The 1967 Los Angeles Rams appeared capable of being a top contender to win the NFL title. In fact, the team posted the best record in the league and won the Coastal Division. Unfortunately, the Rams soon found out that the Green Bay Packers weren’t about to let go of their stranglehold on the NFL just yet.
The Rams started off the year strong by winning three straight games, including victories over the New Orleans Saints (27-13), the Minnesota Vikings (39-3) and the Dallas Cowboys (35-13). The problem is their great start didn’t last for long. The Rams came up winless in the next three games despite suffering only one loss during the regular season. The team earned ties in back-to-back games with the Baltimore Colts (24-24) and the Washington Redskins (28-28).
Los Angeles was were fortunate that none of the games effected their divisional standings, especially since their sole loss came against the divisional foe and arch-rival San Francisco 49ers. The Rams fell behind 20-0 at halftime, but they rallied late to get back to take a 21-20 lead entering the fourth quarter. LB Jack Pardee scored on an interception, and QB Roman Gabriel registered two touchdowns, one rushing and one through the air, to put Los Angeles ahead. The rally was shut down when 49ers’ QB John Brodie found WR Sonny Randle for the game-winning 28-yard touchdown. Despite their late game efforts, the Rams fell just short with a final score of 27-24.
Following the loss to the 49ers, The Rams went on a seven-game winning streak and appeared to be unbeatable at times thanks to the “Fearsome Foursome.” Los Angeles may have mustered only three unofficial sacks Johnson interceptions in the Rams’ 31-3 victory. QB Roman Gabriel led the Rams’ offense with 246 yards passing and two touchdowns.
The Rams’ final game of the regular season was against the Baltimore Colts in Los Angeles. This exciting matchup drew in 77,277 fans in what was essentially the Coastal Division title game. The 11-0-2 Colts were led by future Hall of Fame QB Johnny Unitas, but it was the Rams defense that put on a legendary performance. Unitas was “sacked” seven times and threw two interceptions, while his counterpart Roman Gabriel finished the game with 257 yards passing and three touchdown passes in the Rams’ 34-10 win.
Los Angeles went on to face the Packers in Green Bay for the Western Conference Championship. The Rams offense struggled throughout the game, and the normally stout defense gave up 374 total yards, despite forcing four turnovers. Green Bay ended the Rams’ Super Bowl hopes in a 28-7 blowout victory.
The season ended with a 30-6 victory over the Cleveland Browns in the Playoff Bowl, which was a consolation game for third place. The Rams’ players earned plenty of accolades at the end of the season. They had 11 Pro Bowlers: QB Roman Gabriel, RB Les Josephson, WR Bernie Casey, WR Jack Snow, G Tom Mack, DE Deacon Jones, DT Merlin Olsen, DT Roger Brown, LB Maxie Baughan and PR Eddie Meador. Jones and Olsen were also awarded All-Pro status. Head coach George Allen was named Coach of the Year.
Season Notes
– Deacon Jones recorded 26 unofficial sacks, which would be an NFL record today.
– The Rams led the league in points scored with 398 and in points allowed with 198.
– RB Willie Ellison from Texas Southern was selected in the second round (33rd overall) in the 1967 NFL Draft.
– Equipment manager Bill Granholm left the Rams after 18 years of service to take a position in the league office.
– Don Hewitt takes over as equipment manager, which began a 28-year tenure with the Rams.
– The Rams recorded their first unbeaten preseason winning six-straight games.
| 1967 Los Angeles Rams | ||||
| Week | Date | Opponent | Score | Record |
| 1 | September 17, 1967 | @ New Orleans Saints | W, 27-13 | 1-0 |
| 2 | September 22, 1967 | Minnesota Vikings | W, 39-3 | 2-0 |
| 3 | October 1, 1967 | @ Dallas Cowboys | W, 35-13 | 3-0 |
| 4 | October 8, 1967 | San Francisco 49ers | L, 27-24 | 3-1 |
| 5 | October 15, 1967 | @ Baltimore Colts | T, 24-24 | 3-1-1 |
| 6 | October 22, 1967 | Washington Redskins | T 28-28 | 3-1-2 |
| 7 | October 29, 1967 | @ Chicago Bears | W, 28-17 | 4-1-2 |
| 8 | November 5, 1967 | @ San Francisco 49ers | W, 17-7 | 5-1-2 |
| 9 | November 12, 1967 | Philadelphia Eagles | W, 33-17 | 6-1-2 |
| 10 | November 19, 1967 | @ Atlanta Falcons | W, 31-3 | 7-1-2 |
| 11 | November 23, 1967 | @ Detroit Lions | W, 31-7 | 8-1-2 |
| 12 | December 3, 1967 | Atlanta Falcons | W, 20-3 | 9-1-2 |
| 13 | December 9, 1967 | Green Bay Packers | W, 27-24 | 10-1-2 |
| 14 | December 17, 1967 | Baltimore Colts | W, 34-10 | 11-1-2 |
| Playoffs | ||||
| *WCC | December 23, 1967 | @ Green Bay Packers | L, 28-7 | 11-2-2 |
| **PB | January 7, 1968 | Cleveland Browns | W, 30-6 | 12-2-2 |
*Western Conference Championship **Playoff Bowl
You can follow Johnny Gomez on Twitter @Johnny5not6. Be sure to follow Rams Talk on Twitter @TalkRams.
Sources: Profootballreference.com, Stlouisrams.com, Clanram.com (photo)
