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OILERS vs Rams, Super Bowl XIV

Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2026 2:30 pm
by 74_75_78_79_
I'm not just saying this because I'm a Steeler-fan, but I'm a believer in that had the Renfro catch been called a TD - score now tied at 20 apiece - the 'Burgh would have still found a way to Pasadena.

But let's just say the catch is called a TD and the ball bounces enough times Houston's way and they actually..."kick the SOB in"...how does a Bud Adams/Georgia Frontiere Super Bowl - twenty years earlier- unfold?

Of course both teams met the year before. A famous (or infamous) highlight reel of #34 himself, head-into-chest, knocking an otherwise stout multi-All Pro linebacker backwards. Don't let it fool you. The Rams ended up winning that game, 10-6, in the Astrodome.

Houston was a better team in '79, and the Rams...once the 5-6 start was out of the way (I don't know about you all) I feel that squad going into the playoffs with Ferragamo and Tyler were better as well as more-dynamic than the 12-4 top-seed '78 squad who was 7-1 vs winning teams (Steelers & Cowboys both being their victims).

I think it turns out to be a good game, but I'll take the Rams. If a more-dimensional team like Pittsburgh had to pull all stops to finally shake off the Rams in the end, then how does a team of less dimension pull it off in the end? Yes, plenty of reason for Rams giving the 'Burgh all they could handle was they matching up well against them in the first place; and several from their coaching staff, starting with Bud Carson, knew a thing or two about them going in. But the simple less-dimensional dynamic of the Oilers (basically just focus on Campbell) would be a lesser task for LA.

I've opined this a couple times before...I think if San Diego makes it to Pasadena, the Rams get their regular season revenge thus hoist up the Vince! IMO, the best '70s Rams squad, most-dynamic, most SB-capable, was that very squad at the end of the '79 campaign itself going into the playoffs. Such THICK competition in the '70s, so maybe Vince & Wendell don't win LA one had both played together all through the decade. But at least there's a significant better chance. Maybe if not a Lombardi itself, maybe at least one SB appearance!

Re: OILERS vs Rams, Super Bowl XIV

Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2026 2:39 pm
by ShinobiMusashi
Visually it would have been one of the most beautiful Super Bowls, the Oilers unis in the broad daylight California sunshine of a Super Bowl at the Rose Bowl would have been beautiful aesthetic. I can practically close my eyes and visualize what it would have looked like on 35 mm film shot by NFL Films and it's gorgeous.

Re: OILERS vs Rams, Super Bowl XIV

Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2026 5:38 pm
by CSKreager
74_75_78_79_ wrote: Sun Jul 05, 2026 2:30 pm I'm not just saying this because I'm a Steeler-fan, but I'm a believer in that had the Renfro catch been called a TD - score now tied at 20 apiece - the 'Burgh would have still found a way to Pasadena.

But let's just say the catch is called a TD and the ball bounces enough times Houston's way and they actually..."kick the SOB in"...how does a Bud Adams/Georgia Frontiere Super Bowl - twenty years earlier- unfold?

Of course both teams met the year before. A famous (or infamous) highlight reel of #34 himself, head-into-chest, knocking an otherwise stout multi-All Pro linebacker backwards. Don't let it fool you. The Rams ended up winning that game, 10-6, in the Astrodome.

Houston was a better team in '79, and the Rams...once the 5-6 start was out of the way (I don't know about you all) I feel that squad going into the playoffs with Ferragamo and Tyler were better as well as more-dynamic than the 12-4 top-seed '78 squad who was 7-1 vs winning teams (Steelers & Cowboys both being their victims).

I think it turns out to be a good game, but I'll take the Rams. If a more-dimensional team like Pittsburgh had to pull all stops to finally shake off the Rams in the end, then how does a team of less dimension pull it off in the end? Yes, plenty of reason for Rams giving the 'Burgh all they could handle was they matching up well against them in the first place; and several from their coaching staff, starting with Bud Carson, knew a thing or two about them going in. But the simple less-dimensional dynamic of the Oilers (basically just focus on Campbell) would be a lesser task for LA.

I've opined this a couple times before...I think if San Diego makes it to Pasadena, the Rams get their regular season revenge thus hoist up the Vince! IMO, the best '70s Rams squad, most-dynamic, most SB-capable, was that very squad at the end of the '79 campaign itself going into the playoffs. Such THICK competition in the '70s, so maybe Vince & Wendell don't win LA one had both played together all through the decade. But at least there's a significant better chance. Maybe if not a Lombardi itself, maybe at least one SB appearance!
I could not disagree any harder.

The Rams were only more-dynamic because the schedule lightened up (ATL 2x, SF, MIN, meaningless Saints game)- of course Tyler and Ferragamo are going to look good against such fallow opponents. What happened when they faced real opposition? 5-6

And coaching? If Bum Phillips could get the better of Don Coryell in a year he beat Landry and hypothetically getting past Noll, he’s going to lose to…… Ray Malavasi?

And lest we forget the massive gap between the NFC/AFC in 1979?

Oilers blow out the Rams by 3 scores

The 9-7 Rams, who only made the playoffs because of a Saints MNF choke and an easy schedule that literally was moving out of the Coliseum to Anaheim, winning a SB…… would have been a complete and utter travesty.

Re: OILERS vs Rams, Super Bowl XIV

Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2026 6:13 pm
by Brian wolf
With Youngblood having a broken leg, I dont believe the Rams get by the Oilers. Imagine Campbell having two weeks to get ready for the game? Could Dante seal the deal though after beating Pitts?

Re: OILERS vs Rams, Super Bowl XIV

Posted: Sun Jul 05, 2026 6:23 pm
by 7DnBrnc53
Brian wolf wrote: Sun Jul 05, 2026 6:13 pm With Youngblood having a broken leg, I dont believe the Rams get by the Oilers. Imagine Campbell having two weeks to get ready for the game? Could Dante seal the deal though after beating Pitts?
He might have. Also, I don't think he should be traded to Oakland if he gets them to the Super Bowl. Dan and Bum might retire as Oilers.

Re: OILERS vs Rams, Super Bowl XIV

Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2026 10:54 am
by saturdaysarebetter
I'm in agreement with the OP. I don't think the Oilers passing game would have been enough to defeat the Rams. The Rams run defense would have kept Campbell in check for the most part.

Re: OILERS vs Rams, Super Bowl XIV

Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2026 10:57 am
by Ten Minute Ticker
I think it would have been a lousy Super Bowl.

Re: OILERS vs Rams, Super Bowl XIV

Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2026 6:39 pm
by 7DnBrnc53
And coaching? If Bum Phillips could get the better of Don Coryell in a year he beat Landry and hypothetically getting past Noll, he’s going to lose to…… Ray Malavasi?
I think it was the Oiler defensive coaches that won that game. They caught a tell on Dan Fouts involving his feet positioning (they would be one way before a pass, and another before a run). That was the key to the win.