As far as the St. Louis Rams are concerned, the schedule that was published by the main office of that rich and arrogant cartel better known as the National Football League is incorrect. According to that published schedule, the National Football Conference playoffs are scheduled to start on the weekend of December 30-31.

That's not true. In the Rams mind, the playoffs have already started: three weeks earlier.

And St. Louis now gets to advance to the next round.

In a game that they absolutely, positively had to win, our Male Sheep brought Football Like It Was in 1999 back to the Trans World Dome. Before a raucous sellout crowd, the Rams handily defeated the Minnesota Vikings 40-29; sending the Vikes and their best overall Conference record limping back to Governor Ventura's turf.

One down, two to go. The Rams struck early, often, and effectively.

St. Louis scored on each possession in the first half. Kurt Warner returned to the Dome as the Kurt Warner of old. #13 was brilliant, setting the tone in the first quarter by completing his first eleven passes for 152 yards to five different receivers. More telling was Warner's longest pass of his 346-yard afternoon was a mere 36-yard completion. The Rams used the Warner short passes in lieu of a second running back.

But this game and victory belonged to running back Marshall Faulk. #28 rushed for a team and personal record of four touchdowns in this game. Faulk also reached the thousand yard-rushing total for the sixth time in his career. Faulk controlled this game.

He carried the football twenty-five times: certainly making up for his lack of use one week earlier in Carolina. More importantly, Faulk's play complimented Warner's passing plan by providing St. Louis an arsenal to keep the Vikings defense off stride. These multiple weapons are also used as showcases for the inspection of their next two "playoff" opponents, Tampa Bay and New Orleans.

The victory snapped a three game Dome losing streak and assured the Rams of their first back to back winning seasons since the late 1980's and the first in their St. Louis tenure.

Despite the forty points scored and the second consecutive fine defensive effort, the Rams played mistake free football. St. Louis did not commit a turnover, drop a pass, or commit a silly penalty this Sunday afternoon. It's the turnovers (or lack of), Stupid!

Mike Martz specifically emphasized that in his post game/state of the union address: "I think probably one of the glaring things in the game, the first thing, I think of, there weren't any turnovers. We didn't turn the ball over. It is amazing what you can do when you don't shoot yourself in the foot like thatAs long as we play smart football and disciplined football, we can have games like this."

Martz' comments are extremely profound as his Rams prepare for the next two "playoff" games. At this writing, his next two opponents are just like his team: holding a 9-5 overall record. Both opponents must be considered as playoff caliber teams.

Bluntly stated: the Rams can not give the Bucs or the Saints any turnovers or second chances as they have done in their losses to Carolina and Washington. These are good teams and they will take advantage of any early Christmas gift given to them.

Although the victory was impressive and meaningful, the Rams could not resist a trip to the past: reviving the silly and immature Bob and Weave touchdown dance. For some bizarre reason, our Navy and Gold heroes felt this dance was important and wanted to make sure that Minnesota Coach Dennis Green got to see the 2000 edition up close and personal. For some odd reason, the local press wanted to harp on the dance's return as a part of the game. In MY opinion it remains a classless (and poorly choreographed) act.

Yet, yesterday's performance may come back and backfire. In all likelihood, the NFC road to the Super Bowl will run through Minneapolis. In all likelihood, if the Rams are clever enough to advance deep in the Conference playoffs, they will see these same Vikings with their same Coach, probably at the Metrodome. Their immature touchdown dance and the media frenzy following it will only serve as a wake up call to Green and his Vikings. You can bet, that Coach Green will show the tape of the Rams trying to dance in the end-zone to his team and over and over and over again. All this showboat-man-ship will do is irritate and fire-up the Vikings.

Somehow I can't see George W. Bush performing the Bob and Weave should the Supreme Court decisions go his way.

Memo to the Rams Dancers: please send future audition tapes to Ed Mc Mahon and do not waste the time of your paying fans and embarrass your Head Coach.

Sunday's win over Minnesota was an impressive, vital, and symbolic one. In a game that they simply had to win the Rams showed much character and preparation.

With that said, effective immediately, it's time to forget Sunday's win over Minnesota.

The next "playoff" game will be a Monday Night nationally televised showdown in Tampa Bay in front of Al, Dan, Dennis and all my rowdy friends. You can lay book that Tony Dungy already has the Tampa Stadium sprinklers going full blast to soften the playing field. You can also probably bet that the grass will be and inch or two higher when kickoff time arrives. That is the beauty of the home field advantage.

Bottom Line: if the Rams win their next two games they are in the playoffs, regardless what their opponents do. Once again St. Louis can control its own destiny without anyone's help. Not every team can lay claim to this.

The "biggest game of the year" was the Minnesota game at the Dome. The next "biggest game of the year" will be Monday night in Florida. This will serve as a precursor to the next "biggest game of the year" that will be held on Christmas Eve in the Big Easy.

Mike Martz knows that and has to prepare his team for such.

That's the way the game is played in the "playoffs".