RAM WEREN’T KEARSED SUNDAY

Despite the late fireworks, one of the keys to the Ram victory was their win in the trenches, where tackle Fred Miller, with help from other linemen, shut down celebrated Titan Jevon Kearse.

Kearse, who had 14 1/2 sacks this season, had none Sunday, and added only four tackles with two pass deflections.

“I knew the team was counting on me to stop the, but I also knew I wouldn’t have to do it by myself,� Miller said.

“That was the key, we didn’t put it all on my shoulders.�

Often, Miller would block Kearse into guard Adam Timmerman, who would then push him into center Mike Gruttadauria.

SHOULD THIS BE HIS PRIMARY CONCERN?

While President Bill Clinton phoned the Rams afterward, it was only Vice President Al Gore who phoned the Titans.

Since Clinton sometimes calls both teams after big games--like after the national championship college football game earlier this month--Gore must still be stumping for votes from his home state of Tennessee for November’s presidential election.

“He just wanted to let us know how proud he was on behalf of the entire state of Tennessee,� Titan Coach Jeff Fisher said.

Yep, still stumping.

YOU’VE GOT TO HAVE FAITH

It is hoped that the NFL learned a lesson during the national anthem, and will never again pair a country music singer with bagpipe players.

Faith Hill sounded as if she was singing underneath a taxiing airplane.

It is also hoped that the next time the NFL uses giant blow-up players to represent each team before the game, it remembers that more than 70 percent of the league’s players are African American.

On Sunday, both of the blowup players were distinctly white.