1979 Los Angeles Rams season
NFL team season
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The 1979 season was the Los Angeles Rams' 42nd season in the National Football League (NFL), their 43rd overall, and their 34th in the Greater Los Angeles Area. It was the final season for the franchise in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum until 2016, as late owner Carroll Rosenbloom previously announced the Rams would move to Anaheim Stadium for the 1980 season.[1]
| 1979 Los Angeles Rams season | |
|---|---|
| Owner | Georgia Rosenbloom |
| General manager | Don Klosterman |
| Head coach | Ray Malavasi |
| Home stadium | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum |
| Results | |
| Record | 9–7 |
| Division place | 1st NFC West |
| Playoffs | Won Divisional Playoffs (at Cowboys) 21–19 Won NFC Championship (at Buccaneers) 9–0 Lost Super Bowl XIV (vs. Steelers) 19–31 |
The Rams won their seventh-consecutive NFC West title in 1979 and went to the Super Bowl for the first time. It was the team's only Super Bowl appearance during their first stint in Los Angeles, and their first appearance in a league championship game since 1955. It would be the Rams' last division title for six seasons and the last time they would win consecutive division titles until 2017–18. The Rams wouldn't return to the Super Bowl based in Los Angeles until 2018 (their next one as a franchise was in 1999 while based in St. Louis). Their streak of 7 straight division titles stood as an NFL record for 38 years until the New England Patriots won their 8th straight AFC East championship in 2016, a streak that eventually reached 11 straight in 2019. The Kansas City Chiefs have since moved into 2nd place for the most consecutive division titles, having won 9 straight AFC West division titles from 2016 to 2024.
The 1979 Rams were the first team in NFL history to have a less than a +50 point differential and make it to the Super Bowl.[2] (The Rams scored only 14 points more than their opponents in 1979.) Thirty-two years later, the 2011 New York Giants, also with a 9–7 record, became the first team to reach the Super Bowl with a negative point differential (−6); unlike the 1979 Rams, the Giants would go on to win the Super Bowl, defeating the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI. The 2008 Arizona Cardinals also reached the Super Bowl, but lost in the final moments of Super Bowl XLIII, also to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Because of this, the 1979 Rams are often cited as one of the worst Super Bowl teams of all time.
Offseason
Owner Caroll Rosenbloom drowned on April 2, 1979, while swimming in the Atlantic Ocean just off of his home in Golden Beach, Florida, leaving the team to his widow, Georgia.[3][4]
Draft
| 1979 Los Angeles Rams draft | |||||
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | College | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 19 | George Andrews | Linebacker | Nebraska | |
| 1 | 26 | Kent Hill * | Guard | Georgia Tech | |
| 2 | 54 | Eddie Hill | Running back | Memphis State | |
| 3 | 58 | Jeff Moore | Wide receiver | Tennessee | Made roster in 1980 |
| 3 | 81 | Mike Wellman | Center | Kansas | |
| 4 | 99 | Derwin Tucker | Cornerback | Illinois | |
| 4 | 108 | Jerry Wilkinson | Defensive end | Oregon State | |
| 5 | 122 | Victor Hicks | Tight end | Oklahoma | Made roster in 1980 |
| 7 | 190 | Jeff Delaney | Safety | Pittsburgh | Made roster in 1980 |
| 9 | 246 | Jeff Rutledge | Quarterback | Alabama | |
| 10 | 273 | Grady Ebensbeger | Defensive tackle | Houston | |
| 11 | 301 | Jesse Deramus | Defensive tackle | Tennessee State | |
| 12 | 328 | Drew Hill * | Wide receiver | Georgia Tech | |
| Made roster † Pro Football Hall of Fame * Made at least one Pro Bowl during career | |||||
Undrafted free agents
| Player | Position | College |
|---|---|---|
| Ken Beckman | Punter | Arizona State |
| Dan Bierstedt | Linebacker | Southwest Texas State |
| Dan Burns | Tight end | USC |
| Dennis Byrd | Wide receiver | Long Beach State |
| Ralph Carnahan | Running back | Tennessee State |
| Phil Chambliss | Defensive end | San Diego State |
| Jeff Corbitt | Running back | |
| Mike Evans | Tackle | UNLV |
| Richard Force | Linebacker | Cal Poly |
| Jim Freitas | Quarterback | Long Beach State |
| Armando Herrera | Kicker | Cal Poly |
| James Johnson | Defensive end | Virginia Tech |
| Frank Jordan | Kicker | USC |
