| 1973 Los Angeles Rams season | |
|---|---|
| Owner | Carroll Rosenbloom |
| Head coach | Chuck Knox |
| Home stadium | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum |
| Results | |
| Record | 12–2 |
| Division place | 1stNFC West |
| Playoffs | LostDivisional Playoffs (atCowboys) 16–27 |
| Uniform | |
 | |
The1973Los Angeles Rams season was the team's 36th year with theNational 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.
The Rams donned new uniforms, which remained in use until 1994, their final season in Los Angeles, and though they moved toSt. Louis in 1995, the uniform tradition continued until 1999, where they wonSuper Bowl XXXIV, and wore them forSuper Bowl LIII. Among these changes, the Rams converted from white helmet horns to yellow helmet horns. The uniforms would return for their home games in2018 and2019.
The Rams finished the season with a 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 was the first of seven straight division titles for the Rams spanning from 1973 to 1979.
| Round | Selection | Player | Position | College | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 11 | Fred Dryer (via trade) | Defensive End | San Diego State | Rams #1 Pick sent to New England Patriots for Dryer |
| 2 | 31 | Cullen Bryant | Running Back | Colorado | Chargers #2 Pick acquired forDeacon Jones, Greg Wojic and Lee White |
| 2 | 37 | Ron Jaworski | Quarterback | Youngstown State | |
| 2 | 42 | Jim Youngblood | Linebacker | Tennessee Tech | Chiefs #2 Pick acquired forWillie Ellison |
| 3 | 60 | Tim Stokes | Tackle | Oregon | #3 pick from Chargers in D. Jones deal. |
| 4 | 95 | Eddie McMillan | Cornerback | Florida State | #4 Pick acquired from Chiefs forPete Beathard |
| Quarterbacks(QB) Running backs(RB)
Wide receivers(WR) Tight ends(TE) | Offensive linemen(OL) | Linebackers(LB)
Defensive backs(DB)
Special teams(ST) | Practice squad
Reserve
|
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 16 | atKansas City Chiefs | W 23–13 | 1–0 | Arrowhead Stadium | 62,315 | |
| 2 | September 23 | Atlanta Falcons | W 31–0 | 2–0 | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | 61,197 | |
| 3 | September 30 | atSan Francisco 49ers | W 40–20 | 3–0 | Candlestick Park | 57,487 | |
| 4 | October 7 | atHouston Oilers | W 31–26 | 4–0 | Houston Astrodome | 34,875 | |
| 5 | October 14 | Dallas Cowboys | W 37–31 | 5–0 | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | 81,428 | |
| 6 | October 21 | Green Bay Packers | W 24–7 | 6–0 | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | 80,558 | |
| 7 | October 28 | atMinnesota Vikings | L 9–10 | 6–1 | Metropolitan Stadium | 47,787 | |
| 8 | November 4 | atAtlanta Falcons | L 13–15 | 6–2 | Atlanta Stadium | 55,837 | |
| 9 | November 11 | New Orleans Saints | W 29–7 | 7–2 | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | 70,358 | |
| 10 | November 18 | San Francisco 49ers | W 31–13 | 8–2 | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | 78,358 | |
| 11 | November 25 | atNew Orleans Saints | W 24–13 | 9–2 | Tulane Stadium | 67,192 | |
| 12 | December 2 | atChicago Bears | W 26–0 | 10–2 | Soldier Field | 47,620 | |
| 13 | December 10 | New York Giants | W 40–6 | 11–2 | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | 73,328 | |
| 14 | December 16 | Cleveland Browns | W 30–17 | 12–2 | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | 73,948 | |
| Note: Intra-division opponents are inbold text. | |||||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Packers | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| Rams | 0 | 10 | 3 | 11 | 24 |
Newly acquired quarterbackJohn 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 2–2–2Green Bay Packers. After a scoreless first quarter, the Rams took the lead on kickerDavid Ray's 44-yard field goal. The next score came on a 46-yard touchdown pass from Hadl to formerEagles wide receiverHarold Jackson. Green Bay cut the deficit to 10–7 on wide receiverBarry Smith's 23-yard touchdown catch fromMacArthur Lane on ahalfback 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 backLarry 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 quarterbackScott 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 quarterbackJim 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.
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| • Rams | 10 | 3 | 0 | 13 | 26 |
| Bears | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1 | LA | David Ray 30 yard field goal | Rams 3–0 | |
| 1 | LA | Jim Bertelsen 3 yard run (David Ray kick) | Rams 10–0 | |
| 2 | LA | David Ray 16 yard field goal | Rams 13–0 | |
| 4 | LA | David Ray 39 yard field goal | Rams 16–0 | |
| 4 | LA | David Ray 26 yard field goal | Rams 19–0 | |
| 4 | LA | Les Josephson 9 yard run (David Ray kick) | Rams 26–0 | |
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Divisional | December 23, 1973 | atDallas Cowboys | L 27–16 | 64,291 |
| 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 |
