Steven Jackson has another big game as the St. Louis Rams falter vs. Jets

For the second game in a row, Sunday, Steven Jackson found himself in a familiar role he hadn't visited for a while: The only functioning part of a St. Louis Rams' offense that at times was so incompetent as to defy description. A week after his first 100-yard game of the season in the Rams' fumbling tie against the San Francisco 49ers, Jackson carried the ball 13 times for 81 yards in a 27-13 loss against the New York Jets.

For what it's worth, he was even better than that sounds--he stopped carrying the ball once the Rams' incompetence forced them to go to a struggling Sam Bradford 44 times. For the exclusive benefit of people in point-per-reception leagues, he also caught the ball two times for five yards.

It's hard to say Jackson is back, exactly, but he's certainly around. Both problems that seemed existential a month ago--his mediocre performance and the Rams' reluctance to give him the ball--have been nowhere in evidence of late, even as the Rams' offense has fallen to pieces.

Or maybe especially as the Rams' offense has fallen to pieces. Given his familiarity with this state of affairs, it could be that that's just how Steven Jackson likes it.