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 currently won 8 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.
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]
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.
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.
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.
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]
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]
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]
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.
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.
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.
TV announcers(CBS): Lindsey Nelson and Paul Hornung
An unexpectedly tough game against the 1–11 49ers featured many big 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]
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]
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
References
↑ "Rams open in 'new' home". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. August 11, 1980. p.20.
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