Cardinals stop Rams but lose QB Drew Stanton

For the second consecutive game against the Rams, the Cardinals lost a quarterback. But they won both times, thanks to strong defense.

Chandler Catanzaro kicked four field goals as the Cardinals overcame an injury to Drew Stanton in a 12-6 victory Thursday night in St. Louis.

Stanton, who suffered a knee injury, has been filling in since Carson Palmer went down with a season-ending knee injury last month. Stanton hopped off the field on his left leg and later was carted to the locker room. There was no immediate word on the severity of the injury.

Cardinals coach Bruce Arians said Stanton had a previous knee injury and will need an MRI exam to determine the extent of the damage. Wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald seemed to believe Stanton will be out a while and added about third-string quarterback Ryan Lindley, "We're going to rally around him."

The Cardinals (11-3) have the top record in the NFC. They will clinch a playoff spot if Sunday's Cowboys-Eagles game doesn't end in a tie, or with a Lions loss combined with a Packers win.

The Rams (6-8) were held to Greg Zuerlein's two field goals and had five three-and-outs in the third quarter. Catanzaro's 23-yard field goal early in the second quarter ended nine quarters of shutout defense by St. Louis. The Rams beat the Raiders and Redskins by a combined 76-0 in their previous two games and haven't given up a touchdown since Nov. 23.

Cam happy to be alive

Panthers quarterback Cam Newton suffered two fractures in his lower back but is otherwise OK after a collision Tuesday that totaled his pickup truck. "I'm on somebody's fantasy league, and I think it's the man upstairs,'' he said Thursday in his first media session since the accident.

He will miss Sunday's game against the Bucs, and his status for the rest of the season hasn't been determined. "As far as when I'm coming back, who cares?'' he said. "I'm just thankful that I have breath in my lungs.''