PRO FOOTBALL: Rams 16, Kansas City Chiefs 0 : RAM NOTEBOOK : Bettis Gets His Game Back on Right Track

Ram tailback Jerome Bettis rarely got the ball in the second half the past two weeks, when the Rams were throwing to catch up with Atlanta and San Francisco.

But that changed Sunday in the Rams’ 16-0 victory over Kansas City on Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium.

Playing in pouring rain in the second half, the Rams turned to Bettis to protect a 13-0 halftime lead. He carried the ball 21 times in the second half for 78 yards.

“(Quarterback) Chris Chandler showed some great poise,” Kansas City defensive end Neil Smith said. “But the game wasn’t in his hands. It was in Bettis’ hands.”

Bettis rushed for 132 yards in 35 carries, his third consecutive game of more than 100 yards and the 10th of his career.

His 35 carries were second only to his team-record 39, against Chicago last season. The Rams are 3-7 in games that Bettis has rushed for 100 yards or more.

Bettis left the game in the second quarter with a right thigh bruise sustained when he was hit by Chief safety David Whitmore. Bettis returned on the Rams’ next possession.

“He caught me on the hip,” Bettis said. “I had to go out for a while and work the pain out.”

After playing against Bettis, Smith compared him to former Houston back Mike Rozier, who played at Nebraska just before Smith played there.

“Bettis reminds me a lot of Rozier, the way he takes care of the ball in traffic,” Smith said. “He’s an All-Pro and he’s going to be around for a long, long time.”

Then Smith paused.

“But I don’t know how long if they keep giving him the ball like that,” he said.

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Smith appeared to be winded in the second half after twice blowing by Ram rookie Wayne Gandy, who had replaced veteran Jackie Slater for a while at right tackle.

What was Smith’s impression of Gandy?

“Once the Rams got control of the game,” Smith said, “they could have had anyone in there.”

Slater, 40, a 19-year veteran, played in his 250th game Sunday, tying him with Pat Leahy for fifth on the all-time list.

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Injury report: Chuck Belin, playing his first regular-season NFL game, replaced left guard Leo Goeas, who hurt his left ankle. X-rays of Goeas’ ankle were negative but he left the locker room on crutches. . . . X-rays also were negative on linebacker Roman Phifer’s dislocated elbow.