Ageless wonder leads Cardinals to lopsided victory over Saints

Old man Emmitt proved he isn’t through yet.

Emmitt Smith earned another NFL record Sunday with his 77th 100-yard rushing game — and threw the first pass of his 15-year pro career. It went for a touchdown.

The NFL’s career rushing leader had his best game since leaving Dallas two years ago, gaining 127 yards in 21 carries to help Arizona stun the New Orleans Saints 34-10 in Phoenix. It gave Dennis Green his first victory as Cardinals coach.

Smith, six months past his 35th birthday, had his 77th 100-yard rushing game to tie Walter Payton’s record for most in an NFL career. It was his first 100-yard game since Thanksgiving 2002, when he did it for Dallas against Washington. He is the first NFL player to gain more than 100 yards past the age of 35 since Marcus Allen for Kansas City against Cleveland on Dec. 3, 1995.

Smith passed the 100 mark Sunday with a 29-yard touchdown burst up the middle to seal the victory with 5:02 to play.

But it was his wobbly 21-yard touchdown pass to fullback Obafemi Ayanbadejo late in the first half he probably will remember most.

Rams 24, 49ers 14

There was nothing wrong with the St. Louis offense that a trip to San Francisco couldn’t fix.

Marc Bulger passed for 186 yards, Marshall Faulk rushed for 121 more and St. Louis sent the woeful 49ers to their first 0-4 start in 25 years with a victory that was never in doubt.

Isaac Bruce had seven catches for 100 yards as the Rams (2-2) got their ninth victory in 11 games against their longtime rivals. This one was out of reach early: St. Louis built a 24-0 halftime lead, and the sellout crowd booed the Niners off the field while heading for the exits.