CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- Aeneas Williams left Kelly Holcomb in tears and put the St. Louis Rams into the playoffs.
Williams had a pair of interceptions in the final 75 seconds of the first half, including one for a touchdown, as the Rams extended their winning streak to five games with a 26-20 triumph over the Cleveland Browns.
First-place St. Louis moved two games ahead of Seattle in the NFC West and can clinch the division with a victory over the Seahawks on December 14. The Rams, who missed the playoffs last season, used Williams' big plays near the end of the half, as well as a late defensive stand, to tie the Philadelphia Eagles for the best record in the conference.
"It means a great deal to the city of St. Louis," said Rams coach Mike Martz about reaching the playoffs. "We all think it is the best sports city in America."
The Rams held a 9-7 lead late in the half when Williams picked off Holcomb and ran it back 46 yards for a touchdown, his ninth career interception return for a score. After the ensuing kickoff, the veteran safety picked off another pass with 39 seconds to go to set up Marc Bulger's 16-yard touchdown pass to Isaac Bruce for a 23-7 halftime cushion.
"With our defense, it's not just about getting turnovers, but about taking turnovers back and scoring," said Williams, who also had 10 tackles. "We talk about blocking down field and defensive touchdowns."
Browns coach Butch Davis pulled Holcomb, who was in tears on the sideline, and replaced him with Tim Couch. Couch led Cleveland on a pair of touchdown drives in the second half and Dennis Northcutt's 20-yard punt return set up the Browns in Rams' territory with 2:11 to go.
Couch threw incomplete on first down before finding Jamel White for a seven-yard gain on the next play. Another incompletion brought up fourth down, but Couch had the ball knocked loose by linebacker Brian Allen and the Browns recovered, turning it over on downs.
"We've been pretty much under the radar all season, which is fine," said Williams about the defense.
St. Louis tailback Marshall Faulk topped the 100-yard mark for the fourth straight game with 102 yards on 24 carries.
The Rams' offense produced no touchdowns despite three first-half drives of at least 47 yards that ended in the red zone and resulted in a trio of Jeff Wilkins' field goals. But it was the 35-year-old Williams' plays that gave St. Louis serious momentum.
"I guess (Williams) is the standard that is set forth for all of us in terms of an athlete and competitiveness," Martz said. "He is a guy that makes plays in clutch situations, so we gave him a well-deserved game ball."
St. Louis scored 17 points off second-quarter miscues by Holcomb, who also fumbled. Holcomb was 10-of-17 for 80 yards and one score.
"We are committing turnovers and everyone is at fault," Couch said. "You just cannot beat yourself in this league."
Couch energized the Browns with a 28-yard TD pass to Quincy Morgan 4 1/2 minutes into the second half, but the two-point conversion failed, making it 23-13. Wilkins' 37-yarder extended the margin to 13 points heading into the fourth.
White's two-yard touchdown run pulled Cleveland within 26-20 with 10:22 to go. The Browns got back the ball twice in the final five minutes, but the Rams' defense stiffened each time and did not allow a first down.
"We were a team that refused to quit and give up," Davis said. "We put ourselves in a position to win the game at the end."
Bulger completed 22-of-36 passes for 223 yards and improved to 16-3 as a starter in his career. The Rams have won three straight road games against teams with a losing record by a combined 11 points.
Couch was 6-of-9 for 98 yards, one touchdown and also lost a fumble in the third quarter. White carried 16 times for 101 yards.