| Sid Justin | Cornerback | Long Beach State |
| Bob Keiper | Tight end | St. Marys |
| Dan Kendra | Quarterback | West Virginia |
| Craig Kimball | Quarterback | San Jose State |
| Floyd Lavender | Cornerback | Cal State Fullerton |
| Tony Maddocks | Wide receiver | Long Beach State |
| Keith Myers | Safety | Utah State |
| John Paetz | Guard | Fresno State |
| Curtis Philyaw | Safety | West L. A. College |
| Ivory Sully | Safety | Delaware |
| Jimmy Tucker | Running back | UNLV |
| Burks Washington | Linebacker | North Texas State |
Personnel
Staff / Coaches
|
Front office
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
|
Defensive coaches
Special teams coaches
Strength and conditioning
|
Final roster
Preseason
Schedule
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | NFL.com recap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | August 4 | Oakland Raiders | W 20–17 (OT) | 1–0 | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | 54,575 | |
| 2 | August 12 | at New England Patriots | W 15–3 | 2–0 | Schaefer Stadium | 44,955 | |
| 3 | August 18 | Seattle Seahawks | W 21–17 | 3–0 | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | 46,083 | |
| 4 | August 25 | San Diego Chargers | W 23–7 | 4–0 | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | 50,089 | |
Regular season
Schedule
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | Recap | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 2 | Oakland Raiders | L 17–24 | 0–1 | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | 59,000 | Recap | ||
| 2 | September 6 | at Denver Broncos | W 13–9 | 1–1 | Mile High Stadium | 74,884 | Recap | ||
| 3 | September 16 | San Francisco 49ers | W 27–24 | 2–1 | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | 44,303 | Recap | ||
| 4 | September 23 | at Tampa Bay Buccaneers | L 6–21 | 2–2 | Tampa Stadium | 69,497 | Recap | ||
| 5 | September 30 | St. Louis Cardinals | W 21–0 | 3–2 | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | 48,160 | Recap | ||
| 6 | October 7 | at New Orleans Saints | W 35–17 | 4–2 | Louisiana Superdome | 68,986 | Recap | ||
| 7 | October 14 | at Dallas Cowboys | L 6–30 | 4–3 | Texas Stadium | 64,462 | Recap | ||
| 8 | October 21 | San Diego Chargers | L 16–40 | 4–4 | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | 64,245 | Recap | ||
| 9 | October 28 | New York Giants | L 14–20 | 4–5 | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | 43,376 | Recap | ||
| 10 | November 4 | at Seattle Seahawks | W 24–0 | 5–5 | Kingdome | 62,048 | Recap | ||
| 11 | November 11 | at Chicago Bears | L 23–27 | 5–6 | Soldier Field | 51,483 | Recap | ||
| 12 | November 19 | Atlanta Falcons | W 20–14 | 6–6 | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | 54,097 | Recap | ||
| 13 | November 25 | at San Francisco 49ers | W 26–20 | 7–6 | Candlestick Park | 49,282 | Recap | ||
| 14 | December 2 | Minnesota Vikings | W 27–21 (OT) | 8–6 | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | 56,700 | Recap | ||
| 15 | December 9 | at Atlanta Falcons | W 34–13 | 9–6 | Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium | 49,236 | Recap | ||
| 16 | December 16 | New Orleans Saints | L 14–29 | 9–7 | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | 53,879 | Recap | ||
| Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text. | |||||||||
Notes:
Season summary
Week 1
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| • Raiders | 0 | 10 | 14 | 0 | 24 |
| Rams | 7 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
- Date: September 2
- Location: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
- Referee: Cal Lepore
The Rams jumped out to an early 14–0 lead, but a failure to protect the punter led to two blocks and 10 Raiders points before halftime. The Raiders also intercepted three second-half passes and turned two into Ken Stabler-to-Raymond Chester touchdown passes. [6]
Week 2
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| • Rams | 6 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 13 |
| Broncos | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 9 |
- Date: September 6
- Location: Mile High Stadium
- Referee: Gordon McCarter
Rams tackle John Williams held Bronco LB Larry Evans in the end zone in the first quarter for a safety. The Rams appeared on verge of going 0–2 until, late in the fourth, safety Dave Elmendorf laid a hit on QB Craig Morton and LB Jack Reynolds picked up the fumble and reached the end zone for the winning score.
