Rams Fall Short of Super Bowl 1973 to 1978

[LeonardRachiele]

The Los Angles Rams  really proved that both regular season records  and games mean almost nothing in the playoffs.  The playoffs are a whole new ball game. The Rams finally made it to the Super Bowl in 1979 under unusual circumstances.  Before that year either Minnesota or Dallas kept them from the Super Bowl.

1973-Los Angeles  Rams were 12-2 and and Dallas 10-4.   Both of the following games were at Los Angeles.  The Rams beat the Cowboys during the regular season 37 to 31.  In the first round of the playoffs, Dallas won 27 to 16.   The Rams had a season victory and were two games better than the Cowboys.  Dallas went on to lose NFC Championship Game.

1974-Both the Rams and the Minnesota had regular season records of 10-4.  The Rams won the season game 20 to 17 at home.   At Minnesota, the Vikings won the NFC Title Game 14 to 10.  The Rams had a first and goal at the one yard line and failed to score.

1975-The Rams were two games better than Dallas, 12-2 vs. 10-4.  These teams met each other twice once during the season and once during the playoff.  Although both games were at LA, the Cowboys won both.  Season 18-7, NFC Title game 37 to 7.  The Los Angeles fans must have watched the second game in disbelief.

1976-Minnesota was 11-2-1 and Los Angeles  10-3-1.  The tie was between the two teams at Minnesota 10 to 10.  Also in Minnesota, the Vikings won the NFC Title Game 24 to 13.

1977-This season had the most amazing turns of them all.  The Rams at 10-4 were one game better than the 9-5 Vikings.  Both of these games were in Los Angeles. The Rams crushed Minnesota 35 to 3 during the season.  In the first round of the playoffs, the Vikings won 14 to 7; an amazing reversal.

1978-Both the Rams and Cowboys were 12-4 and both were at Los Angeles.  The Rams won during the season 27 to 14.  The Cowboys shut out the Rams in the NFL Title Game 28 to 0.

In six years, Los Angeles lost four NFC Title Games and two first round playoffs.