Rams hold off tough Patriots

FOXBORO, Mass. -- Injuries and interceptions couldn't keep Kurt Warner and the St. Louis Rams from beating the surging New England Patriots.

Warner completed 30 of 42 passes for 401 yards and three touchdowns as the Rams won 24-17 Sunday night despite his two interceptions that led to 10 Patriots points and injuries that knocked five Rams out of the game. None returned.

Warner overcame an injured right thumb that cut his practice time last week and capitalized on three New England turnovers. The Rams (8-1) held their sixth opponent to 14 points or less.

The Patriots (5-5) controlled the NFL's most productive offense for most of the first half, leading 10-7 until the final minute. That's when Warner completed a 9-yard touchdown pass to Marshall Faulk that put St. Louis ahead to stay.

The 97-yard drive began when Aeneas Williams recovered Antowain Smith's fumble as the Patriots appeared about to score.

New England's other turnovers came on two interceptions by the NFL's fourth-ranked defense against Tom Brady. He dropped to 5-3 since taking over after Drew Bledsoe suffered bleeding in his chest after being hit by Mo Lewis of the New York Jets.

For the first time since then, Bledsoe was cleared by doctors for contact and was the No. 2 quarterback. He didn't get into the game, but the loss could energize the growing quarterback controversy.

The Patriots' only offensive touchdown came on Brady's 10-yard pass to David Patten with 7:46 left in the game, making it 24-17.

The Rams' defense was solid despite the loss of two of this year's three first-round draft picks, defensive tackle Damione Lewis and strong safety Adam Archuleta, plus linebacker Mark Fields and end Leonard Little. Wide receiver Az-Zahir Hakim left in the first quarter with a sprained left ankle.

In the second quarter, Archuleta suffered a concussion and Lewis broke a bone in his right foot. In the third quarter, Fields sprained his left ankle quarter and Little sprained his knee.

Warner's two interceptions gave him nine in three games as all four first-half scoring plays resulted from turnovers.

Warner threw a 16-yard scoring pass to Torry Holt on the third play after Dexter McCleon's interception gave St. Louis the ball at the New England 18.

The Patriots tied the game on Terrell Buckley's 52-yard interception return with 1:55 left in the first quarter.

On the Rams' second offensive play after that, Tedy Bruschi intercepted another pass by Warner, giving the Patriots the ball at their 40. That drive ended with Adam Vinatieri's 33-yard field goal that gave New England a 10-7 lead 54 seconds into the second quarter.