The Cleveland Rams were in dire need of some good news after a disappointing 1940 season. That good news arrived just before the 1941 season got underway when future Hall of Fame owner Daniel F. Reeves and Fred Levy Jr. bought the team. Reeves immediately hired Billy Evans as the Rams’ general manager.
The team had another terrible season, despite the change in front office personnel. In fact, the team finished with the second worst record in franchise history up to that point with a 2-9 record, which placed the team last in the NFL West Division.
The Rams opened the season with two straight victories. They beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 17-14 in Week 1, followed by a 10-6 victory at the Chicago Cardinals. Unfortunately, the Rams unraveled from that point forward and didn’t win another game.
Their struggles began in Green Bay when the Packers dominated the Rams 24-7 in Week 3. Their problems both in this game and for the rest of the season were pretty easy to identify. The Rams simply couldn’t produce on the offensive side of the ball, which constantly put the defense against at a disadvantage. It wasn’t uncommon to watch the Rams wear down late in games on defense, regardless of their effort.
The biggest example of this was when the Rams faced the Chicago Bears at home on Oct. 12. Sadly, it was the Rams’ highest scoring game, and yet they were still crushed in front of 23,850 fans, the largest crowd of the season. The Rams lost 48-21.
The defense kept the Rams close, but the team’s offensive problems held them back. They dropped a close one on the road in Detroit, 17-7, and then the Rams dropped a heartbreaker at home against the Packers, 17-14. Cleveland kept the game close and treated the home fans to an exciting game, but it wasn’t enough to earn the victory. The tough losses continued as the team traveled to Washington and lost 17-13.
The Rams’ defense was the main reason that the team was able to stay in games, but as the season wore on, the unit eventually wore down. The problem was never more clear than when the Rams were blown out in two consecutive games late in the season. It began in Week 9 when the Bears blew out the Rams 31-13 in Chicago. The following week, the defense gave up seven touchdowns in New York as the Giants humiliated the Rams 49-14.
The defense pulled it together for the season finale, but it still wasn’t enough. The Cardinals shutout the Rams 7-0 in front of 5,000 demoralized fans, the team’s smallest crowd since 1937.
That said, it was Reeves’s first season as the new owner, and he came aboard late in the offseason. The franchise would soon turn around under his watchful eye.
Season Notes
– The Rams selected Washington University offensive guard Rudy Mucha with the fourth pick of the 1941 NFL Draft.
– Kicker/offensive tackle Chet Adams represented the team in the Pro Bowl.
– The Rams had no all-pros on the roster.
– The team produced only 116 points, which placed it ninth in the league (out of 10 teams) in scoring. Defensively, the Rams allowed 244 points, which was also good for ninth place.
| 1941 Cleveland Rams Schedule | ||||
| Week | Date | Opponent | Score | Record |
| 1 | Sunday, Sept. 7 | Pittsburgh Steelers | W, 17-14 | 1-0 |
| 2 | Tuesday, Sept. 16 | @Chicago Cardinals | W, 10-6 | 2-0 |
| 3 | Sunday, Sept. 21 | @Green Bay Packers | L, 7-24 | 2-1 |
| 4 | Sunday, Oct. 5 | Chicago Bears | L, 21-48 | 2-2 |
| 5 | Sunday, Oct. 12 | @Detroit Lions | L, 7-17 | 2-3 |
| 6 | Sunday, Oct. 19 | Green Bay Packers | L, 14-17 | 2-4 |
| 7 | Sunday, Oct. 26 | @Washington Redskins | L, 13-17 | 2-5 |
| 8 | Sunday, Nov. 2 | Detroit Lions | L, 0-14 | 2-6 |
| 9 | Sunday, Nov. 9 | @Chicago Bears | L, 13-31 | 2-7 |
| 10 | Sunday, Nov. 16 | @New York Giants | L, 14-49 | 2-8 |
| 11 | Sunday, Nov. 23 | Chicago Cardinals | L, 0-7 | 2-9 |
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Sources: Profootballreference.com, Stlouisrams.com
