1973 Los Angeles Rams season

The 1973 Los Angeles Rams season was the team's 36th year with the National Football League and the 28th season in Los Angeles. The Rams were 7–0 at home for the first time since 1945.[1] On the road, the Rams were 5–2.

1973 Los Angeles Rams season
OwnerCarroll Rosenbloom
Head coachChuck Knox
Home fieldLos Angeles Memorial Coliseum
Results
Record12–2
Division place1st NFC West
Playoff finishLost Divisional Playoffs (Cowboys) 16–27
Uniform

The Rams donned new uniforms, which remained in use until 1994, their final season in Los Angeles, and though they moved to St. Louis in 1995, the uniform tradition continued until 1999, where they won Super Bowl XXXIV, and wore them for Super Bowl LIII. The uniforms would return for their home games in 2018 and 2019.

The Rams finished the season with a brilliant 12-2 record and won the NFC West and appeared in the playoffs for the first time in the post-merger era. However, in their first post-merger playoff game, they lost to the Dallas Cowboys 27-16. This would be the first of 7 straight division titles for the Rams, spanning from 1973-1979.

Offseason

NFL Draft
Main article: 1973 NFL Draft
Round Pick Player drafted or Traded for Position College Trade notes, what Rams traded away
111Fred Dryer (via trade)Defensive EndSan Diego State Rams #1 Pick sent to New England Patriots for Dryer
231Cullen BryantRunning BackColorado Chargers #2 Pick acquired for Deacon Jones, Greg Wojic and Lee White
237Ron JaworskiQuarterbackYoungstown State
242Jim YoungbloodLinebackerTennessee Tech Chiefs #2 Pick acquired for Willie Ellison
360Tim StokesTackleOregon #3 pick from Chargers in D. Jones deal.
495Eddie McMillanCornerbackFlorida State#4 Pick acquired from Chiefs for Pete Beathard

Roster
1973 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 Attendance
1 September 16, 1973 at Kansas City Chiefs W 23–13 62,315
2 September 23, 1973 Atlanta Falcons W 31–0 61,197
3 September 30, 1973 at San Francisco 49ers W 40–20 57,487
4 October 7, 1973 at Houston Oilers W 31–26 34,875
5 October 14, 1973 Dallas Cowboys W 37–31 81,428
6 October 21, 1973 Green Bay Packers W 24–7 80,558
7 October 28, 1973 at Minnesota Vikings L 10–9 47,787
8 November 4, 1973 at Atlanta Falcons L 15–13 55,837
9 November 11, 1973 New Orleans Saints W 29–7 70,358
10 November 18, 1973 San Francisco 49ers W 31–13 78,358
11 November 25, 1973 at New Orleans Saints W 24–13 67,192
12 December 2, 1973 at Chicago Bears W 26–0 47,620
13 December 10, 1973 New York Giants W 40–6 73,328
14 December 16, 1973 Cleveland Browns W 30–17 73,948

Week 6
1 2 3 4 Total
Packers 0 0 7 0 7
Rams 0 10 3 11 24

Newly acquired quarterback John Hadl, the NFC Player of the Year in 1973, and a stingy Los Angeles defense led the 6–0 Rams to a 10–0 lead in the first half on the way to a 24–7 victory over the 2–2–2 Green Bay Packers. After a scoreless first quarter, the Rams took the lead on kicker David Ray's 44-yard field goal. The next score came on a 46-yard touchdown pass from Hadl to former Eagles wide receiver Harold Jackson. Green Bay cut the deficit to 10–7 on wide receiver Barry Smith's 23-yard touchdown catch from MacArthur Lane on a halfback option pass.

Los Angeles gained momentum in the third quarter on a 40-yard field goal by David Ray. A 1-yard touchdown run by running back Larry Smith in the fourth quarter put the Rams ahead 20–7. Later in the game, the Packers found themselves deep in their own territory. Moments later, Dryer came storming in from the right side of the defense and chased down Green Bay quarterback Scott Hunter, dropping him in the end zone for a safety. On the Packers' following possession near their own goal line, Dryer attacked again. He looped through the middle of the Packers' offensive line and dragged backup quarterback Jim Del Gaizo down for his second safety of the game, setting a new NFL record.

For his efforts, Dryer was named the Associated Press NFL Defensive Player of the Week.

Week 12
1 234Total
• Rams 10 3013 26
Bears 0 000 0
  • Date: December 2
  • Location: Soldier Field, Chicago
  • Game start: 1:00 p.m.
  • Game weather: 45°F, wind 16 mph

[2]

Playoffs
Week Date Opponent Result Attendance
Divisional December 23, 1973 at Dallas Cowboys L 27–16 64,291

Standings
NFC West
W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
Los Angeles Rams 12 2 0 .857 5–1 9–2 388 178 W6
Atlanta Falcons 9 5 0 .643 4–2 7–4 318 224 W1
San Francisco 49ers 5 9 0 .357 2–4 4–7 262 319 L2
New Orleans Saints 5 9 0 .357 1–5 4–7 163 312 L1

References
  1. NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York,NY, ISBN 0-7611-2480-2, p. 267
  2. Pro-Football-Reference.com
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