The Giants make their way to St. Louis for the second time in three seasons looking to get back on track in this always-entertaining series.

Including playoffs, the Rams own a 23-10 edge in this rivalry and have prevailed in two straight and four of the last five meetings dating back to 1991, including a 13-3 victory in 1997 at the TWA Dome in the last encounter between the teams.

Including playoffs, the Giants have dropped three straight and are 4-11 lifetime on the road (4-10 at Los Angeles/Anaheim, 0-1 at St. Louis) in this series.

Numbers: In 28 starts dating back to 1997 (17 with Panthers, 7 with Saints, 4 with Giants), Giants QB Kerry Collins has thrown 14 touchdown passes and just five interceptions in 10 wins, 14 TD passes and 36 interceptions in 18 losses. Since 1996 (including playoffs), the Giants have committed just 32 turnovers in 31 wins, 76 turnovers in 30 losses and a tie. The Giants have forced two or more turnovers in 26 of their last 41 games (27-of-42 games, including playoffs) dating back to '97. They have scored 360 points and committed just 17 turnovers in 15 wins, while scoring just 171 points and committing 36 turnovers in 14 losses dating back to 1998. The Giants have forced 37 turnovers and totaled 55 sacks in 15 wins, while totaling just nine takeaways and 29 sacks in 14 losses dating back to '98. They have limited the opposition to fewer than 100 yards rushing in three straight games.

In his last 29 games dating back to last season (16 with Colts in '98, 13 with Rams in '99), Rams RB Marshall Faulk has gained 4,127 yards from scrimmage and scored 19 touchdowns, rushing for 2,499 yards and 12 touchdowns, plus catching 152 passes for 1,628 yards and 7 touchdowns. In 13 games in '99, Faulk has rushed for 1,180 yards and six touchdowns, plus caught 66 passes for 720 yards and three touchdowns. It is worth noting that the only player in NFL history to total 1,000 yards rushing and receiving in the same seasonwas San Francisco 49ers RB Roger Craig in 1985. Faulk has rushed for 100 or more yards in four straight games. Rams QB Kurt Warner has thrown 34 touchdown passes and 10 interceptions in 13 games in '99 (11-2). In '98, since-departed Rams QBs Tony Banks and Steve Bono combined to throw just 12 touchdown passes and 18 interceptions in 16 games in '98 (4-12). Warner has thrown two or more touchdown passes in three straight games and 11-of-13 contests, and three or more touchdown passes in 8-of-13 contests in '99.

The Rams have scored 54 touchdowns (46 offensive, 8 returns) in 13 games in '99, the most in any one season in the 1990s. In their first 13 games in '99 (11-2), the Rams have outscored the opposition a combined 113-46 (plus-67) in the first quarter. In 16 games in '98 (4-12), the Rams were outscored a combined 116-37 (minus-79) in the first quarter. They have scored 498 points in 15 wins, 217 points in 14 losses dating back to '98. They have forced two or more turnovers in five straight games. The Rams have intercepted two or more passes in four straight games. WR Isaac Bruce has scored at least one touchdown in 8-of-13 contests in '99. The Rams have allowed 18 sacks in 11 wins, 10 sacks in two losses in '99. They have forced 29 turnovers in 11 wins, 0 takeaways in two losses in '99.

Things to look for: Thanks to some timely play-calling and a new-found commitment to the running game, the Giants have the look of a team on the rise as Jim Fassel's club is playing better than anyone in the NFC East these days. But a trip to the TWA Dome this season features humble pie on its limited menu as Dick Vermeil's motivated club has an eye on homefield advantage throughout the NFC playoffs.

Etc.: The Rams are NFC West champions for the first time since 1985 and have won at least 11 games for the first time since the then-L.A. Rams finished 11-5 and went to the playoffs in 1989. The Rams are 11-2 for the first time since 1975, when the then-L.A. Rams opened 11-2, finished 12-2 and won the NFC West title under since-departed head coach Chuck Knox, eventually losing the NFC Championship Game to Dallas (37-7).

Including playoffs, the Giants are 15-7-1 vs. NFC East opponents and just 10-13 (0-1 in playoffs) vs. the rest of the NFL under head coach Jim Fassel (1997-99).

Including playoffs, Rams head coach Dick Vermeil owns a 12-4 lifetime record vs. the Giants--(11-4 with Eagles from 1976-82, including playoffs, 1-0 with Rams in 1997). The Rams have won five straight games. They have won seven straight home games dating back to '98.