Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

I'm not sure if this has been written about before, but the latest issue of Coffin Corner reminds me of this game: the Los Angeles Rams’ 20-13 loss to Minnesota in week 12 of 1969. Going into the game, the Rams had flattened the Vikings 39-13 and 31-3 in their previous two encounters, the latter in the snow in Minnesota. The Rams regular season record going into the game dating back to 1967 was 32-4-3, their record for the remainder of 1969 and 1970 was 9-7-1. Following the loss, Roman Gabriel noted that at least the Rams knew the Vikings were beatable, a curious discovery to make after a loss to a team they had previously dominated. Up to this point, the Rams had a reputation has being a good comeback team, able to pull victory from defeat in the closing minutes of games. They fell short in this game, and by season’s end they had acquired a new reputation as frontrunners. The following week the Rams went to Detroit to play another team they had handled easily in past years, only to be shut out 28-0. The trauma of losing to both teams carried over not only into the Rams’ playoff loss to the Vikings, but also into 1970 when Monday night losses to Minnesota and Detroit sank the Rams’ playoff hopes. In subsequent years, the Vikings continued to have the Rams’ number, defeating them in post-season in 1974, 1976, and 1977. It all began with the Vikings’ ending the Rams’ 11 game winning streak, a loss that had a real before and after impact on the team.

Gabe wrote:The trauma of losing to both teams carried over not only into the Rams’ playoff loss to the Vikings, but also into 1970 when Monday night losses to Minnesota and Detroit sank the Rams’ playoff hopes. In subsequent years, the Vikings continued to have the Rams’ number, defeating them in post-season in 1974, 1976, and 1977. It all began with the Vikings’ ending the Rams’ 11 game winning streak, a loss that had a real before and after impact on the team.

The more devastating of the losses to the Vikings was the playoff game. The Rams had dominated in the first half, holding a 17-7 lead, scoring on three of their four possessions. After the break, they slowly fell apart. Alan Page went from potential goat to hero: he was offside when Carl Eller had a pick-six that was called back, but then Page's own interception in the final minute clinched the 23-20 win.

While I agree that the Rsms’ ’69 playoff loss to the Vikings was devastating, I still see the earlier loss in week 12 as the watershed in the Rams’ change of fortunes. Prior to week 12, the Rams with their earlier regular season wins over previous league champions Colts and Packers, and also over the Cowboys, were referred to as all but the uncrowned NFL champion. Their loss to the Vikings changed that, and it appeared to have also taken the wind out of their sails. Of course, had the Rams held on in the second half of the playoff game to defeat the Vikings, the late season losing streak would have been largely forgotten. However, even with a comfortable halftime lead, the Rams came out looking over their shoulders waiting for the Vikings to catch them. As Tex Maule observed, both teams responded differently to adversity during the second half, the Vikings by getting angry and playing harder, and the Rams by playing scared. It’s as if the Rams could not shake the memory of their earlier regular season loss, while the Vikings retained the confidence they had acquired from that victory.

As a longtime Rams fan both articles in the Coffin Corner regarding the '69 season and playoff triggered memories of both games.

Todd Pence wrote:Cardinals loss to Redskins on final week of 1984 season.

Oilers loss to Browns on final week of 1989 season.

Hannifan, to his credit, had as good (respectable, at-least) a time under a pre-late-'00s Bidwell run organization as he could and, yes, that '84 finale drew the end to any more playoff-flirtations in StL 3-1 start in '85 notwithstanding.