Week 3
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 49ers | 10 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 24 |
| • Rams | 0 | 14 | 7 | 6 | 27 |
- Date: September 16
- Location: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
- Referee: Red Cashion
- TV announcers (CBS): Vin Scully and George Allen
After spotting the 49ers 10 points, the Rams scored 24 unanswered, Pat Haden passing for two touchdowns and Cullen Bryant rushing for 106 yards and another to secure the win.
Week 4
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rams | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| • Buccaneers | 0 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 21 |
- Date: September 23
- Location: Tampa Stadium
- Referee: Jerry Markbreit
- TV announcers (CBS): Vin Scully and George Allen
Jim Youngblood put the Rams on the board early with an interception return touchdown, but from then on it was all Buccaneers as Doug Williams tossed two touchdowns in the second quarter and the Tampa Bay defense shut down the Rams.
Week 5
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cardinals | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| • Rams | 7 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 21 |
- Date: September 30
- Location: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
- Referee: Jerry Seeman
The Rams bounced back with a shutout. Speedy Wendell Tyler started at running back and scored a touchdown.[9]
Week 6
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| • Rams | 0 | 28 | 0 | 7 | 35 |
| Saints | 7 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 17 |
- Date: October 7
- Location: Louisiana Superdome
- Game weather: Indoors (dome)
- Referee: Bob Frederic
Haden threw for three touchdowns in the blowout, but WR Ron Jessie was injured and lost for the remainder of the season along with fellow WR Willie Miller. [10]
Week 7
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rams | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| • Cowboys | 6 | 7 | 17 | 0 | 30 |
- Date: October 14
- Location: Texas Stadium
- Referee: Fred Wyant
- TV announcers (ABC): Frank Gifford, Don Meredith, and Fran Tarkenton
In a dominating performance by the Cowboys, Roger Staubach passed for three touchdowns and Tony Dorsett ran for 103 and a touchdown.[11]
Week 8
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| • Chargers | 7 | 7 | 17 | 9 | 40 |
| Rams | 7 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 16 |
- Date: October 21
- Location: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
- Referee: Gordon McCarter
- TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg and Merlin Olsen
The Chargers forced eight turnovers, including four interceptions and four fumble recoveries (one for a touchdown), with five sacks and numerous hits on Haden. Dan Fouts passed for 326 yards and two touchdowns.[12]
Week 9
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| • Giants | 3 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 20 |
| Rams | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 14 |
- Date: October 28
- Location: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
- Referee: Fred Silva
- TV announcers (CBS): Vin Scully, George Allen
Haden passed for 282 yards and two touchdowns but also threw four more interceptions and had trouble making big plays. Giants rookie QB Phil Simms found success running and passing. [13]
Week 10
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| • Rams | 14 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 24 |
| Seahawks | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
- Date: November 4
- Location: Kingdome
- Game weather: Indoors (dome)
- Referee: Pat Haggerty
- TV announcers (CBS): Vin Scully and George Allen
The Rams defense turned in a record-setting performance, holding the Seahawks to minus-7 yards of total offense and one first down. Haden threw two touchdowns on 21-of-24 passing and set a team record with 13 straight completions, but fractured his right pinky finger and would be lost for the rest of the season.
Week 11
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rams | 9 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 23 |
| • Bears | 0 | 7 | 7 | 13 | 27 |
- Date: November 11
- Location: Soldier Field
- Referee: Dick Jorgensen
- TV announcers (CBS): Vin Scully and George Allen
With both Haden and backup Vince Ferragamo out, the Rams turned to quarterback Jeff Rutledge, who threw for a touchdown and helped the Rams to a 23–14 lead after three quarters, but the defense faltered.
