Kevin Faulk points to the crowd after scoring the game-winning touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Journal photo / Mary Murphy

FOXBORO -- With the score tied and the game on the line late in the fourth quarter, fullback Heath Evans thought that there was only one player the Patriots needed to look to to score the game-winning touchdown: Kevin Faulk.

"If you're going to put it in one person's hands, it might as well be his," Evans said. "When it comes down to pressure situations and someone that's done it for 10 years one way -- with great consistency -- who else's hands would you want it in?"

The Patriots called Faulk's number and he delivered, by catching the game-winning touchdown with 3:13 remaining, propelling the Patriots to a 23-16 victory over the upset-minded St. Louis Rams.

Faulk sprinted out of the backfield and up the left sideline toward the back corner of the end zone, past St. Louis linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa, who was trying to guard him. Cassel made a perfect throw to Faulk, who corralled the 15-yard touchdown pass.

"It was a play we put in last week and we had the opportunity to run it today," Faulk said. "They showed us a matchup early on that favored that play, so we ran it and it was successful."

"We feel like him on linebackers is a pretty favorable matchup, so we got him out there," New England coach Bill Belichick said. "Cassel made a great throw and Kevin came down with the ball."

"It was a great catch by him," Cassel said. "He made a great move on the linebacker. He was in one-on-one coverage and I just tried to put it out there and give him an opportunity to make the catch. He did a great job. He did what Kevin Faulk does best."

Faulk said he learned to make tough catches, like the fourth-quarter finger-tip touchdown grab, from Randy Moss.

"Well, that was something that I learned from Randy -- not sticking your hands out there early and letting the ball come to you right in the breadbasket," Faulk said. "It was just a perfect throw by Matt."

Faulk caught four passes in all, for 47 yards and a touchdown. He also ran the ball a team-high 13 times for a team-high 60 yards. His role was expanded because running backs Laurence Maroney (injured reserve, shoulder), Sammy Morris (knee) and LaMont Jordan (calf) were all inactive.

"I do whatever is asked of me," Faulk said. "It doesn't matter. I'm a professional. This is my job, so I just do what I have to do. Whenever they ask me to do something different, I have to do it, no matter what."

"He is a powerful kid," St. Louis coach Jim Haslett said of Faulk. "He's got great speed. He's got the shake and bake in him. He is a great receiver, and does a little of everything."

"The guy does it all: pass protection, catches a tough ball, picks up blitzers that are 50 pounds heavier than him. He's the best," Evans said.

"He does a lot of things well and I think he is a guy that we all have a lot of confidence in around here: coaches, players, quarterbacks, the whole football team. He comes to work every day. He is one of the best team players we have. He is all about our football team."

Faulk said he is prepared to play a larger role in the Patriots' offense for the rest of the season if the team needs him to.

"My role never changes, and that's to do whatever I need to do to help the team win," Faulk said.

"You talk about a complete back," Evans said of Faulk. "He is a guy you can't guard one-on-one. If you give him a draw, he is going to find yards where there are no yards. He is going to make catches where most people wouldn't even touch the ball. There are not enough good things to say about [No.] 33."

"Kevin is a good football player," Belichick said.

"He has made a lot of plays since I have been here, and before. He has been a very dependable and consistent player. It seems like you can always count on Kevin, no matter what phase of the game it is in. Whether it is returning kicks, blocking, pass protection, catching, running, two-point plays [or] being on the goal line. He is a clutch player and he is a good player."

roblee@projo.com