Home Crowd Finally Treated to a Victory

ST. LOUIS —  The St. Louis Rams took out more than a year of frustration on the New York Jets.

The Rams forced five turnovers in a 30-10 victory over the Jets on Sunday that ended their eight-game losing streak at the Trans World Dome.

They hadn’t won at home since Sept. 21, 1997, a 13-3 victory over the New York Giants.

“Everybody was telling us we were going to get murdered,” free safety Keith Lyle said. “We were sick of losing.”

All of the eight losses were close, with a combined differential of 48 points. Close or not, the Rams’ loyal fan base had begun to wane, with 9,499 no-shows preventing the team’s 28th consecutive sellout.

“These people are . . . deserving,” Coach Dick Vermeil said. “It’s nice to get them a victory.”

Amp Lee, playing a prominent role at running back because of injuries, ran for two touchdowns, and St. Louis (2-3) kept its errors to a minimum.

“He’s been wanting the rock,” running backs coach Wilbert Montgomery said. “Today, he got the opportunity, and he capitalized.”

Jet quarterback Glenn Foley, sidelined the previous two games with a rib-cage injury, had a miserable day. Foley was five for 15 for 76 yards with two interceptions, each of which led to a St. Louis touchdown.

Coach Bill Parcells replaced Foley in favor with Vinny Testaverde with 3:13 to go in the third quarter and the Jets (2-3) trailing 23-3.

Testaverde didn’t do much better, going nine for 18 for 96 yards and another big turnover. Roman Phifer forced a fumble on a flea-flicker attempt and D’Marco Farr returned the ball 16 yards to the 12, setting up Lee’s second touchdown on fourth and inches that made it 30-3 with 14:22 left.

Parcells said he didn’t know who would start next Monday night at New England. Testaverde has been the starter for both victories.

Lee, the Rams’ third-down back, scored his first rushing touchdowns since Dec. 3, 1995, when he played for Minnesota. He got every-down status after Robert Holcombe strained his Achilles’ tendon and Jerald Moore hurt his shoulder, even though both eventually returned. Lee finished with 53 yards in nine carries, and had six catches for 62 yards.

The Jets played without leading rusher Curtis Martin, sidelined with with a thigh injury after successive 100-yard games.