1968 Los Angeles Rams season

Last updated

1968 Los Angeles Rams season
Head coach George Allen
Home field Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
Results
Record10–3–1
Division place2nd Western Coastal
Playoff finishDid not qualify

The 1968 Los Angeles Rams season was the team's 31st year with the National Football League and the 23rd season in Los Angeles. The season saw the Rams attempting to improve on their 11-1-2 record from 1967 and qualifying for the playoffs for the second straight season. The Rams started off by winning their first six games before losing to the Baltimore Colts for their first loss. After 2 more victories, the Rams tied the San Francisco 49ers. They rebounded by winning their next 2 games and were in firm control of their playoff hopes. However, 2 close losses to the Chicago Bears and Baltimore Colts at home dampened their playoff hopes, and they barely missed the playoffs as a result.

Contents

Roster

1968 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

Season Recap

Just as they had in 1967, the Rams and Colts staged a season long battle for the Coastal Division title. The Rams won their first six games, but lost to the Colts in Baltimore in week seven, 27-10, to fall into a tie with the Colts. Both teams won their next two games, but then the Rams had to rally from a 10-point 4th quarter deficit to tie the 49ers in San Francisco, 20-20.

Going into the second to the last game of the season against the Bears, the Rams trailed the Colts by 1/2 game, with a regular season finale vs. the Colts in Los Angeles looming the following week to decide the title. The Colts won a Saturday game in Green Bay (eliminating the Packers from playoff contention) 16-3. On Sunday, the Bears, the breaks, and the officials all played a role in the Bears 17-16 win that eliminated the Rams. The Bears played inspired defense, even knocking quarterback Roman Gabriel out of the game for a time. The Rams blocked a Bears punt, but it rolled out of the end zone for a safety just before the Rams were about to recover the ball in the end zone for a touchdown. Finally, trailing by a point, Gabriel rallied the Rams and appeared to pass them into field goal range. But a late flag for clipping cost the Rams the gain and set them back 15 yards into their own territory. At the same time, the officials neglected to re-set the down marker back to 3rd down (the down is supposed to go over on a penalty), so when the next play was an incomplete pass, the officials awarded the Bears the ball. The Rams protested vehemently that it was still their ball down but to no avail. The NFL later acknowledged the officials' mistake but said the result of the game could not be changed.

Schedule

WeekDateOpponentResultRecordVenueAttendance
1September 16at St. Louis Cardinals W 24–131–0 Busch Memorial Stadium 49,757
2September 22 Pittsburgh Steelers W 45–102–0 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 49,647
3September 29at Cleveland Browns W 24–63–0 Cleveland Municipal Stadium 82,514
4October 6 San Francisco 49ers W 24–104–0Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum69,520
5October 13at Green Bay Packers W 16–145–0 Milwaukee County Stadium 49,646
6October 20 Atlanta Falcons W 27–146–0Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum54,443
7October 27at Baltimore Colts L 10–276–1 Memorial Stadium 60,238
8November 3 Detroit Lions W 10–77–1Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum77,982
9November 10at Atlanta FalconsW 17–108–1 Atlanta Stadium 53,979
10November 17at San Francisco 49ersT 20–208–1–1 Kezar Stadium 41,815
11November 24 New York Giants W 24–219–1–1Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum68,534
12December 1at Minnesota Vikings W 31–310–1–1 Metropolitan Stadium 47,644
13December 8 Chicago Bears L 16–1710–2–1Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum66,368
14December 15Baltimore ColtsL 24–2810–3–1Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum69,397
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Standings

NFL Coastal
WLTPCTDIVCONFPFPASTK
Baltimore Colts 1310.9296–010–0402144W8
Los Angeles Rams 1031.7693–2–16–3–1312200L2
San Francisco 49ers 761.5382–3–14–5–1303310W1
Atlanta Falcons 2120.1430–61–9170389L4

Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All-America Football Conference</span> Professional American football league operating from 1946–1949

The All-America Football Conference (AAFC) was a major professional American football league that challenged the established National Football League (NFL) from 1946 to 1949. One of the NFL's most formidable challengers, the AAFC attracted many of the nation's best players, and introduced many lasting innovations to the game. However, the AAFC was ultimately unable to sustain itself in competition with the NFL. After it folded, three of its teams were admitted to the NFL: the San Francisco 49ers, the Cleveland Browns and the original Baltimore Colts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1984–85 NFL playoffs</span> Seasonal NFL playoffs

The National Football League playoffs for the 1984 season began on December 22, 1984. The postseason tournament concluded with the San Francisco 49ers defeating the Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl XIX, 38–16, on January 20, 1985, at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, California.

The National Football League playoffs for the 1976 season began on December 18, 1976. The postseason tournament concluded with the Oakland Raiders defeating the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl XI, 32–14, on January 9, 1977, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.

The 1965 NFL season was the 46th regular season of the National Football League. The Green Bay Packers won the NFL title after defeating the Cleveland Browns in the championship game, the last before the Super Bowl era.

The 1963 NFL season was the 44th regular season of the National Football League.

The 1960 NFL season was the 41st regular season of the National Football League.

