Where: Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis (Fieldturf, indoors)
When: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET (CBS)
Spread: Rams by 3.5
Records: Rams (Overall: 3-5-1, NFC West: 2-0-1); Jets (Overall: 3-6, AFC East 2-2)
Past results: Two most recent meetings -- Nov. 9, 2008: Jets 47, Rams 3; Jan. 2, 2005: Rams 32, Jets 29. Series record: St. Louis leads 9-3.
What matters: The Rams have gone four straight games without forcing a turnover for the first time in more than 60 years. That drought coincides with the team’s 0-3-1 skid. And the team has committed 12 or more penalties in three of those four. But the offense revived last week thanks to the return of WR Danny Amendola, who caught 11 balls for 102 yards. He’s not even listed on the injury report this week. St. Louis amassed 458 total yards against San Francisco’s top-ranked defense in the 24-24 tie.
Who matters: RB Steven Jackson ran for 101 yards last week, his first 100-yard game this season and 32nd of his career. He’ll face a defense that ranks 30th against the run (145 ypg), gives up 4.4 yards per carry and got gouged for 174 rushing yards last week. RB Daryl Richardson averages a whopping 5.7 yards per carry. Both benefitted from the return of LT Rodger Saffold, who was out nearly two months with a knee injury.
Key matchups: Jets RT Austin Howard is one of the league's worst tackles, having given up five sacks, 10 QB hits and 20 QB hurries. DE Chris Long could have a big day. Long is Pro Football Focus’ eighth-best defensive end: He has 38 QB hurries along with five sacks and five QB hits. ... With Jets QB Mark Sanchez cratering -- he’s completed fewer than 50 percent of his throws five times this season -- the Rams are preparing to see Tim Tebow.
“He’s played for them and they clearly have a package for him,” Rams assistant head coach Dave McGinnis said. “We’ve played those types of packages before already this year. We had to get ready for RGIII (Redskins QB Robert Griffin III). We’ll prepare for what they do.”
Injuries of note: WR Austin Pettis did not practice Thursday with a toe injury. If he can’t go, rookie WR Brian Quick should see more snaps after catching his first TD pass last week. DE Eugene Sims (knee), S Darian Stewart (knee) and LB Mario Haggan (thigh) all were limited in practice Thursday.
Inside stuff: QBs have posted a 51.7 passer rating when throwing at Rams CB Bradley Fletcher. That’s the seventh-lowest rating in the league. … Rookie CB Janoris Jenkins and rookie WR Chris Givens, who were suspended for last week’s game after they violated team rules, will play Sunday. … Richardson averages 3.3 yards after contact, sixth-best in the NFL.
Connections: Rams OC Brian Schottenheimer held the same position with the Jets from 2006-11. … Five Rams formerly played for the Jets: QB Kellen Clemens, RB Terrance Ganaway, LT Wayne Hunter, C Robert Turner and TE Matthew Mulligan.
Stats you should know: DE Robert Quinn has six sacks in his last four home games, 8.5 sacks in his last nine games overall. ... The Jets have totaled 16 points the past two games. … Rams QB Sam Bradford has completed 66.9 percent of his passes over the last four games. … Amendola is averaging 7.2 catches.
Looking ahead: The Rams play a pair of divisional foes next, visiting reeling Arizona before hosting the 49ers. St. Louis is 2-0-1 in the division, 1-5 outside it.
Prediction: Rams 23, Jets 17
Get more Rams updates and analysis from Larry Hartstein @CBSRams.
