| 1997 St. Louis Rams season | |
|---|---|
| Owner | Georgia Frontiere |
| General manager | Dick Vermeil |
| Head coach | Dick Vermeil |
| Offensive coordinator | Jerry Rhome |
| Defensive coordinator | Bud Carson |
| Home stadium | Trans World Dome |
| Results | |
| Record | 5–11 |
| Division place | 5thNFC West |
| Playoffs | Did not qualify |
| Pro Bowlers | DEKevin Carter |
| Uniform | |
 | |
The1997St. Louis Rams season was the team's 60th year with theNational Football League (NFL) and the third season inSt. Louis. Still struggling to find answers, the Rams looked to improve on their 6–10 record from1996 and make the playoffs for the first time since1989, when the team was still based inAnaheim. The Rams started out the season mediocre, splitting their first four games. However, after beating theNew York Giants at home, things began to unravel, as the Rams lost their next eight games before winning three of their last four to end the season 5–11. This wasDick Vermeil’s first season as head coach of the Rams. Despite the losing record, Vermeil had brought the Rams back to competitiveness. Of their 5–11 record, five of those losses were only by a touchdown or less.
| 1997 St. Louis Rams draft | |||||
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | College | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Orlando Pace * † | Offensive tackle | Ohio State | |
| 2 | 40 | Dexter McCleon | Cornerback | Clemson | |
| 4 | 112 | Ryan Tucker | Offensive tackle | TCU | |
| Made roster † Pro Football Hall of Fame * Made at least onePro Bowl during career | |||||
| Quarterbacks(QB) Running backs(RB) Wide receivers(WR) Tight ends(TE) | Offensive linemen(OL) | Linebackers(LB)
Defensive backs(DB)
Special teams(ST) | Practice squad 53 active, 6 inactive, 4 practice squadReserve
|
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | August 31 | New Orleans Saints | W 38–24 | 1–0 | Trans World Dome | 64,575 | |
| 2 | September 7 | San Francisco 49ers | L 12–15 | 1–1 | Trans World Dome | 64,630 | |
| 3 | September 14 | atDenver Broncos | L 14–35 | 1–2 | Mile High Stadium | 74,338 | |
| 4 | September 21 | New York Giants | W 13–3 | 2–2 | Trans World Dome | 64,642 | |
| 5 | September 28 | atOakland Raiders | L 17–35 | 2–3 | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum | 42,506 | |
| 6 | Bye | ||||||
| 7 | October 12 | atSan Francisco 49ers | L 10–30 | 2–4 | 3Com Park | 63,825 | |
| 8 | October 19 | Seattle Seahawks | L 9–17 | 2–5 | Trans World Dome | 64,819 | |
| 9 | October 26 | Kansas City Chiefs | L 20–28 | 2–6 | Trans World Dome | 64,864 | |
| 10 | November 2 | atAtlanta Falcons | L 31–34 | 2–7 | Georgia Dome | 36,583 | |
| 11 | November 9 | atGreen Bay Packers | L 7–17 | 2–8 | Lambeau Field | 60,093 | |
| 12 | November 16 | Atlanta Falcons | L 21–27 | 2–9 | Trans World Dome | 64,299 | |
| 13 | November 23 | Carolina Panthers | L 10–16 | 2–10 | Trans World Dome | 64,609 | |
| 14 | November 30 | atWashington Redskins | W 23–20 | 3–10 | Jack Kent Cooke Stadium | 74,772 | |
| 15 | December 7 | atNew Orleans Saints | W 34–27 | 4–10 | Louisiana Superdome | 54,803 | |
| 16 | December 14 | Chicago Bears | L 10–13 | 4–11 | Trans World Dome | 66,030 | |
| 17 | December 20 | atCarolina Panthers | W 30–18 | 5–11 | Ericcson Stadium | 58,101 | |
| Note: Intra-division opponents are inbold text. | |||||||
| NFC West | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | T | PCT | PF | PA | STK | |
| (1)San Francisco 49ers | 13 | 3 | 0 | .813 | 375 | 265 | L1 |
| Carolina Panthers | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 265 | 314 | L2 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 320 | 361 | L1 |
| New Orleans Saints | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | 237 | 327 | L1 |
| St. Louis Rams | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | 299 | 359 | W1 |
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