1974 Los Angeles Rams season explained

Team:Los Angeles Rams
Year:1974
Record:10–4
Division Place:1st NFC West
Coach:Chuck Knox
Owner:Carroll Rosenbloom
Stadium:Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
Playoffs:Won Divisional Playoffs
(vs. Redskins) 19–10
Lost NFC Championship
(at Vikings) 10–14
Shortnavlink:Rams seasons

The 1974 Los Angeles Rams season was the team's 37th year with the National Football League and the 29th season in Los Angeles. The Rams looked to improve on their 12–2 season from 1973. While not improving on their record, they successfully defended their NFC West division title with a 10–4 record, the second-best in the NFC.

In the playoffs, Los Angeles hosted the Washington Redskins in a rematch of week 13's game, which Washington won 23–17 on Monday night, in the Rams' only home loss of the season.[1] In the postseason game, L.A. forced six turnovers to win 19–10 and advance to their first NFC Championship Game,[2] but committed five turnovers and lost 14–10 on the road to the Minnesota Vikings.[3]

During week 5 of the regular season, the Rams were upset 17–6 in Milwaukee by the Green Bay Packers; veteran quarterback John Hadl was benched in the second half after throwing three interceptions, replaced by James Harris.[4] The next game, a 37–14 home win over rival San Francisco, was the first NFL start for Harris,[5] and Hadl was traded two days later to Green Bay for five future draft picks.[6]

The win over Washington in the playoffs was the Rams' first postseason victory in 23 years, when they won the NFL title. (Los Angeles won the third-place Playoff Bowl twice (after the 1967 and 1969 seasons); these consolation games are now considered exhibition contests.)

Offseason

NFL Draft

See main article: article and 1974 NFL Draft.

1974 Los Angeles Rams Draft
Round Selection Player Position College
1 11 RB Penn State
2 50 S Michigan State
3 76 Al Oliver OT UCLA
4 99 QB Mississippi

Regular season

Schedule

WeekDateOpponentResultRecordVenueAttendanceRecap
1September 15at Denver BroncosW 17–101–0Mile High Stadium51,121Recap
2September 22New Orleans SaintsW 24–02–0Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum64,178Recap
3September 29at New England PatriotsL 14–202–1Schaefer Stadium61,279Recap
4October 6Detroit LionsW 16–133–1Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum64,987Recap
5October 13at Green Bay PackersL 6–173–2Milwaukee County Stadium47,499Recap
6October 20San Francisco 49ersW 37–144–2Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum67,319Recap
7October 27at New York JetsW 20–135–2Shea Stadium56,110Recap
8at San Francisco 49ersW 15–136–2Candlestick Park57,502Recap
9November 10Atlanta FalconsW 21–07–2Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum70,056Recap
10November 17at New Orleans SaintsL 7–207–3Tulane Stadium57,287Recap
11November 24Minnesota VikingsW 20–178–3Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum90,266Recap
12December 1at Atlanta FalconsW 30–79–3Atlanta Stadium18,648Recap
13Washington RedskinsL 17–239–4Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum87,313Recap
14December 15Buffalo BillsW 19–1410–4Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum84,324Recap
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Playoffs

RoundDateOpponentResultVenueAttendanceRecap
DivisionalDecember 22Washington RedskinsW 19–10Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum80,118Recap
NFC ChampionshipDecember 29at Minnesota VikingsL 10–14Metropolitan Stadium47,404Recap

Standings

Awards and records

Notes and References

  1. News: Billy's arm sends 'Skins to playoffs . Eugene Register-Guard . (Oregon) . Associated Press . December 10, 1974 . 3C.
  2. News: Rams do it Allen's way – with defense . Eugene Register-Guard . (Oregon) . Associated Press . December 23, 1974 . 3B.
  3. News: Ram errors make Viks NFL kings . Eugene Register-Guard . (Oregon) . Associated Press . December 30, 1974 . 3B.
  4. News: Startling Pack batters Rams . Toledo Blade . (Ohio) . Associated Press . October 14, 1974 . 18.
  5. News: Hadl helps call plays Rams' Harris rips 49ers . Eugene Register-Guard . (Oregon) . Associated Press . October 21, 1974 . 5D.
  6. News: Hadl dealt as NFL clubs switch QBs . Eugene Register-Guard . (Oregon) . Associated Press . October 23, 1974 . 1D.
  7. Web site: Maxwell Football Club - Bert Bell Award Past Recipients . 2010-06-28 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090619081037/http://www.maxwellfootballclub.org/content/awards/bell/past_bell.htm . 2009-06-19 .