PRO FOOTBALL: Rams 16, Kansas City Chiefs 0 : Chiefs’ Montana Has Game to Forget : Football: Ram defense gives him problems as Kansas City is shut out.

They were statistics you expected from a Ram quarterback on a typical Sunday afternoon.

Three interceptions, 18 completions in 37 attempts, no touchdowns and no victory.

So who was responsible for this mess Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium?

It wasn’t the Rams’ Chris Miller, who was on the sideline nursing rib and shoulder injuries.

Nor was it Miller’s replacement, Chris Chandler, who got a victory in his first Ram start.

No, the responsible party was none other than Kansas City quarterback Joe Montana.

Led by Robert Young and Sean Gilbert, the Ram pass rush shut out Montana for the first time in his 16-year NFL career as the Rams beat the Chiefs, 16-0.

“It’s no big deal,” Montana said of the shutout.

But it was to the Rams, who were 7-12 lifetime against the San Francisco 49ers with Montana was their quarterback, including an 0-9 record against him at Anaheim Stadium.

It was Montana’s first loss in eight games in Arrowhead Stadium since he was traded from the 49ers to the Chiefs in 1992.

It also was the first time more than two Montana passes were intercepted in a game since a 28-17 49er loss to the Rams on Nov. 25, 1990.

“Offensively, we did nothing all day,” Montana said.

Sunday’s loss capped a miserable week for Montana and the Chiefs, who had beaten three NFC West teams to start the season--New Orleans, San Francisco and Atlanta.

More than 20 Kansas City players were struck by a virus during the week, including Montana, who received intravenous fluids Sunday before the game to battle the flu-like symptoms.

“I’m fine,” said Montana, who had a four-inch bandage on his right cheek to cover a gash he suffered during the game. “Friday I had the chills, but nothing today.”

Still, Montana got off to a rough start against a Rams’ defensive line that was persistent in its pursuit.

After getting hit three times early, Montana, under a heavy rush from Young, tossed a wobbling pass toward the sideline that was nowhere near a receiver, but was right in the hands of Ram linebacker Roman Phifer.

The turnover set up a 23-yard field goal by Tony Zendejas that pushed the Rams’ lead to 13-0.

“That was stupid,” Montana said of the pass. “I should have thrown that ball into the ground, but I was trying to throw it over him, out of bounds.”

And it was a play indicative of how Montana’s afternoon would shape up. This time, there was no Montana magic, no last-second, game-winning drives that still haunt Anaheim Stadium.

With the Chiefs trailing, 13-0, in the third quarter, he killed a drive at the Chiefs’ 34 when he recovered his own fumble on third and 10.

Montana had only 81 yards passing entering the fourth quarter, but put together two drives in the fourth quarter that ended in turnovers.

He threw a line drive over the middle that strong safety Marquez Pope intercepted at the Rams’ goal line with five minutes 41 seconds left.

Rookie safety Keith Lyle ended the final drive when he intercepted Montana in the end zone with 3:23 left.

“A couple of times I was trying to work the other side of the field and the guy on the other side was open,” Montana said. “It was one of those days where the other guy was always open.”

Montana didn’t get much help from his receivers, who dropped at least four balls and will never be confused with Jerry Rice or John Taylor.

“Are you sure Joe didn’t find the right guy today?” wide receiver Willie Davis said. “Are you sure? Are you sure? Are you sure it wasn’t because he didn’t have time to throw? That someone was in his face all day?”

Gilbert recorded his first sack of the season when he leveled Montana for a nine-yard loss in the first half. Young tipped two Montana passes and was an arm’s length away from sacking him all day.

“The Rams have a very, very good front four and we knew that coming in,” Kansas City Coach Marty Schottenheimer said. “They’re big and they created a lot of problems for Joe in the pocket.

“They played a zone defense in the secondary, two and three deep. And with their good pass rush, we couldn’t get anything going.”