Rams get nine sacks, hand Cardinals first loss

Sam Bradford threw two touchdown passes, and Robert Quinn had three of the Rams' nine sacks of Kevin Kolb as St. Louis defeated previously unbeaten Arizona, 17-3, Thursday night.

Arizona (4-1) couldn't stop a pass rush that had only six sacks entering the game.

The Rams (3-2) surpassed last season's win total and ended Arizona's seven-game winning streak in St. Louis, the Cardinals' home before leaving for the desert in 1988.

The Rams are 3-0 at home for the first time since 2003, and above .500 for the first time since Nov. 4, 2006.

Payton to watch Saints

Drew Brees said Sean Payton, Mickey Loomis and Joe Vitt helped put him in position to break Johnny Unitas' 50-year-old record of 47 consecutive games with a touchdown pass. So Brees thought they should have an opportunity to be in the Superdome if the record falls when the Saints (0-4) host San Diego Sunday night.

Commissioner Roger Goodell agreed on condition that the three men watch from a private area where they wouldn't have contact with the team. ESPN.com reported that Payton accepted Brees' invitation, but Loomis and Vitt declined.

Payton (all season), Loomis (eight games) and Vitt (six games) are suspended in connection with the NFL's bounty investigation.