Bettis Eyes Rushing, Rookie Honors : Pro football: Browns can expect to see Ram running back often today in an otherwise meaningless game at Anaheim Stadium.

The Rams and the Cleveland Browns will play a meaningless game today before a small crowd in Anaheim Stadium, but this doesn’t necessarily mean it will be lacking in intrigue:

--Will Jerome Bettis run for more than 100 yards for the fifth consecutive week?

--Will Bettis remain the league’s leading rusher or be hogtied by the Browns’ front seven--the strength of their team?

--Will Bettis threaten Eric Dickerson’s Ram record of 38 carries in a single game, or will Coach Chuck Knox allow T.J. Rubley to throw the ball occasionally?

Bettis, Bettis and more Bettis is what the Browns can expect to see unless they are successful in shutting down the NFL’s leading rusher, or score a lot of points.

Bettis ran for 124 yards last week against Cincinnati and did not play in the fourth quarter because the Bengals had established a 12-3 lead en route to a 15-3 victory.

“I think they’re going to try and make a statement that they can stop the run,” Bettis said. “They’re capable of doing that. The coaches know that, and I think we’re going to try and divert some of their attention from solely doing that. I hope.

“It’s going to be a true test. If we don’t get anything going early, it could be a tough day. We have to get on top of them.”

The Browns’ defense ranks 12th against the run and features defensive tackles Michael Dean Perry and Jerry Ball. Three times in 14 games, the Browns have allowed the opposition’s premier running back to gain more than 100 yards, with Houston’s Gary Brown accomplishing the feat twice.

Brown ran 34 times--most ever against the Browns in Cleveland history--for 194 yards in a 27-20 Oiler victory. Three weeks later, he ran 23 times for 109 yards against the Browns as Houston won, 19-17. Chris Warren of the Seattle Seahawks also topped the 100-yard mark against the Browns with 112.

“It’s going to be a deal where we’re really going to have to get some people blocked,” Knox said. “They have a stout defensive team. They’re big up front and their linebackers are very good.”

Bettis has a 62-yard lead on the Dallas Cowboys’ Emmitt Smith for the league rushing title and is competing with Seattle’s Rick Mirer and Washington’s Reggie Brooks for offensive rookie-of-the-year honors.

“I think everybody is rooting for (Bettis),” Knox said. “The offensive team would like to see him get the rushing title, rookie of the year, all those things.

“He’s done an outstanding job. One, because of the changes in the offensive line we’ve had, and two, with teams giving us a lot of different fronts, they have also given us a variety of alignments trying to confuse our new people. His performance is more remarkable because of that.

“The guy has also gotten a lot of yardage after first contact, and a lot of yardage after second contact. I mean, he’s an impact football player.”

Bettis has rushed for 1,227 yards, and much of it without the benefit of tackle Jackie Slater (shoulder injury) and Tom Newberry (knee injury). In the past four weeks, Bettis has piled up 584 rushing yards in 86 carries, an average gain of 6.8 yards.

“This is a good solid football team that we’re going to play, and they’re going to be ready to stop what we do best,” said Jim Erkenbeck, Ram offensive line coach. “We’re not going to fool anybody; we’re going to try and run the ball.”

Bettis’ toughest test in recent weeks came at Phoenix against a Cardinal defense that had stopped opponents from gaining big yardage on the ground. Bettis rushed 16 times for 115 yards.

“I think the guys the Browns have are a little bit quicker than the guys in Phoenix and get off blocks better,” Bettis said. “The Phoenix game was a rough game for us in the trenches, and I think this is going to be a battle just like that was. These guys can hit you and hit you good.”

The Browns (6-8) were eliminated from playoff contention a week ago, but in reality they threw away their season earlier when Coach Bill Belichick demanded that quarterback Bernie Kosar be released with the Browns 5-3 and tied with the Steelers for first place in the AFC Central Division.

After releasing Kosar and promoting Todd Philcox, the Browns collapsed. Vinny Testaverde replaced an ineffective Philcox, but since Kosar’s departure the Browns have lost five of six games.

“Offensively, you have to be concerned with Testaverde and you’ve got to be concerned with Eric Metcalf,” Knox said. “Here’s what they’re saying: Testaverde is playing better than he has in a long time. He has more touchdowns (12) than interceptions (nine). And the film I saw, he looked good.”

Testaverde will have the advantage of throwing the ball against the league’s 28th-ranked passing defense, which features Dexter Davis at cornerback for the Rams. The Browns, however, are expected to be without wide receiver Michael Jackson, who injured a knee. Jackson has 38 catches and eight touchdowns.

“It’s going to be a tough ball game for us,” Knox said. “We’re playing for respect, pride.

“They’re obviously going to be geared up to stop the run. We’re going to have to be successful throwing it some of the time, there’s no question about that.”

RAMS / TODAY’S GAME

* Opponent: Cleveland Browns.

* Site: Anaheim Stadium.

* Time: 1 p.m.

* Records: Rams 4-10, Browns 6-8.

* TV: None.

* Radio: KMPC (710).

* Rosters: C22.