Week 12
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Falcons | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 14 |
| • Rams | 7 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 20 |
- Date: November 19
- Location: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
- Referee: Jerry Markbreit
- Television network: ABC
Ferragamo made his first start of the season in this Monday night game and showed his big-play capability, completing long touchdown passes to young speedsters Preston Dennard and Billy Waddy.
Week 13
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| • Rams | 3 | 10 | 13 | 0 | 26 |
| 49ers | 7 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 20 |
- Date: November 25
- Location: Candlestick Park
- Referee: Cal Lepore
- TV announcers (CBS): Lindsey Nelson and Paul Hornung
An unexpectedly tough game against the 1–11 49ers featured many significant plays, including an 80-yard blocked field-goal return touchdown by Rams CB Sid Justin and a 71-yard touchdown pass from Ferragamo to Tyler.[17]
Week 14
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vikings | 7 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 21 |
| • Rams | 7 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 27 |
- Date: December 2
- Location: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
- Referee: Ben Dreith
- TV announcers (CBS): Curt Gowdy and Hank Stram
After the Rams gained only 44 yards in the first half, Malavasi benched Ferragamo in favor of backup Bob Lee after halftime. In overtime, the Rams ran a fake field goal and holder Nolan Cromwell scored on a five-yard touchdown run to lift the Rams into first place in the NFC West. The Rams took sole possession of the division lead the next night when the Saints lost.[18]
Week 15
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| • Rams | 0 | 28 | 3 | 3 | 34 |
| Falcons | 0 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 13 |
- Date: December 9
- Location: Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium
- Referee: Bob Frederic
- TV announcers (CBS): Vin Scully and George Allen
Scoring 28 points in the second quarter and forcing five Falcons turnovers, the Rams clinched their seventh straight NFC West division title, an NFL record. Tyler gained 150 yards from scrimmage in the win.
Week 16
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| • Saints | 0 | 14 | 6 | 9 | 29 |
| Rams | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
- Date: December 16
- Location: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
- Referee: Pat Haggerty
- TV announcers (CBS): Vin Scully, George Allen
Having clinched the division the previous week, the Rams played a sloppy game, committing six turnovers and allowing 422 yards to the Saints. Tyler rushed for 141 yards and a first-quarter touchdown, but New Orleans scored the next 27 points. This was the Rams' final home game at the Los Angeles Coliseum before their relocation to Anaheim Stadium.
Standings
| NFC West | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK | |
| (3) Los Angeles Rams | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 5–1 | 7–5 | 323 | 309 | L1 |
| New Orleans Saints | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 4–2 | 8–4 | 370 | 360 | W1 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | 2–4 | 5–7 | 300 | 388 | W1 |
| San Francisco 49ers | 2 | 14 | 0 | .125 | 1–5 | 2–10 | 308 | 416 | L1 |
Playoffs
| Round | Date | Opponent | Kickoff | TV | Result | Record | Game Site | Attendance | Recap | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wild Card | First Round Bye | |||||||||
| Divisional | December 30 | at Dallas Cowboys (1) | 1:00 p.m. PST | CBS | W 21–19 | 1–0 | Texas Stadium | 64,792 | Recap | |
| NFC Championship | January 6 | at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2) | 2:00 p.m. PST | CBS | W 9–0 | 2–0 | Tampa Stadium | 72,033 | Recap | |
| Super Bowl XIV | January 20 | vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (A2) | 3:00 p.m. PST | CBS | L 19–31 | 2–1 | Rose Bowl | 103,985 | Recap | |
Notes:
NFC Divisional Playoffs (Sunday, December 30, 1979): at (1) Dallas Cowboys
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rams | 0 | 14 | 0 | 7 | 21 |
| Cowboys | 2 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 19 |
at Texas Stadium • Irving, Texas
- Date: December 30, 1979
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. PST
- Game weather: 43 degrees, relative humidity 71%, wind 12 mph
