Rams’ defense stuffs Seahawks, Jackson eclipses Faulk in 20-3 win over Seahawks

Rams’ defense stuffs Seahawks 20-3

ST. LOUIS — Sam Bradford left the field a winner again. And, the St. Louis Rams have their first two-game winning streak in two years.

Another big game from the unflappable No. 1 pick, a milestone day from gutty Steven Jackson and, perhaps most of all, a stout defense helped the Rams win consecutive games for the first time in two seasons by beating the Seattle Seahawks 20-3 on Sunday.

Bradford completed 23 of 41 passes with one interception as the Rams (2-2) ended a 10-game losing streak against Seattle and topped their win total from last year. St. Louis also won consecutive games for the first time since Weeks 5 and 6 of 2008 under interim head coach Jim Haslett.

The Rams sacked Matt Hasselbeck four times, had one interception and forced a fumble. St. Louis’ special teams bottled up returner Leon Washington, who had two touchdown returns last week.

Jackson, who passed Marshall Faulk for No. 2 on the Rams’ rushing list, was questionable with a groin injury that sidelined him for the second half of last week’s win. Jackson had 70 yards on 22 carries and three catches for 54 yards, including a 49-yarder before Kenneth Darby scored on a 21-yard screen pass.

Bradford was 23 for 41 for a season-best 289 with two touchdowns an interception to complement Jackson, who was sidelined for the second half last week when St. Louis halted a 14-game home losing streak. Jackson has 6,991 yards in seven seasons with the Rams and trails only Eric Dickerson, who had 7,245 yards from 1983-87.

The Seahawks peaked with a 14-play drive in the first half that stalled, leaving them with only a chip-shot field goal by Olindo Mare. The Rams foiled a fake 51-yard attempt near the end of the half when Darby ran down holder Jon Ryan on a would-be roll-out pass to John Carlson.

Seattle averaged 29 points during its 10-game streak over the Rams dating to 2005, but is 3-18 in its last 21 road games. Two of the victories came in St. Louis.

The Seahawks scored their fewest points since a 44-6 loss Oct. 5, 2008, at the New York Giants.

The Rams led 10-3 at the half, but missed a couple of chances in the second quarter that would have made it a much wider gap.

Brandon Fletcher’s interception return to the 3 was wasted on Earl Thomas’ end zone pick for Seattle, an errant throw that had a dismayed Bradford holding his helmet with both hands on his way to the sideline.

Notes: Rams CB Kevin Dockery injured his right hamstring in the third quarter after sustaining facial lacerations on the Seahawks’ foiled fake field goal in the half. … Seahawks LB Dexter Davis (hamstring) was sidelined in the second half. … The Rams last held an opponent to single-figure scoring in a 9-7 loss at Washington in Week 2 last season. … Seattle scored at least 23 points in all 10 of the victories in its streak against St. Louis.