Rams quarterback Kurt Warner has been virtually a forgotten man since he last played in the first game of the season. It seems like ages ago that Warner was the quarterback of record in a 23-13 loss to the Giants in which he fumbled six times, losing three, and suffered a concussion that no one really knows how serious it was.

Marc Bulger has been the starter ever since, and Warner has bided his time on the scout team. There were a few instances where coach Mike Martz thought of going to Warner in games where Bulger struggled, and then a game in Chicago when Warner was asked by Martz if he was ready to play.

Warner answered in the affirmative, but also said his coach should stick with Bulger so he would gain the experience of playing through the tough times.

Now, the Rams are on the verge of clinching home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs, and Warner is hoping for a chance to play in the season finale against Detroit. Especially if the Eagles lose to Washington Saturday night, a result that would give the Rams the home field. If Philadelphia wins, the Rams would have to beat the Lions.

"Would I want to play? Sure," Warner said Wednesday. "If Mike wants me to play, I'm ready to play. But that's all up to him. And I know how that is, too, as a starter. Knowing you have a (playoff) bye the next week -- you don't want to sit out and not play at all. That's for sure. You don't want to go two weeks, three weeks, before you throw again (in a game)."

Even if Warner played, it would likely be in the second half so Bulger would get some work. But keeping Bulger in for an entire game wouldn't be prudent. It would make sense for Warner to get some snaps with the first unit in the event he was needed in the post-season.

Martz adeptly avoided any questions about personnel moves he would make should the Eagles lose. When a question he was to be asked about it was prefaced by the comment, "We know you don't like to think about such things ... " Martz responded, "You're right what you said at first." When the line of questioning was pursued, he said again, "You're right what you said at first."

It was clear Martz didn't want to get caught up in discussing hypothetical situations or go public at this point with possible plans that might not be needed.

He said, "We're going to make the assumption that Philly wins, and then we'll go from there."

But almost under his breath, he said, "You always have a plan."