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1984 Los Angeles Rams season

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1984 Los Angeles Rams season
OwnerGeorgia Frontiere
Head coachJohn Robinson
Home fieldAnaheim Stadium
Results
Record10–6
Division place2nd NFC West
Playoff finishLost Wild Card Playoffs
(vs. Giants) 13–16
Uniform

The 1984 Los Angeles Rams season was the franchise's 47th season in the National Football League, their 48th overall, and their 39th in the Greater Los Angeles Area. The Rams looked to improve on their 9–7 record from 1983 and make the playoffs for the second consecutive season and 10th in the last 12. They improved on their record by one game, going 10–6, good enough for second place in the NFC West behind the 15–1 San Francisco 49ers. In the playoffs, the Rams lost a low-scoring game to the New York Giants at home, 16–13. During this season, second-year running back Eric Dickerson set the NFL record for most rushing yards in a season, with 2,105 yards.

Before the season

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NFL draft

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Main article: 1984 NFL draft
1984 Los Angeles Rams draft
Round Pick Player Position College Notes
5 133 Hal Stephens  Defensive end East Carolina
7 188 George Radachowsky  Defensive back Boston College
8 215 Ed Brady  Linebacker Illinois
9 242 George Reynolds  Punter Penn State
10 253 Norwood Vann  Linebacker East Carolina
10 274 Joe Dooley  Center Ohio State
11 293 Michael Harper  Wide receiver USC
11 301 Dwayne Love  Running back Houston
12 309 Rod Fisher  Defensive back Oklahoma State
12 328 Moe Bias  Linebacker Illinois
      Made roster  

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Roster

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1984 Los Angeles Rams roster
Quarterbacks (QB)

Running backs (RB)

Wide receivers (WR)

Tight ends (TE)

Offensive linemen (OL)

Defensive linemen (DL)

Linebackers (LB)

Defensive backs (DB)

Special teams

Reserve


Rookies in italics

Regular season

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Eric Dickerson

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In his second season, Dickerson continued his onslaught of the NFL record book. As a rookie, Dickerson established rookie records for most rushing attempts (390), most rushing yards gained (1,808) and most touchdowns rushing (18), including another two receiving touchdowns.[2] His efforts earned him All-Pro, Pro Bowl, Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year honors.[3]

Eleven times during the 1984 season, he gained more than 100 yards rushing, breaking the record of 100-yard games in a season held by O. J. Simpson. His 2,105 total yards rushing in the 1984 NFL season beat Simpson’s 1973 NFL season record of 2,003 yards rushing in a single season. To date, no one has rushed for more yards in a single NFL season. However, Simpson’s career high rushing total came in a 14-game season, whereas Dickerson’s mark was set during a 16-game season.[2] Dickerson broke OJ’s record with a 215-yard performance in a 27–16 Rams win over the Houston Oilers in week 15.

Schedule

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Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap
1 September 3 Dallas Cowboys L 13–20 0–1 Anaheim Stadium Recap
2 September 9 Cleveland Browns W 20–17 1–1 Anaheim Stadium Recap
3 September 16 at Pittsburgh Steelers L 14–24 1–2 Three Rivers Stadium Recap
4 September 23 at Cincinnati Bengals W 24–14 2–2 Riverfront Stadium Recap
5 September 30 New York Giants W 33–12 3–2 Anaheim Stadium Recap
6 October 7 Atlanta Falcons L 28–30 3–3 Anaheim Stadium Recap
7 October 14 at New Orleans Saints W 28–10 4–3 Louisiana Superdome Recap
8 October 22 at Atlanta Falcons W 24–10 5–3 Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium Recap
9 October 28 San Francisco 49ers L 0–33 5–4 Anaheim Stadium Recap
10 November 4 at St. Louis Cardinals W 16–3 6–4 Busch Stadium Recap
11 November 11 Chicago Bears W 29–13 7–4 Anaheim Stadium Recap
12 November 18 at Green Bay Packers L 6–31 7–5 Milwaukee County Stadium Recap
13 November 25 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 34–33 8–5 Tampa Stadium Recap
14 December 2 New Orleans Saints W 34–21 9–5 Anaheim Stadium Recap
15 December 9 Houston Oilers W 27–16 10–5 Anaheim Stadium Recap
16 December 14 at San Francisco 49ers L 16–19 10–6 Candlestick Park Recap
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

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Week 1

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In this Monday Night opener, Rams got off to a 13–0 first-quarter lead with Eric Dickerson running for a touchdown, but the Cowboys stormed back behind 343 passing yards by new QB Gary Hogeboom and a defense that held Vince Ferragamo to 11 pass completions in 33 attempts and just 84 yards, and intercepted 5 passes.