As for the Houston Oilers...considering that they would still make the playoffs for another four-consectutive years now under Pardee, I IMHO would have to say no to '89 finale. Was going to mention the loss to Joe Cool's Chiefs in the '93 divisional round but this thread refers to regular-season losses. In that case, maybe it's the real close Week #2-loss to Dallas the following year (D frustrating Emmitt). However, I doubt they actually winning that one would butterfly-effect they to another playoff-run considering that they did finish 2-14 (1-9 start leading to Pardee's firing). Perhaps it's a win that ended up doing them in - the '93 finale/Buddy punching 'Bride. That's if you actually theorize that it's why they ended up losing to KC. I personally think it makes no difference; Chiefs win anyway. First off, you had Joe Cool as your QB. He beat Buddy in another classic (38-28, SI cover) four years earlier in Week #2. Second, Oilers for quite some time were having troubles advancing past divisional round anyway.

Gabe wrote:While I agree that the Rsms’ ’69 playoff loss to the Vikings was devastating, I still see the earlier loss in week 12 as the watershed in the Rams’ change of fortunes. Prior to week 12, the Rams with their earlier regular season wins over previous league champions Colts and Packers, and also over the Cowboys, were referred to as all but the uncrowned NFL champion. Their loss to the Vikings changed that, and it appeared to have also taken the wind out of their sails. Of course, had the Rams held on in the second half of the playoff game to defeat the Vikings, the late season losing streak would have been largely forgotten. However, even with a comfortable halftime lead, the Rams came out looking over their shoulders waiting for the Vikings to catch them. As Tex Maule observed, both teams responded differently to adversity during the second half, the Vikings by getting angry and playing harder, and the Rams by playing scared. It’s as if the Rams could not shake the memory of their earlier regular season loss, while the Vikings retained the confidence they had acquired from that victory.

As a longtime Rams fan both articles in the Coffin Corner regarding the '69 season and playoff triggered memories of both games.

It's not as if the Vikings were some team that got hot late in the season. They were 10-1 going into that game, and their one loss was a late collapse on Opening Day. They were also coming off the Thanksgiving shutout in Detroit.

The Rams were presumably shocked when Minny jumped out to a 14-0 lead--the first score being set up by Charlie West's 78-yard KO return on the opening kickoff.

74_75_78_79_ wrote:

Todd Pence wrote:Cardinals loss to Redskins on final week of 1984 season.

Oilers loss to Browns on final week of 1989 season.

Hannifan, to his credit, had as good (respectable, at-least) a time under a pre-late-'00s Bidwell run organization as he could and, yes, that '84 finale drew the end to any more playoff-flirtations in StL 3-1 start in '85 notwithstanding.

As for the Houston Oilers...considering that they would still make the playoffs for another four-consectutive years now under Pardee, I IMHO would have to say no to '89 finale. Was going to mention the loss to Joe Cool's Chiefs in the '93 divisional round but this thread refers to regular-season losses. In that case, maybe it's the real close Week #2-loss to Dallas the following year (D frustrating Emmitt). However, I doubt they actually winning that one would butterfly-effect they to another playoff-run considering that they did finish 2-14 (1-9 start leading to Pardee's firing). Perhaps it's a win that ended up doing them in - the '93 finale/Buddy punching 'Bride. That's if you actually theorize that it's why they ended up losing to KC. I personally think it makes no difference; Chiefs win anyway. First off, you had Joe Cool as your QB. He beat Buddy in another classic (38-28, SI cover) four years earlier in Week #2. Second, Oilers for quite some time were having troubles advancing past divisional round anyway.

I don't think you can count the 1994 Oilers because they replaced Warren Moon with Billy Joe Tolliver, Cody Carlson and Bucky Richardson, and there was no way they were going to succeed with any of them at QB.

74_75_78_79_ wrote:

Todd Pence wrote:Cardinals loss to Redskins on final week of 1984 season.

Oilers loss to Browns on final week of 1989 season.

Hannifan, to his credit, had as good (respectable, at-least) a time under a pre-late-'00s Bidwell run organization as he could and, yes, that '84 finale drew the end to any more playoff-flirtations in StL 3-1 start in '85 notwithstanding.

