RAMS ARE DREGS OF DEPARTEES; RAIDERS' GEORGE ENJOYS FOUR-TD DAY BEFORE SO-SO CROWD : OAKLAND 35, ST. LOUIS 17.

Byline: Gary Washburn Daily News Staff Writer

There was only one thing certain on Sunday. The Oakland Raiders are a better 2-3 team than the St. Louis Rams.

This matchup of Los Angeles escapees was not highly anticipated and it was evident Los Angeles fans haven't missed much in the Rams and Raiders' three-year absence.

The Raiders scored 28 consecutive points and ran away with a 35-17 win in front of a less-than-sellout 42,506 at the Oakland Coliseum.

And the argument that moving to a more lucrative city would aid in rebuilding both franchises was doused by the same tendencies that haunted both teams in their L.A. tenures.

Rams quarterback Tony Banks, looking a lot like Dieter Brock, Chris Miller or many other subpar quarterbacks in Rams history, threw three awful interceptions that practically handed the Raiders the game.

Jeff George took advantage, throwing for four touchdowns, and running back Napoleon Kaufman added 162 yards as the Raiders won convincingly for the first time this season.

While the Rams made mistakes on the field, the Raiders could not draw a sellout, blocking the game from local television. After Oakland fell behind 14-0, fans began booing. The enthusiasm for this season is decreasing after three last-minute losses. While the die-hards are in abundance - one was dressed in full Raiders gear, including an outdated Howie Long jersey and 1970s helmet - that has not meant profit in Oakland.

The Raiders' return to Oakland has not met expectations, especially with the average Bay Area fan. The San Francisco 49ers, who sell out every game, took Oakland's mystique during the Raiders' 12-year absence. The Raiders haven't helped local support by missing the playoffs in their first two seasons back in Oakland.

Despite drawing 20,520 under capacity on Sunday, former L.A. Raiders insist the atmosphere is more positive up north.

``In L.A. we were one of many teams: the Lakers, Clippers, Dodgers,'' said free safety Eddie Anderson, who played eight years in L.A. ``But here we're the only game in town (Oakland) and the people really care about the Raiders. The Los Angeles Raiders, that just didn't sound right.''

Neither team has made the playoffs since leaving Los Angeles. So it might be that personnel had as much to do with organizational troubles as the laid-back L.A. conditions. The Raiders are two coaches removed from Art Shell and have spent millions of dollars on high-priced free agents. St. Louis owner Georgia Frontiere plucked 60-year-old Dick Vermeil to lead the Rams in the right direction and only eight current players remain from the Los Angeles teams.

Vermeil's sticking with Banks as his starting quarterback. But all three interceptions - two caught by former UCLA safety Eric Turner - were nowhere close to intended receivers. After scoring two touchdowns in 3:29 in the second quarter, the Rams reverted to old form.

A costly roughing-the-passer penalty on St. Louis lineman Jeff Zgonina that nullified an interception by Keith Lyle was a crucial play. George, wobbled by the hit, shook it off and three plays later passed to James Jett for the Raiders' first score.

``We came here with the idea to try an improve and become a three-dimensional football team,'' Vermeil said. ``We are not a good enough football team to overcome penalties like that. We played well for a while, then we made mistakes. We have some people open to make big plays and they did not make them.''

George's response from Zgonina's hit seemed to fuel the Raiders, who could not afford a 1-4 start if they are to catch undefeated Denver in the AFC West. Rickey Dudley and James Jett each caught two touchdown passes and a 15-point third-quarter sealed it for the Raiders.

So the game's importance overshadowed the matchup of former L.A. NFL teams. Tim Brown, popular as an L.A. and Oakland Raider, said the team has not thought about leavin`g L.A. since 1995, its first season in Oakland.

``I like playing here because the fans really support you, even for games like this,'' said Brown, who caught four passes for 56 yards. ``In L.A. we would get the big crowds for the big games, but they were pretty laid back other than that. There's a big difference between here and the L.A. Coliseum.''

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Photo

Photo: (color) Raiders quarterback Jeff George enjoyed a fine day, but the Rams' Tony Banks wasn't on target.

Associated Press