Week 2

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Mike Lansford kicked a late FG to win it. Dickerson had 102 yards rushing and CB Leroy Irvin returned a pickoff 81 yards for a touchdown.

Week 3

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Steelers defense held Dickerson to 49 yards and got 2 passing touchdowns from David Woodley. Ferragamo threw 2 more INT's, giving him eight in three games. He was injured in this game & replaced by Jeff Kemp, who would be the starter for the rest of the season.

Starting QBs: Los Angeles Rams: Vince Ferragamo vs Pittsburgh Steelers: David Woodley.

Vegas Line: Pittsburgh Steelers -3.5

Over/Under 43.0 (under)

Los Angeles Rams (1-1) at Pittsburgh Steelers (1-1)
1 234Total
Rams 7 070 14
• Steelers 0 1437 24

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Week 4

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Dickerson ran for a touchdown and Kemp passed for another. Bengals scored late on a touchdown pass from Ken Anderson to Cris Collinsworth and tried an onside kick, but Mike Guman scooped it up and ran for the final touchdown.

Week 5

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1 234Total
Giants 6 006 12
• Rams 0 17160 33
  • Date: September 30
  • Location: Anaheim Stadium, Anaheim, California
  • Game start: 4:00 p.m.
  • Game weather: 70 °F (21.1 °C); humidity 73%; wind 11 miles per hour (18 km/h; 9.6 kn)
  • Referee: Gordon McCarter
  • TV announcers (CBS): Frank Glieber and Dick Vermeil
Scoring summary
Q1NYGPhil McConkey Special teams recovery in end zone on opening kickoff. Receiving team did not touch ball.NYG 6–0
Q2LADwayne Crutchfield 1 yard rush (Mike Lansford kick)LA 7–6
Q2LAHenry Ellard 83 yard punt return (Mike Lansford kick)LA 14–6
Q2LAMike Lansford 33 yard field goalLA 17–6
Q3LASafety, Ivory Sully blocked punt out of end zoneLA 19–6
Q3LASafety, Reggie Doss and Jack Youngblood tackled Phil Simms in end zoneLA 21–6
Q3LADavid Hill 2 yard pass from Jeff Kemp (Mike Lansford kick)LA 28–6
Q3LAMike Lansford 35 yard field goalLA 31–6
Q3LASafety, Norwood Vann blocked punt out of end zoneLA 33–6
Q4NYGEarnest Gray 15 yard pass from Phil SimmsLA 33–12

Rams’ defense tied an NFL-record by scoring three safeties. They also held the Giants to 8 yards rushing. Henry Ellard returned a punt 83 yards for a touchdown, and Kemp continued to play mistake-free football, passing for another touchdown. The Rams also became the most recent NFL team (the last one prior was before 1940) to score three safeties in one game as they easily defeat Phil Simms and the Giants.[5]

Week 6

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The game lead changed six times in the second half. The Falcons won on three rushing touchdowns by Lynn Cain and a late FG by Mick Luckhurst.

Week 7

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Dickerson ran for 175 yards. Kemp completed only 8 passes, but three were for touchdowns. Nolan Cromwell had an interception return touchdown.

Week 8

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Rams got revenge on the road against the Falcons as Dickerson ran for 145 yards and a touchdown and Ellard caught a pass and returned another punt for touchdowns.

Week 9 (Sunday, October 28, 1984): vs. San Francisco 49ers

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Week 9: San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Rams
Quarter 1 2 34Total
49ers (8–1) 3 16 7733
Rams (5–4) 0 0 000

