RAMS 27, DENVER BRONCOS 21 : RAM NOTEBOOK : Drayton Upset Over Limited Role

Frustrated with his role in the offense, tight end Troy Drayton sounded off on the Rams’ coaching staff Sunday for their play-calling on three downs from the Denver one-yard line in their 27-21 victory over the Broncos.

Drayton was upset the Rams didn’t run a pass play and instead ran tailback Jerome Bettis three consecutive times in the fourth quarter.

Drayton threw his helmet and was visibly upset after Bettis failed to score on third down and the field goal unit came on to the field. Tony Zendejas’ 18-yard kick gave the Rams a 27-14 lead.

“Everyone in the stadium knew Jerome was going to get it,” Drayton said. “I wanted them to throw the ball because Denver was blitzing and they stacked so many men around the ball and they weren’t concerned with the pass.”

Drayton, who has caught a team-high four touchdown passes this season, has complained the past two seasons about not having a bigger role in the game plan. He caught three passes for 37 yards Sunday, including a 20-yarder from Chandler.

Considered one of the team’s best receivers, Drayton is often taken off the field on passing downs so the Rams can use four wide receivers in their shotgun formation.

“My job isn’t just to be a pain in the butt to the coaching staff,” Drayton said. “In the heat of battle, I want the ball in my hands . . . There’s just not enough balls to go around. There’s nothing I can do about that, it’s up to the coaching staff.”

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Quarterback controversy? What quarterback controversy? Chandler is 2-1 as the Rams’ starting quarterback in place of Chris Miller, and Chandler hinted after Sunday’s game that he might have the job for good.

“I thought I played really well,” Chandler said. “I went out and did my deal.

“I like to play. I hope to play. That’s (Coach Chuck) Knox’s call, but I feel really good about the way I played.”

Miller has been the team’s starting quarterback most of the season, but Chandler’s name appears on the NFL’s Pro Bowl ballot that was distributed to fans at Sunday’s game.

According to the Rams’ public relations staff, the team submitted Chandler’s name, not Miller’s, after Chandler started against Kansas City and led the Rams to a 16-0 victory. Miller started three of the next four games before a concussion sidelined him in the second half of the New Orleans game.

Times Staff Writer Mike Penner contributed to this report