Well, at least it was a close game. In a season where expectations are as low as they can be, the Rams didn't have Sunday's game against Miami lost by halftime.


Of course, there's something else the Rams didn't have, and that was a touchdown. On an afternoon where it was illustrated just how important running back Steven Jackson is to this football team, the Rams still came up empty when it came to touchdowns.


For the season, the Rams have scored just 12 offensive touchdowns in 12 games, and they have scored one six-pointer in the last four games. And that touchdown came in the second half against San Francisco when the game was essentially over.


Quarterback Marc Bulger, who threw two bad interceptions in the second half, is trying to operate an offense that features receivers that can't get open. Tight end Daniel Fells looks like a player that can be developed, and that should also be the case for wide receivers Donnie Avery, Keenan Burton and Derek Stanley.


For now, their sloppy route-running makes Bulger look bad within an offense that needs everything to be precision-like for there to be any chance for production.


The story Sunday was the return of Jackson, an improved defense helped by the offense that at least put together some drives, which kept the defense off the field, and Bulger's three second-half interceptions.


The return of Jackson provided a spark and showed how important he is to the team's success. Jackson had played only sparingly in one of the previous four blowout losses as he battled a quadriceps injury.


Asked about Jackson's impact on the team, Bulger said, “I think it was quite evident when he was in there. That first half, he was really rolling. Any little hole he hit with such authority and arm tackles won’t bring him down, getting six or seven yards on first down. It’s nice to have him back and it will be better to have him for four quarters eventually.”


Jackson shared snaps with Antonio Pittman and Kenneth Darby, and was expected to have about 15 carries. He had that many by halftime, gaining 72 yards. He had just six attempts in the second half.


Afterward, Jackson said, “The leg is just a little tight, sore, all of the things that the doctor said to expect is definitely what I’m feeling. I just have to ice it tonight and make sure that it doesn’t swell up on me like what happened a couple of weeks ago when I tried to go. I feel we're definitely going in the right direction.”


Of course, that direction was on the sideline at the end of the game. Coach Jim Haslett said Jackson was "gassed" and added, "His leg started to bother him. We told him before the game to go as far as you could go and then we will play the other guys."


However, Jackson didn't agree. "No, I wasn't gassed," he said. "It wasn't my conditioning. I wish he'd stop saying that."


Jackson's presence will be important for the Rams to break out of their offensive shell and have some success in the red zone. After having touches on the first five offensive plays of the game, he wasn't in the game on first down from the Miami 5-yard line, a drive that was helped by two pass interference penalties for 31 yards.


After gaining two yards on three plays, the Rams settled for the first of kicker Josh Brown's four field goals.


Said Haslett, "Our problem is that we have to score touchdowns. It has been that way all year in the red zone. I am not sure what the answer is, we will keep researching and trying to get it done. We are not really good right now in the red zone. You are not going to win kicking field goals in this league, you have to score touchdowns."


At least by running efficiently, the Rams used the clock and controlled the ball for 31:47, which helped keep their defense off the field. The defense allowed just 327 total yards after a four-week stretch in which opponents averaged over 276 yards a game in the first half.


Said safety Oshiomogho Atogwe, "We did a lot of good things that you have to take and build from. Going into next week’s game and the rest of the season, you have a better foundation rather than saying we lost or we suck. We played well and we put ourselves in a position to win and that is what we have to keep doing.”


Said defensive end Chris Long, “We certainly can’t hang our heads as much as we did the past couple weeks. The past couple weeks were just chokes for us. We had to put the blame squarely on our shoulders the past couple weeks especially out front feeling like we can’t stop the run. This week it got a little better."


The special teams were solid, and the Rams committed only five penalties for 30 yards, including a bogus offensive pass interference call on wide receiver Torry Holt that had a major effect on the game.


The Rams were trailing 13-9 when they moved from their own 26 to the Miami 31. On first down, Bulger hit Holt for about 18 yards to the 13-yard line, but Holt was whistled for the penalty. That brought the ball back to the 41, where on 2nd-and-20 Bulger threw his first interception of the game.


Now, the Rams have three straight division games, starting with Arizona on the road this week, followed by the final two home games of the season against Seattle and San Francisco.


How these games play out could decide the fate of Haslett, and his potential future as the team's head coach.


Said kicker Josh Brown, "We just (have to) put a game together. Today felt like a good step for us because we played as a team and that was the first time in a while that we’ve played that way. Hopefully that will carry over. We have 28 days left of football. Four games left to accomplish some wins. That’s basically what it is. We’ve got a four-week job interview."


SIMPLY NOTING
*Rookie offensive lineman John Greco played right guard for a little more than a half, replacing Richie Incognito, who left with what Haslett described as "light-headedness." Doctors wouldn't clear Incognito to return.


*Left tackle Orlando Pace started and played on a bad knee that was originally supposed to keep him out two-to-four games, but he missed just one. ... Rookie David Vobora started at middle linebacker and seemed to hang in well. Will Witherspoon, who has labrum tears in both shoulders, played in passing situations.


*Others playing with injuries included defensive end Leonard Little (torn hamstring), defensive tackles Adam Carriker (ankle) and La'Roi Glover (knee) and linebacker Gary Stills (back). Said Haslett, "I felt we played hard. I appreciate those guys going out there and giving everything they had. We have a bunch of guys who are beat up with nicks and bruises. You can hang your hat on one thing, those guys went out and competed and fought through all of the adversary and injuries that they had.”