"I don't want to sit out at all," Warner said. "I want to play and that's why I'm here. But I understand their perspective on things."

Then, there's the momentum from their second six-game winning streak of the season that they don't want to lose. Coach Dick Vermeil knows all too well the cautionary tale of the 1996 Denver Broncos, who wrapped up the top seed in the AFC early, then lost at home to Jacksonville in their first playoff game.

The Rams have a first-round bye in the playoffs, so the weekend of Jan. 15-16 is a long time to wait for the next really meaningful game. So he's less likely to give his headliners a ton of rest the last two games.

"When they lose that edge, it's hard to get it back," Vermeil said. "You just don't want those kinds of things happening to you."

Vermeil also says the Rams owe it to their fans. The city paid a heavy ransom to lure the team from Anaheim, Calif., in 1995, with fans forced to purchase personal seat licenses, and the city, county and state footing the bill for a $280 million domed stadium and $15 million practice facility.

Vermeil still marvels at his plush surroundings from time to time.

"Look at where I'm standing, look at this building," Vermeil said at a Rams Park news conference on Wednesday. "It's a monument to pro football."

The Bears game comes four days after six Rams were selected as starters on the NFC Pro Bowl squad and six others were named as alternates. The Bears (6-8) will send only kick return specialist Glyn Milburn, and coach Dick Jauron sounds a bit jealous.

"They're for real," Jauron said. "There's all kinds of weapons and they're really functioning well. Our goal will be to just try to limit it."

In addition to unanimous selections Warner and Faulk, the Rams will be represented by wide receiver Isaac Bruce, offensive tackle Orlando Pace, defensive end Kevin Carter and cornerback Todd Lyght. Carter leads the NFL with 15 sacks and Lyght is tied for second in the league with six interceptions.

Only Bruce and Faulk have been to the Pro Bowl, so that element adds a little more spice to the weekend.

"I was so worked up over it that I could hardly sleep," Carter said when he heard the news on Wednesday. "It was just something I have wanted so long and have worked so hard for."

The Bears are coming off perhaps their most impressive game of the season, a 28-10 victory over Detroit, after losing the previous two. Cade McNown became the first Bears rookie to throw for more than 300 yards, and had four touchdown passes.

Chicago is mathematically alive, but barely, in the playoff chase.

"We're feeling pretty good, but we're in no position to take anything lightly," McNown said. "They've locked up just about everything they can, and we're fighting to survive."

CHICAGO Season schedule and results

ST. LOUIS Season schedule and results

September 12 Kansas City W 20-17 September 19 Seattle L 13-14 September 26 @Oakland L 17-24 October 3 New Orleans W 14-10 October 10 @Minnesota W 24-22 October 17 Philadelphia L 16-20 October 24 @Tampa Bay L 3-6 October 31 @Washington L 22-48 November 7 @Green Bay W 14-13 November 14 Minnesota L 24-27 November 21 @San Diego W 23-20 November 25 @Detroit L 17-21 December 5 Green Bay L 19-35 December 19 Detroit W 28-10 December 26 @St. Louis 1:00pm ET January 2 Tampa Bay 1:00pm ET

September 12 Baltimore W 27-10 September 26 Atlanta W 35-7 October 3 @Cincinnati W 38-10 October 10 San Francisco W 42-20 October 17 @Atlanta W 41-13 October 24 Cleveland W 34-3 October 31 @Tennessee L 21-24 November 7 @Detroit L 27-31 November 14 Carolina W 35-10 November 21 @San Francisco W 23-7 November 28 New Orleans W 43-12 December 5 @Carolina W 34-21 December 12 @New Orleans W 30-14 December 19 NY Giants W 31-10 December 26 Chicago 1:00pm ET January 2 @Philadelphia 1:00pm ET

Records source: STATS, Inc.

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