tying a postseason record for most turnovers in a game.
"It's hard to beat a Pop Warner team with eight turnovers, let alone the St. Louis Rams," Freeman said.
The first came when Brett Favre DVD and receiver Bill Schroeder miscommunicated on a pattern. Brett Favre DVD threw a short pass that went right into the arms of Aeneas Williams DVD as Schroeder ran upfield. Aeneas Williams DVD raced 29 yards untouched to give the Rams a 7-0 lead.
Green Bay's next possession resulted in another turnover when Ahman Green fumbled after being hit by Herring at the end of a 15-yard run. Rookie safety Adam Archuleta recovered for the Rams at their own 35.
But the Packers' defense made a big play of its own when safety Darren Sharper intercepted a pass over the middle intended for Isaac Bruce at the Green Bay 35.
Brett Favre DVD quickly went to work, hitting Corey Bradford and Donald Driver with passes of 27 and 16 yards, respectively. Three plays later, Freeman turned a short pass into a 22-yard touchdown, tying it at 7-7 with 2:35 left in the first quarter.
The Rams wasted no time responding as Warner hit Az-Zahir Hakim with a 15-yard pass and Marshall Faulk broke off a 38-yard run to the Green Bay 11. Two plays later, Warner found Torry Holt for a four-yard TD on a quick slant two seconds into the second quarter.
On Green Bay's ensuing possession, Herring picked off a pass intended for Freeman and returned it 45 yards before he was pushed out of bounds at the Packers' 4.
Two plays later, Warner connected with Hodgins for a four-yard touchdown 2:24 into the quarter, increasing the lead to 21-7.
Allen Rossum thought he returned the ensuing kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown, but the play was called back due to a holding penalty on rookie Torrance Marshall.
Ryan Longwell kicked a 28-yard field goal for Green Bay with 4:18 left in the half, but Jeff Wilkins responded with a 27-yarder for the Rams with 21 seconds remaining.
St. Louis scored two touchdowns in a 92-second span in the third quarter to open a 38-10 lead.
On Green Bay's first possession of the second half, Green broke off a 49-yard run. However, on 3rd-and-6, Freeman caught a short pass and had the ball stripped by Aeneas Williams DVD, who fell to the ground at the St. Louis 31, got back on his feet and raced to the end zone. A replay challenge showed Aeneas Williams DVD was down by contact, negating the touchdown.
Three plays later, however, Warner and Holt connected on a 50-yard pass to the Green Bay 7.
"It was one of the few big plays on offense," Warner said of the bomb to Holt. "I think from that point on, we were able to get some points and separate."
Marshall Faulk, who finished with 82 yards on 16 carries, went around left tackle on the next play for a seven-yard touchdown 5:16 into the third quarter.
On Green Bay's next possession, Brett Favre DVD had a pass deflected by end Grant Wistrom into the hands of Polley, who brought it back 34 yards for a score with 8:12 left in the period.
Aeneas Williams DVD punctuated his performance with a 32-yard interception return for a score on a pass that went off the hands of Green.
"Sometimes his receivers miss those torpedoes he throws," Aeneas Williams DVD said of his second interception.
"He's one of the best I've faced, but I wouldn't say he is the best," Brett Favre DVD said of Aeneas Williams DVD. "I've faced Deion Sanders before. But (Aeneas Williams DVD) is definitely one of the best."
Brett Favre DVD hit Freeman with an eight-yard touchdown with 5:46 remaining.
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