Hard Time for Chris Tandem : Football: Each week, one of the Ram quarterbacks gets battered and confused. Raider game was no exception.

It was another round of tag-team quarterbacks for the Rams. Sunday, it was Chris Chandler’s turn to get tagged.

There he was, having one of the best afternoons of his career. Chandler was carrying the team on his back. Then he was flat on it and it was Chandler who was being carried . . . off the field.

He left late in the second quarter, after the Raiders’ Chester McGlockton ground Chandler’s already tender left ankle into the Anaheim Stadium turf.

In came out-patient Chris Miller, still somewhat groggy from his previous early exits. By the time he warmed up, the Raiders were in control. In the end, the Rams had lost their quarterback and the game, 20-17. It was the fourth time this season the Rams’ starting quarterback didn’t finish because of injuries.

“Maybe it’s because we’re both named Chris or something like that,” Miller said. “I don’t know anyone else who is playing musical quarterbacks off the top of my head.”

Of course, anything off the top of Miller’s head may be a little suspect. After all, concussions have knocked him out of games against San Francisco and New Orleans this season.

Those problems lingered. Miller had more head examinations Wednesday. The results showed that he had a case of whiplash, the dull thud from which lingered through Sunday’s game.

Not to worry, as Chandler was on target. He had completed 10 of 11 passes for 171 yards and a touchdown. He had the Rams on the Raider 15 when McGlockton and Nolan Harrison double-teamed him.

“I think they got him with the old high-low,” Miller said.

That’s the what you do against the Rams these days. You hit Miller high and Chandler low.

This is the second KO for Chandler. He left against Atlanta earlier this season because of a sprained ankle. The situations were all too similar.

--Chandler led the Rams to a victory over Kansas City. Optimism was high, as the Rams looked to win consecutive games for the first time since 1991. Then the Falcons got to Chandler and the Rams lost two of three with Miller at quarterback.

--Then Miller was turned into a head case by the Saints. He suffered his second concussion of the seasons and the problems persisted. In stepped Chandler to lead the Rams to a victory over Denver and all that playoff talk began again.

The optimism remained high as halftime approached Sunday. Chandler threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to Flipper Anderson in the first quarter to tie the score. He was moving the Rams to another tying touchdown in the second quarter.

Then came McGlockton.

“I don’t understand why it has to happen,” Chandler said. “We were doing everything we wanted to do and doing them at will. It’s frustrating. It’s really, really frustrating. I don’t think I could have played any better the last two games and now this happens.”

While Chandler was looking for answers, Miller was looking for his touch.

“I saw Chris go down and got ready as quick as I could,” Miller said.

His first pass was on target to Isaac Bruce in the end zone, but defensive back Donald Frank batted the pass away at the last moment.

“When you’re thrown in there, it takes time to get used to the speed of the game,” said Chandler, who has his share of relief work. “You have to make quick reads and get the ball off fast. The more you’re in there, the slower the game seems.”

By the time Miller was up to speed, the Rams were down, 17-7. Miller was two of five for 17 yards by the end of the third quarter, as the Raiders kept the ball away from him with two long drives.

Miller finished 13 of 26 for 131 yards. He drove the Rams to a field goal and threw a late touchdown pass to Todd Kinchen. But between, he was intercepted by defensive back Terry McDaniel, which led to a Raider field goal and the difference in the game.

Chandler, who was on crutches in the second half, could only watch. He will be evaluated today. So Miller, until further notice, is the Ram quarterback, even if that’s not the safest of spots.

“It’s been bizarre,” Miller said. “We’ll try to stay healthy in the future.”

Considering the past, even if Chandler is not be ready to start next Sunday, he better be ready to play.