ST. LOUIS: Arizona overcame the loss of quarterback Drew Stanton to injury and beat St. Louis 12-6 on Thursday, moving closer to securing a spot in the NFL playoffs.

Chandler Catanzaro kicked four field goals to account for all the Cardinals points, while the Rams’ points also came from their kicker Greg Zuerlein.

St. Louis had held its two previous opponents — Washington and Oakland — scoreless and that shutout streak lasted until Catanzaro’s first field goal in the second quarter.

The defeat eliminated the Rams from playoff contention.

Ryan Lindley was ineffective in his first quarterback appearance since 2012 in relief of Stanton, who injured his right knee on a sack in the third quarter, but it didn’t matter.

It was the second time running that the Cardinals had lost a quarterback to injury during a game against St. Louis, with Carson Palmer suffering a season-ending knee injury last month, yet both times they won.

Arizona (11-3) entered tied for the top overall record in the NFC and will clinch a playoff spot if Sunday’s Dallas-Philadelphia game doesn’t end in a tie, or a Detroit loss combined with a Green Bay victory.

Rams rookie Tre Mason’s fumble gave the Cardinals a short field that set up Catanzaro’s first field goal. Frostee Rucker punched the ball free and Larry Foote recovered at the St. Louis 27 yard line.

Michael Floyd’ 49-yard reception set up Catanzaro’s 44-yard field goal that put the Cardinals up 6-3 midway through the second. Catanzaro made kicks of 51 yards and 46 yards in the second half