As for the Houston Oilers...considering that they would still make the playoffs for another four-consectutive years now under Pardee, I IMHO would have to say no to '89 finale. Was going to mention the loss to Joe Cool's Chiefs in the '93 divisional round but this thread refers to regular-season losses. In that case, maybe it's the real close Week #2-loss to Dallas the following year (D frustrating Emmitt). However, I doubt they actually winning that one would butterfly-effect they to another playoff-run considering that they did finish 2-14 (1-9 start leading to Pardee's firing). Perhaps it's a win that ended up doing them in - the '93 finale/Buddy punching 'Bride. That's if you actually theorize that it's why they ended up losing to KC. I personally think it makes no difference; Chiefs win anyway. First off, you had Joe Cool as your QB. He beat Buddy in another classic (38-28, SI cover) four years earlier in Week #2. Second, Oilers for quite some time were having troubles advancing past divisional round anyway.

I think the '93 Oilers would have had a potentially better playoff date had the Chiefs not beaten the Steelers in the WC game.

That would have sent the Raiders to the Astrodome.

While LA had a fast team of speedsters and a big-pass big-play offense that seemed tailor made for the turf and a dome (compared to what they faced in Buffalo), I think there's a difference between playing JOE FREAKING MONTANA and Jeff Hostetler.

CSKreager wrote:

74_75_78_79_ wrote:

Todd Pence wrote:Cardinals loss to Redskins on final week of 1984 season.

Oilers loss to Browns on final week of 1989 season.

Hannifan, to his credit, had as good (respectable, at-least) a time under a pre-late-'00s Bidwell run organization as he could and, yes, that '84 finale drew the end to any more playoff-flirtations in StL 3-1 start in '85 notwithstanding.

As for the Houston Oilers...considering that they would still make the playoffs for another four-consectutive years now under Pardee, I IMHO would have to say no to '89 finale. Was going to mention the loss to Joe Cool's Chiefs in the '93 divisional round but this thread refers to regular-season losses. In that case, maybe it's the real close Week #2-loss to Dallas the following year (D frustrating Emmitt). However, I doubt they actually winning that one would butterfly-effect they to another playoff-run considering that they did finish 2-14 (1-9 start leading to Pardee's firing). Perhaps it's a win that ended up doing them in - the '93 finale/Buddy punching 'Bride. That's if you actually theorize that it's why they ended up losing to KC. I personally think it makes no difference; Chiefs win anyway. First off, you had Joe Cool as your QB. He beat Buddy in another classic (38-28, SI cover) four years earlier in Week #2. Second, Oilers for quite some time were having troubles advancing past divisional round anyway.

I think the '93 Oilers would have had a potentially better playoff date had the Chiefs not beaten the Steelers in the WC game.

That would have sent the Raiders to the Astrodome.

While LA had a fast team of speedsters and a big-pass big-play offense that seemed tailor made for the turf and a dome (compared to what they faced in Buffalo), I think there's a difference between playing JOE FREAKING MONTANA and Jeff Hostetler.

The Raiders would have appreciated it, too, considering they would have gone from sub-zero weather to perfect conditions.

Completely forgot about Moon no longer being there in '94. Yes, I guess no loss that year can really qualify. The other mistake I made in my post was saying SF beat Philly Week #2 in '89 when it was actually Week #3.

Perhaps the 1995 Rams in a week 7 loss to the 49ers where they got blown out 44-10 at home. The Rams were 5-1 heading into the game and were off to their best start in years. The 49ers were 4-2, but were coming off a loss to the Colts and Steve Young got hurt so he was out for an indefinite amount of time. This was the Rams first season in LA, and beating the 49ers would go a long way for the confidence of the team going forward. Unfortunately for the Rams reality set in and the 49ers kicked the Rams back to the bottom of the totem pole even without Steve Young. This was the game Ken Norton Jr. returned two interceptions for touchdowns. After this game the Rams sputtered the rest of the season and finished 7-9. They wouldn't be a legitimate team again until four years later when the Kurt Warner saga started.