Los Angeles Rams owner Carroll Rosenbloom entered the 1973 season with one thing on his mind: change. Rosenbloom did not like what he witnessed the previous season and strived for better, which meant multiple roster moves. Here is a list of changes that took place during the 1973 offseason:
- QB Roman Gabriel was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles for WR Harold Jackson, RB Tony Baker, a first round pick in the 1974 NFL Draft and a first and third round draft pick in the 1975 NFL Draft.
- The Rams sent their 1973 first round draft pick (11th overall) to the New England Patriots for defensive end Fred Dryer.
- The Rams traded RB Willie Ellison and QB Pete Beathard to the Kansas City Chiefs for LB Bob Stein and a second and fourth round pick in the 1973 NFL Draft.
- DE Coy Bacon and RB Bob Thomas were traded to the San Diego Chargers for QB John Hadl.
- The Rams used the picks they got from trades on the following players: RB Cullen Bryant (from Deacon Jones trade in 1972), LB Jim Youngblood (from the Chiefs), T Tim Stokes (from Deacon Jones trade in 1972) and CB Eddie McMillan (from the Chiefs).
- Youngstown State QB Ron Jaworski was selected with the Rams’ own second round pick (37th overall).
- Head coach Tommy Prothro was replaced by former Detriot Lions assistant coach Chuck Knox.
These changes eventually brought the Rams success. Los Angeles began the year with six straight wins as the team earned a reputation for its stingy defense and high-flying offense. This dominance was on full display when the Atlanta Falcons journeyed to Los Angeles in Week 2.
The defense was impenetrable as the Rams crushed the Falcons, 31-0. Hadl completed 12 of 15 passes for 142 yards and two touchdowns, and running backs Lawrence McCutcheon, Larry Smith and Jim Bertelsen combined for a total of 160 yards in the victory.
The Rams lost only two games during the 1973 season. They lost by a combined three points on back-to-back weeks to the Minnesotate Vikings (10-9) and the Falcons (15-13) in the middle of the season. However, the Rams refused to break and recovered in Week 9 with a 29-7 victory over the New Orleans Saints. Los Angeles went on to win the final six regular season games of the 1973 season.
The Rams finished the season on top of the NFC West with a 12-2 record, and they traveled to Dallas to face the 10-4 Cowboys in the divisional round. The Cowboys jumped out on top early in game behind a Calvin Hill four-yard touchdown run and Roger Staubach three-yard scoring throw to Drew Pearson. The Rams fought their way back into the game in the fourth quarter, but the Staubach-Pearson connection struck again on 83-yard touchdown play to put the Cowboys up 24-16. Dallas put the game out of reach with a field goal late in the game to win 27-16.
The Rams were well-represented in the Pro Bowl, including QB John Hadl, RB Lawrence McCutcheon, RB Jim Bertelsen, WR Harold Jackson, G Tom Mack, DE Jack Youngblood, DT Merlin Olsen and LB Isiah Robertson. Hadl, Jackson and Robertson were named to the All-Pro team. Hadl also earned NFC Player of the Year, finishing with 2,008 passing yards and 22 touchdowns.
Season Notes
– The Rams returned to the original blue and gold jerseys and ended the seven-year run of the blue and white jerseys that debuted in 1965.
– Training camp was held at California State University Fullerton.
– The Rams led the league in scoring with 388 points.
– The team finished fourth in points allowed (178).
– Jim and Jack Youngblood were not related, contrary to popular belief.
| 1973 Los Angeles Rams | ||||
| Week | Date | Opponent | Score | Record |
| 1 | Sunday, Sept. 16 | @Kansas City Chiefs | W, 23-13 | 1-0 |
| 2 | Sunday, Sept. 23 | Atlanta Falcons | W, 31-0 | 2-0 |
| 3 | Sunday, Sept. 30 | @San Francisco 49ers | W, 40-20 | 3-0 |
| 4 | Sunday, Oct. 7 | @Houston Oilers | W, 31-26 | 4-0 |
| 5 | Sunday, Oct. 14 | Dallas Cowboys | W, 37-31 | 5-0 |
| 6 | Sunday, Oct. 21 | Green Bay Packers | W, 24-7 | 6-0 |
| 7 | Sunday, Oct. 28 | @Minnesota Vikings | L, 9-10 | 6-1 |
| 8 | Sunday, Nov. 4 | @Atlanta Falcons | L, 13-15 | 6-2 |
| 9 | Sunday, Nov. 11 | New Orleans Saints | W, 29-7 | 7-2 |
| 10 | Sunday, Nov. 18 | San Francisco 49ers | W, 31-13 | 8-2 |
| 11 | Sunday, Nov. 25 | @New Orleans Saints | W, 24-13 | 9-2 |
| 12 | Sunday, Dec. 2 | @Chicago Bears | W, 26-0 | 10-2 |
| 13 | Sunday, Dec. 9 | New York Giants | W, 40-6 | 11-2 |
| 14 | Sunday, Dec. 16 | Cleveland Browns | W, 30-17 | 12-2 |
| 1973 Playoffs | ||||
| Div. | Sunday, Dec. 23 | @Dallas Cowboys | L, 16-27 | – |
Sources: Profootballreference.com, Stlouisrams.com You can follow Johnny Gomez on Twitter @Johnny5not6. Be sure to follow Rams Talk on Twitter @TalkRams.
