The stakes are high Sunday at the Edward Jones Dome. If the Rams (2-5) can knock off the NFC West-leading Cardinals (4-3), they’ll be just a game out of first place at the halfway mark of the season. But if Arizona wins, it will be up three games over the Rams and at least two games overall in the division.

Still, Jim Haslett hasn’t found it necessary to hammer his troops on the significance of the contest. “I haven’t even brought it up; I think they know it,” Haslett said. “I told them the environment is going to be great because our fans will be there, enjoy that, and take care of business.”

Add running back Steven Jackson: “If first place wasn’t on the line, I think guys would still come out and play hard. We just want to get that bitter taste (of losing) out of our mouth.”

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Notes & quotes:

*Jackson (thigh), DT Adam Carriker (ankle) and DE Leonard Little (hamstring) will be game-time decisions, Haslett said. Jackson has done some work in the 11-on-11 “team” drills, while Carriker and Little have done mostly individual drills.

*WR Drew Bennett (foot) and S Todd Johnson (kidney) are at least another week away from suiting up.

*A Steven Jackson “Fathead” wall graphic is now available. The cost is $149.95. Check it out at www.fathead.com

*All-purpose lineman Adam Goldberg took snaps at both tackle and both guard spots Thursday.

*The Rams have collected nine turnovers in the three games since Haslett took over for Scott Linehan. “I’ll take that any day,” Little said. “The first four I don’t think we had any (on defense), so to get nine in three games kind of shows that we’re on our way. We haven’t made it yet,  but we’re doing some things right.”

All for now . . .