Ram Notebook : Lansford Not Pleased With This 2-for-2 Performance

Ram kicker Mike Lansford said he never has hit two different uprights with two different field goal attempts in the same game.

The first attempt Sunday hit the right one.

“I tried to compensate after hitting the first one,” he said. “I guess I overcompensated and hit the left one. Although those two plays cost us 6 points and we didn’t lose by that margin, I think the kicks changed the momentum of the game.”

Either the Raiders or the Seattle Seahawks at 6-6 will share first place with the Broncos after tonight’s game. Unless . . .

“I’d like to see a tie,” Denver Coach Dan Reeves said. “Five quarters and a tie. Other than that, I don’t really care. Actually, it doesn’t make a difference. We’ve got our work cut out for us and that’s all we have to worry about. I think we are capable.”

With one of the Three Amigos hurt--that being wide receiver Ricky Nattiel--the Broncos had no choice but to elevate Mark Jackson to starter status.

After Sunday’s game, he might be there to stay.

Jackson caught 6 passes for 140 yards and 2 touchdowns. He broke the tackle of Ram cornerback Jerry Gray on one score and slipped past cornerback LeRoy Irvin on another. It was a game to cherish, all right, though you wouldn’t know it by Jackson’s postgame remarks.

“I expected more action because of Ricky’s injury,” he said, “and I hope to earn a permanent spot.”

Jackson’s receiving yardage was a career high for him. And don’t think the other Broncos didn’t notice.

“He’s amazing,” Reeves said. “Today was no exception. Mark looks for the big play. He gets open. Before the game, he must have dropped 3 passes in a row. He absolutely couldn’t catch the ball. He was upset. Then he comes out and has a super day.”

Said receiver Vance Johnson: “I think Mark’s our best receiver. We all get lots of playing time and I hope that if Mark gets a starting job, he doesn’t get mine.”

Ram wide receiver Henry Ellard did well for himself Sunday. He caught 11 passes for 167 yards and 2 touchdowns. He also became involved in a bit of a historical mix-up.

For whatever reason, the postgame notes distributed by the Broncos listed Ellard as the first player in Ram annals to reach the 1,000-yard mark. Actually, it’s been done 8 other times.

Ellard, who now has 1,116 yards after 13 games, even was caught unaware of the mistake.

Asked about the 1,000-yard club, he said:

“It’s a great honor to become the first Rams receiver to catch passes for more than 1,000 yards. But the loss takes a lot of the room for celebration away. It’s not as much fun when you lose, despite the individual achievements.”

Notes

The Rams held Bronco tailback Tony Dorsett to just 21 yards in 8 carries. The Broncos, in fact, had only 98 yards rushing as a team. . . . The Broncos sacked Ram quarterback Jim Everett twice for 13 yards.