The Rams had to punt the ball back to the Redskins after getting confused on third down and allowing linebacker Rocky McIntosh to sprint to Marc Bulger untouched.

Bulger is getting pummeled in this game. Will he make it to the fourth quarter in one piece?

The Redskins marched on the Rams again, with Jason Campbell spreading the ball around to multiple pass targets: Mike Sellers, Malcolm Kelly, Clinton Portis and Chris Cooley.

Campbell scrambled up the middle for a 14-yard gain, then wide receiver Santana Moss burned Rams cornerback Ron Bartell for a 21-yard reception.

Again, though, the Redskins stalled in the red zone. The Rams caught a break when Sellers dropped a would-be TD pass coming out of the backfield.

So Washington settled for another field goal and a 6-0 lead.

Rams running back Steven Jackson finally broke loose for a 61-yard run . . . but, remember, these are the Rams. Receiver Donnie Avery committed one of the ultimate stupid penalties, pushing Redskins defender DeAngelo Hall from behind at the very end of the run.

Nice.

The Rams tried to overcome that blunder, though, but getting the yards back. Bulger continued to feed Jackson on the ground and through the air.

Laurent Robinson made a nifty adjustment to caught Bulger’s third-down pass in the red zone. That gave the Rams a first-and-goal opportunity at the Washington 5.

After McMichael dropped a would-be TD pass (albeit in heavy traffic) on first down, Jackson plowed to the Redskins 2 on second down.

Then Bulger lofted a fade pattern pass to Robinson FOR AN ACTUAL RAMS TOUCHDOWN. With an impressive 84-yard drive, the Rams took a 7-6 lead.

Now this is how this West Coast-style offense is supposed to work. Robinson rewarded GM Billy Devaney’s faith and looked like a real No. 1 receiver.  Bulger was accurate when he had time and Jackson finally started running downhill against the physical Washington defense.

Tthe Redskins tried to counter. Campbell worked the ball to Chris Cooley (who else?) for a first down to keep the last Washington possession of the half alive.

Campbell converted his next third down, too, connecting with Antwaan Randle El on a sideline pass. Malcolm Kelly’s catch and run earned another first down and got the ball out of bounds.

Then O.J. Atogwe forced a post-reception fumble by Santana Moss with another of his trademark big plays. The officials on the field got it wrong, but the automatic replay review (less than two minutes left in the half) verified the Atogwe’s takeaway.

A holding penalty on left tackle Alex Barron killed whatever chance the Rams had to move back into field goal range before halftime.

But Steve Spanguolo had to be pleased with the first half, which ended with fans booing the home team. The Rams made big stops in the red zone, then got a huge takeaway to keep the Redskins from converting all their yardage (214 in one half) into a lead.