1974 Los Angeles Rams season
OwnerCarroll Rosenbloom
Head coachChuck Knox
Home fieldLos Angeles Memorial Coliseum
Results
Record10–4
Division place1st NFC West
Playoff finishWon Divisional Playoffs
(vs. Redskins) 19–10
Lost NFC Championship
(at Vikings) 10–14

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

Main article: 1974 NFL Draft
1974 Los Angeles Rams Draft
Round Selection Player Position College
1 11 John Cappelletti RB Penn State
2 50 Bill Simpson S Michigan State
3 76 Al Oliver OT UCLA
4 99 Norris Weese QB Mississippi

Roster

1974 Los Angeles Rams roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

Reserve lists


Practice squad



Rookies in italics

Regular season

Schedule

Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap
1 September 15 at Denver Broncos W 17–10 1–0 Mile High Stadium 51,121 Recap
2 September 22 New Orleans Saints W 24–0 2–0 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 64,178 Recap
3 September 29 at New England Patriots L 14–20 2–1 Schaefer Stadium 61,279 Recap
4 October 6 Detroit Lions W 16–13 3–1 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 64,987 Recap
5 October 13 at Green Bay Packers L 6–17 3–2 Milwaukee County Stadium 47,499 Recap
6 October 20 San Francisco 49ers W 37–14 4–2 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 67,319 Recap
7 October 27 at New York Jets W 20–13 5–2 Shea Stadium 56,110 Recap
8 November 4 at San Francisco 49ers W 15–13 6–2 Candlestick Park 57,502 Recap
9 November 10 Atlanta Falcons W 21–0 7–2 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 70,056 Recap
10 November 17 at New Orleans Saints L 7–20 7–3 Tulane Stadium 57,287 Recap
11 November 24 Minnesota Vikings W 20–17 8–3 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 90,266 Recap
12 December 1 at Atlanta Falcons W 30–7 9–3 Atlanta Stadium 18,648 Recap
13 December 9 Washington Redskins L 17–23 9–4 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 87,313 Recap
14 December 15 Buffalo Bills W 19–14 10–4 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 84,324 Recap
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Playoffs

Round Date Opponent Result Venue Attendance Recap
Divisional December 22 Washington Redskins W 19–10 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 80,118 Recap
NFC Championship December 29 at Minnesota Vikings L 10–14 Metropolitan Stadium 47,404 Recap

Standings

NFC West
W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
Los Angeles Rams 10 4 0 .714 5–1 7–3 263 181 W1
San Francisco 49ers 6 8 0 .429 4–2 6–5 226 236 W2
New Orleans Saints 5 9 0 .357 3–3 5–6 166 263 L1
Atlanta Falcons 3 11 0 .214 0–6 3–8 111 271 W1

Awards and records

References

  1. ^ "Billy's arm sends 'Skins to playoffs". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. December 10, 1974. p. 3C.
  2. ^ "Rams do it Allen's way – with defense". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. December 23, 1974. p. 3B.
  3. ^ "Ram errors make Viks NFL kings". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. December 30, 1974. p. 3B.
  4. ^ "Startling Pack batters Rams". Toledo Blade. (Ohio). Associated Press. October 14, 1974. p. 18.
  5. ^ "Hadl helps call plays Rams' Harris rips 49ers". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. October 21, 1974. p. 5D.
  6. ^ "Hadl dealt as NFL clubs switch QBs". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. October 23, 1974. p. 1D.
  7. ^ "Maxwell Football Club - Bert Bell Award Past Recipients". Archived from the original on June 19, 2009. Retrieved June 28, 2010.


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