ST. LOUIS — Marshall Faulk doesn't want to answer any Super Bowl questions.

The St. Louis running back is from New Orleans, site of the Super Bowl on Feb. 3, and, of course, he would like to have a homecoming. But he doesn't want to think about it this week.

"I haven't thought about it yet," Faulk said Wednesday. "I'll think about it when I get there."

Faulk, the AP Offensive Player of the Year the last three seasons, was repeatedly asked about the Super Bowl by sports writers from New Orleans during a news conference. Just as he does to protect Kurt Warner, Faulk picked up the blitz repeatedly.

He knows if the Rams (15-2) beat the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC championship game on Sunday, there will be plenty of time to talk about his hometown.

Faulk made little of the fact he and Rams cornerback Aeneas Williams are both from New Orleans, noting that "there are great players that come from everywhere." Faulk recalled playing against Steelers quarterback Kordell Stewart, who's also from New Orleans, in high school.

On one occasion, he brushed off a question about the city with a terse "Next question."

On another occasion he snapped: "It's just when I tell you I don't remember, I mean I don't remember. You can't make me remember. I can't make me remember."

So, how does he guard against looking past the Eagles?

"By not answering questions like the one that was just asked to me about playing in the Super Bowl and focusing on the task at hand," Faulk said.

Faulk did, however, remember feeling the Rams might see the Eagles again after St. Louis beat them 20-17 in overtime in the season opener.

"It was a game that you just don't expect to have in the first game of the season," Faulk said. "I think that both teams understood where it was and that the game might have some implications down the line.

"Both teams left it out there."

Faulk is impressed with Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Johnson, comparing him favorably with Rams coach Mike Martz.

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"Jim Johnson is a guy who can think up some things that you've never seen," Faulk said. "He can do things out of a regular scheme that you have just never seen before.

"He gets just about as creative as Mike does on offense."

Faulk ran for 82 yards, his best performance in seven career playoff games, and a touchdown Sunday against the Green Bay Packers. He's not worried about the Rams putting up points against the Eagles.

"I don't think we look at it as if success will be limited," he said. "We're expecting to have success. We're expecting to make plays and score touchdowns."

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