- Game attendance: 64,792
- Referee: Jerry Markbreit
- TV announcers (CBS): Vin Scully (play-by-play) and George Allen (color commentator)
- Pro-Football-Reference.com
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Quarterback Vince Ferragamo led the Rams to a victory by throwing for 3 touchdown passes, the last one with 2:06 left in the game. The Cowboys scored first when defensive tackle Randy White sacked Ferragamo in the end zone for a safety. However, Ferragamo responded by throwing a 32-yard touchdown pass to running back Wendell Tyler. Dallas kicker Rafael Septién kicked a 33-yard field goal with 52 seconds left in the first half, but Ferragamo completed a 43-yard touchdown pass to Ron Smith before time expired to make it a 14–5 halftime lead. The Cowboys, led by quarterback Roger Staubach in what proved to be his last NFL game of his Hall of Fame career, then scored 2 unanswered touchdowns in the second half to take the lead, 19–14. With about 2 minutes left in the game and the Rams at midfield, Ferragamo found wide receiver Billy Waddy on a short crossing route and Waddy sprinted the rest of the way for a game winning 50-yard touchdown. Staubach was unable to engineer a late fourth quarter comeback like the ones that made him famous throughout his career. The Rams defense pressured the Dallas quarterback to throw a pass illegally to an ineligible receiver, guard Herbert Scott, on third down, the last pass of his career to be caught; on fourth down, he overthrew Drew Pearson.
Conference Championship
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| • Rams | 0 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 9 |
| Buccaneers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
- Date: January 6
- Location: Tampa Stadium
- Referee: Pat Haggerty
In a defensive battle in which the Rams squandered numerous scoring opportunities, Rams kicker Frank Corral kicked 3 field goals to win the game. Los Angeles was able to record 369 yards of total offense, while running backs Cullen Bryant and Wendell Tyler rushed for 106 and 86 yards, respectively. Meanwhile, the Buccaneers only had 177 total offensive yards, including 92 rushing yards and 85 passing yards. Most of Tampa Bay's passing yards came from a 42-yard halfback option pass from Jerry Eckwood to wide receiver Larry Mucker in the fourth quarter. During the game, two touchdowns were nullified by penalties, one by each team: A four-yard run by Bryant and a 27-yard reception by Buccaneers' tight end Jimmie Giles.
Super Bowl
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rams | 7 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 19 |
| • Steelers | 3 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 31 |
- Date: January 20
- Location: Rose Bowl
- Game attendance: 103,985
- Referee: Fred Silva
- TV announcers (CBS): Pat Summerall, and Tom Brookshier
Though listed as a 10.5-point underdog, the NFC champion Rams were the designated visitors against the defending Super Bowl champion Steelers. After giving up an early field goal, Los Angeles took its first lead when Wendell Tyler's 39-yard run to the Pittsburgh 14 led to a 1-yard touchdown run by fullback Cullen Bryant for a 7–3 advantage. The Steelers responded with a Franco Harris touchdown run from a yard out. Two field goals by kicker Frank Corral put the Rams on top 13–10 at halftime. Pittsburgh went back on top early in the third quarter with wide receiver Lynn Swann catching a 47-yard TD pass from quarterback Terry Bradshaw. But the Rams responded quickly, driving down to the Pittsburgh 24. Taking a pitchout, running back Lawrence McCutcheon pulled up and threw a touchdown pass to wide receiver Ron Smith for a 19–17 lead, but Corral missed his PAT attempt. L.A.'s defense kept the Rams in the game, holding the Steelers to just 84 rushing yards while the secondary picked off Bradshaw three times. But the Steelers QB rallied back and his 73-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver John Stallworth gave Pittsburgh the lead for good early in the fourth quarter. The Rams' last chance for victory came late in the fourth quarter. Quarterback Vince Ferragamo, who threw for 212 yards in the game, led L.A. to the Pittsburgh 32 but linebacker Jack Lambert intercepted Ferragamo's pass intended for Smith. The Steelers then finished the scoring as Harris scored his second 1-yard TD of the game for the game's final margin. The Rams were the first team to play in the Super Bowl in their home market.