The 1950 NFL season was the 31st regular season of the National Football League. The merger with the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) expanded the league to 13 teams. Meanwhile, television brought a new era to the game. The Los Angeles Rams became the first NFL team to have all of its games – both home and away – televised. The Washington Redskins became the second team to put their games on TV. Other teams arranged to have selected games televised.

The 1951 NFL season was the 32nd regular season of the National Football League. Prior to the season, Baltimore Colts owner Abraham Watner faced financial difficulties, and thus gave his team and its player contracts back to the league for $50,000. However, many Baltimore fans started to protest the loss of their team. Supporting groups such as its fan club and its marching band remained in operation and worked for the team's revival, which eventually led to a new, more lucrative Baltimore team in 1953 that ultimately carried on the erratic lineage of the last remaining Ohio League member Dayton Triangles.

The 1952 NFL season was the 33rd regular season of the National Football League. Prior to the season, the legacy of the Dayton Triangles, the final remaining Ohio League member and the franchise then known as the New York Yanks owner Ted Collins sold his team back to the NFL. A few days later, a new team was then awarded to an ownership group in Dallas, Texas, after it purchased the assets of the Yanks.

The 1955 NFL season was the 36th regular season of the National Football League. NBC paid $100,000 to replace DuMont as the national television network for the NFL Championship Game. The season ended when the Cleveland Browns defeated the Los Angeles Rams 38–14 in the title game.

The 1958 NFL season was the 39th regular season of the National Football League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roman Gabriel</span> American football player (born 1940)

Roman Ildonzo Gabriel Jr. is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL). He was the second overall pick in the 1962 NFL Draft and played for the Los Angeles Rams for eleven seasons, then five seasons for the Philadelphia Eagles. He is notable for being the first NFL quarterback of Filipino-American descent.

The 1950 NFL Championship Game was the 18th National Football League (NFL) title game, played on Sunday, December 24 at Cleveland Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio.

The 1950 National Football League playoffs took place after the 1950 regular season ended with a tie for first place in both the American and National conferences. The ties forced one-game playoffs to determine who would play in the NFL championship game. It was the only time in the NFL's championship game era that two such tiebreaker playoff games were needed in the same year. The Cleveland Browns and New York Giants tied for first place in the American Conference, while the Chicago Bears and Los Angeles Rams tied for first place in the National Conference. The Browns proceeded to beat the Giants 8–3, and the Rams beat the Bears 24–14 in their playoff game. Cleveland then beat the Rams in the championship game the following week. The home teams won all three games in this postseason.

The 1972 Los Angeles Rams season was the team's 35th year with the National Football League and the 27th season in Los Angeles. The Rams looked to improve on their 8–5–1 record from 1971 and make the playoffs for the first time since 1969. After a win against the New Orleans Saints at home, the Rams tied the Chicago Bears, 13–13, their third straight season with a tie. This was followed by an embarrassing loss to the Atlanta Falcons, 31–3. However, the Rams would then pick up their winning ways, beating the San Francisco 49ers 31–7 at home, the Philadelphia Eagles 34–3 in Philly, and the Cincinnati Bengals 15–12 at home. However, following this three-game winning streak, the Rams struggled, losing several close games, including an embarrassing 19-16 setback to the woeful New Orleans Saints, as they lost five of their last six to end the season 6–7–1. This was the last time the Rams missed the playoffs until 1981, as they started a dynasty the next season that won the NFC West seven consecutive times, from 1973–1979. They also finished in second place in 1980.

The 1971 Los Angeles Rams season was the team's 34th year with the National Football League, and the 26th season in Los Angeles. The team looked to improve on its 9–4–1 record from 1970, but finished only one game below their goal, as they finished 8–5–1 and finished 2nd in the NFC West, behind the San Francisco 49ers (9–5).

The 1970 Los Angeles Rams season was the team's 33rd year with the National Football League and the 25th season in Los Angeles. The team looked to improve on its 11-3 record from 1969. However, the Rams missed their mark by two games, and finished with a respectable 9-4-1 record. Despite the winning record, the team missed the playoffs for the 2nd time in 3 seasons.

The 1969 Los Angeles Rams season was the team's 32nd year with the National Football League and the 24th season in Los Angeles. The Rams were led by fifth-year head coach George Allen. This season saw the Rams attempting to improve on their 10–3–1 record from 1968, in which they barely missed the playoffs by a game. The Rams improved on that record by a mere game, winning their first eleven and finishing at 11–3 to win the Coastal Division and qualify for the playoffs.

The 1967 Los Angeles Rams season was the team's 30th year with the National Football League and the 22nd season in Los Angeles. Under second-year head coach George Allen, the Rams had a regular season record of 11–1–2, tied for the best in the league, and won the Coastal Division title. It was their first playoff appearance since 1955.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1965 San Francisco 49ers season</span> NFL team season

The 1965 San Francisco 49ers season was the franchise's 16th season in the National Football League and their 20th overall. They improved on their 4–10 record from 1964, and finished 7–6–1. However, they failed to qualify for the playoffs for the eighth consecutive season.

References


    This page is based on this Wikipedia article
    Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
    Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.