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LANDOVER, Md. - The fans booed another third-down failure. The field goal unit came on. The kick was good. The marching band dutifully played "Hail to the Redskins," as it does after every score.

Few felt like singing along, even though the home team now had the lead.

If there's such a thing as a demoralizing win, the Washington Redskins got one on Sunday. They couldn't even score a touchdown in a 9-7 win over the St. Louis Rams, a team that was supposed to be an early season pushover, and a popular veteran offensive lineman appears done for the season.

"We won in such an ugly fashion," cornerback DeAngelo Hall said. "You don't even really take pride in the win."

The Redskins outgained the Rams by more than 100 yards and dominated time of possession by nearly 10 minutes, but four drives of 60-plus yards stalled inside the 10-yard line. When the Rams actually led 7-6 at the half, there was a deja vu feeling in the stadium: St. Louis came in as two-touchdown underdogs last year and won 19-17.

"Last year this is the team that beat us, the team that really broke our season," quarterback Jason Campbell said. "This year, we came out on the other side of it. Was it pretty? It wasn't pretty at all. But you learn from it and you move on."

Shaun Suisham kicked field goals of 21, 28 and 23 yards for the Redskins (1-1), who finally put the game away with a 78-yard drive late in the game. They failed to convert a fourth-and-1 at the 2 with less than 2 minutes to play, but the Rams (0-2) -- having long ago wasted all of their timeouts -- were left with too far to go and not enough time to get there.

The Rams have lost 12 straight, but at least they were more competitive than they were a week earlier, when they lost 28-0 to Seattle in coach Steve Spagnuolo's debut.

"Every loss is a '10' as far as frustration," Rams defensive end Chris Long said.

The Redskins also took a hit to their thin offensive line. Right guard Randy Thomas hurt his right triceps in the first half, an injury that appears serious. He was to be evaluated Monday, but his teammates spoke as if he won't be playing again this year.

"Other guys have to step up, and we have to help them along the way," Campbell said.

The Rams were set to take the lead early in the fourth quarter when Donnie Avery, trying to reach the first-down marker after a third-down catch, had the ball stripped by safety Chris Horton at the 7-yard line.

"DB made a good play on the ball," Avery said. "I know better than that. Should have had it high and tight. It's all on me. I lost it for the team."

After the fumble, the teams exchanged punts. The Redskins then ate up the clock with a drive starting from their own 20. Clinton Portis converted a fourth-and-1 at the Rams 20, but couldn't find a hole when fourth-and-1 arose again at the 2.

St. Louis took over, but Bulger threw four straight incomplete passes.

Steven Jackson finished with 104 yards rushing on 17 carries for the Rams, including a 58-yard run that set up a touchdown pass to Laurent Robinson that gave St. Louis a 7-6 lead in the second quarter.

The Redskins, meanwhile, had potential touchdown passes dropped by Devin Thomas and Mike Sellers as part of their red zone troubles. Coach Jim Zorn took responsibility, saying he needs to call the right plays, but Campbell cited something different.

"A lot of it just has to do with attitude," Campbell said, "and the mentality that we're going to score."

NOTES: Campbell sprained his ankle in the second quarter but did not miss a snap. ... Rams C Jason Brown made amends for recent remarks critical of Redskins DT Albert Haynesworth's conditioning. "I apologized and asked him for forgiveness after the game," Brown said. Brown left the game in the first quarter with a right MCL injury, but he returned in the second quarter. Haynesworth's most noteworthy play was a batted pass on St. Louis' final drive. ... Bulger (1,861) passed Jim Everett (1,847) as the Rams' career leader in pass completions.

Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved.

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