Jackson keeps Rams in running

Steven Jackson capped an impressive day with a 21-yard touchdown run in overtime, Marc Bulger tied his career best with four touchdown passes and the beleaguered St. Louis Rams defense made a big play in regulation to beat the Washington Redskins, 37-31, Sunday at the Edward Jones Dome.

St. Louis has won two straight after losing seven of the previous eight, keeping alive its faint NFC playoff hopes.

Jackson had 150 yards in 33 carries and six catches for 102 yards, a day that made him the Rams’ first 2,000-yard man since Marshall Faulk in 2001. Jackson transformed a short pass over the middle into a 64-yard scoring reception in the third quarter to begin the comeback from a 28-14 deficit.

For the season, he has 88 catches, breaking the franchise record that Faulk set in 1999, and Jackson is the only Rams player to get 100 yards rushing and receiving in a game.

“With a better record, people would be talking about him like they’re talking about these other guys for MVP,” Rams Coach Scott Linehan said.

Jackson’s only mistake, a fumble after a five-yard catch, allowed the Redskins to tie it on Shaun Suisham’s career-best 52-yard field goal with 3:21 left.

The Rams (7-8) missed a chance to wrap it up in regulation when Jeff Wilkins was wide left on a 41-yard field-goal attempt as time expired.

Washington squandered an opportunity when the Rams’ O.J. Atogwe took the ball away from the Redskins’ Ladell Betts after a 25-yard gain by Betts. Corey Chavous recovered at the St. Louis 12-yard line with 2:02 left in regulation.

“You never want to look at one play and say that’s the reason why you lost the game,” Betts said. “But it’s tough when you’re in a situation where we’re trying to score, we have a chance to take the lead and hopefully put the game away.”

Betts tied a franchise record with his fifth consecutive 100-yard rushing game for the Redskins (5-10).

The Rams had 579 yards total offense, the most since a 614-yard day on Oct. 1, 2000.