Cleveland ? The St. Louis Rams are going back to the playoffs, and their high-potent offense didn’t have much to do with it.

Aeneas Williams had two interceptions — the first for a 46-yard touchdown — in the final 1:04 of the first half and the Rams clinched an NFC postseason berth, holding on for a 26-20 win Monday night over the Cleveland Browns.

Williams’ two picks enabled the Rams (10-3) to score 14 points in a 42-second span at the end of the first half, giving St. Louis a 23-7 lead.

“All I can say is, he’s Aeneas,” Rams coach Mike Martz said. “He sets the standard for all of us. He makes the plays in clutch situations.”

Jeff Wilkins kicked four field goals — 26, 28, 29 and 37 yards — for the Rams, who won their fifth straight game and advanced to the playoffs for the fourth time in five years.

“This is just one step,” Rams wide receiver Dane Looker said. “We’re excited, but not overly excited.”

The Rams, who have a two-game lead over Seattle in the NFC West, had to withstand a valiant comeback by the Browns (4-9), who were making their first regular-season appearance on “Monday Night Football” since 1995.

Quarterback Tim Couch rallied Cleveland, but was stripped of the ball by Rams defensive end Brian Young on fourth down with 1:51 left, and St. Louis ran out the clock.

Marshall Faulk rushed for more than 100 yards for the fourth straight game, picking up 102 yards on 24 carries.

St. Louis cornerback Aeneas Williams celebrates a 46-yard interception return for a touchdown against Cleveland. The Rams beat the Browns, 26-20, Monday in Cleveland.

Couch went 6-for-9 for 98 yards and threw a 28-yard TD pass to Quincy Morgan after replacing Kelly Holcomb, whose two interceptions just before halftime doomed the Browns.

Holcomb, whose two-yard TD pass in the first quarter gave Cleveland a 7-3 lead, was benched with 17 seconds left in the first half.

Following the game, Browns coach Butch Davis refused to answer questions about his quarterback situation.

Young’s strip sealed it for St. Louis’ underappreciated defense, which recorded five sacks and forced four turnovers.