St. Louis — OK, OK. So the Rams average more than 31 points a game, they have the league's most valuable player and its best offensive performer and they're playing at home on turf, exactly the elements for which they are built.
Their defense is peaking, their confidence is soaring and they are rested after their NFL-best 14-2 record earned them the NFC West title and a first-round bye.
Why, then are the Green Bay Packers showing up today at the Dome at America's Center? Isn't the divisional playoff game a gimme for St. Louis?
The Rams know better. They know all about Brett Favre.
"He is well-known. It has always been that way," Rams cornerback Dexter McCleon said. "I was a quarterback myself, so I always studied Brett and admired Brett from his high school days to Southern Mississippi, all of the way to Atlanta and now through Green Bay.
"I am well aware of what he is capable of doing. I followed him all my life. He may not know that, but I've seen everything Brett is capable of doing."
Such as lifting a team to the summit at the right time. Favre has done it since 1994 in Green Bay. He did it again last week in a 25-15 wild-card victory over San Francisco, making all kinds of big plays in the second half.
Favre, who won the league's MVP award from 1995-97 and is having yet another superb season, would add to his legacy by taking these Packers to their third Super Bowl since 1996.
The Rams don't plan to let that happen.
"Hopefully our pressure will make it a little harder for him to make the easy throws," McCleon said. "Brett is a guy that has made a ton of tough throws in his career. He has made every type of throw that you could look for. We've seen everything. ... Nothing he does surprises us."
Added All-Pro cornerback Aeneas Williams: "He is so confident that he is not afraid to attempt to get balls in situations that maybe somebody else wouldn't try to do it. He has had so much success doing it and his guys have come up with some big plays."
Among his guys is Antonio Freeman, who was a key to last week's victory after an ordinary regular season. The Favre-Freeman combination was a major cog in Green Bay's 1996 NFL title run and its conference championship the next season.
Freeman figures to see lots of Williams, which won't faze Favre. The quarterback will test anyone.
"I think I'm playing my best football right now," Favre said.
In the last eight games, Favre has thrown 15 touchdown passes and just three interceptions his best two-month stretch since the Packers' championship season in 1996. He ranks second in NFL history with TD passes in 11 straight playoff games.
Dan Marino holds the record at 13.
Freeman wants to be the guy Favre focuses on.
"It's my time of year," Freeman said. "I want to be the guy. If they say we need a play they call on me. I want them to get on my back and ride it. If that's the case, fine. If not, whoever is hot, just ride them, and I love it, man."
Most likely, the Packers will be riding Favre. And the Rams will be trying to rope him in.
"He has the touch, but he also has the ability to put it in some tight situations," Williams said. "The thing is that we know Brett is going to throw the ball, the key now is when he throws it and we are around it, we need to come up with the ball. That is going to be a big key to winning this game."
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