at Anaheim Stadium • Anaheim, California

  • Date: October 28, 1984
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. PST
  • Game weather: 60 °F (16 °C); wind 7 miles per hour (11 km/h; 6.1 kn)
  • Game attendance: 65,481
  • Referee: Bob Frederic
  • TV announcers (CBS): Tom Brookshier (play-by-play) and Wayne Walker (color commentator)
  • [7]
Team Category Player Statistics
SF Passing Joe Montana 21/31, 365 YDS, 3 TDs
Rushing Wendell Tyler 13 CAR, 27 YDS
Receiving Freddie Solomon 6 REC, 94 YDS, 1 TD
LARams Passing Jeff Kemp 14/30, 180 YDS, 2 INTs
Rushing Eric Dickerson 13 CAR, 38 YDS
Receiving Henry Ellard 4 REC, 91 YDS
  • Point spread: 49ers by 3
  • Over/Under: 45.0 (under)
  • Time of Game:
49ers Game Statistics Rams
23 First downs 12
39–111 Rushes–yards 19–72
376 Passing yards 180
22–32–0 Passes 14–30–2
2–15 Sacked–yards 5–46
361 Net passing yards 134
472 Total yards 206
35 Return yards 123
3–38.0 Punts 6–39.8
2–2 Fumbles–lost 5–3
6–41 Penalties–yards 3–25
34:26 Time of Possession 25:34

The 49ers got 376 yards passing and 3 touchdowns from Joe Montana. Dickerson was held to 38 rushing yards.

Week 10

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Kemp only completed 5 of 14 passes with one touchdown to Ron Brown and Dickerson rushed for 208 yards; Dickerson accounted for almost all of the Rams' 261 yards of offense. Lansford kicked a FG late to win the game as the Rams defense sacked Neil Lomax six times, three by veteran Jack Youngblood

Week 11

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Rams continued their playoff push by overcoming a 10–0 deficit behind 149 yards and 2 touchdowns by Dickerson.

Week 12

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Eddie Lee Ivery ran for 3 touchdowns and Tim Lewis returned an interception 99 yards for another.

Week 13

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In a wild affair at Tampa, the Rams overcame 322 yards passing by Steve DeBerg and scored 17 4th quarter points. The Rams rushed for 299 yards, 191 by Dickerson along with 3 touchdowns.

Week 14

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Rams built a 24–7 halftime lead and cruised behind 2 Kemp touchdown passes and 149 yards and a touchdown from Dickerson.

Week 15

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See also: 1984 Houston Oilers season
Week Fifteen: Houston Oilers (3–11) at Los Angeles Rams (9–5)
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Oilers 3 10 3016
Rams 17 3 0727

at Anaheim Stadium, Anaheim, California

Game information

The Rams clinched a wild-card playoff berth and Dickerson surpassed O. J. Simpson's NFL single-season rushing record by rushing for a season-high 215 yards.

Week 16 (Friday, December 14, 1984): at San Francisco 49ers

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[8]

Week 16: Los Angeles Rams at San Francisco 49ers
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Rams (10–6) 3 10 0316
49ers (15–1) 14 3 0219

at Candlestick Park • San Francisco, California

Team Category Player Statistics
LARams Passing Jeff Kemp 11/22, 180 YDS
Rushing Eric Dickerson 26 CAR, 98 YDS, 1 TD
Receiving Ron Brown 3 REC, 55 YDS
SF Passing Joe Montana 20/31, 219 YDS, 2 TDs
Rushing Roger Craig 8 CAR, 59 YDS
Receiving Earl Cooper 5 REC, 40 YDS, 1 TD
  • Point spread: 49ers by 6
  • Over/Under: 44.0 (under)
  • Time of Game:
Rams Game Statistics 49ers
19 First downs 15
37–185 Rushes–yards 20–89
180 Passing yards 219
11–22–0 Passes 20–31–0
1–10 Sacked–yards 4–19
170 Net passing yards 200
355 Total yards 289
95 Return yards 88
4–37.8 Punts 6–44.5
2–1 Fumbles–lost 2–0
6–57 Penalties–yards 8–75
32:52 Time of Possession 27:08

The 49ers got two early touchdown passes from Montana and held off a late Ram charge for the win, culminating in a sack for a safety by Gary "Big Hands" Johnson. With this win, the 49ers became the first team in NFL history to win 15 games in an NFL regular season.

Postseason

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Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap
Wild Card December 23 New York Giants L 13–16 0–1 Anaheim Stadium Recap

Standings

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NFC West
W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
San Francisco 49ers(1) 15 1 0 .938 6–0 12–0 475 227 W9
Los Angeles Rams(4) 10 6 0 .625 3–3 7–5 346 316 L1
New Orleans Saints 7 9 0 .438 1–5 4–8 298 361 W1
Atlanta Falcons 4 12 0 .250 2–4 3–9 281 382 W1

Awards and honors

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Milestones

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  • Eric Dickerson, NFL Record 2,105 Rushing Yards in a Single Season

See also

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Other Anaheim–based teams in 1984

References

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  1. ^ "1984 Los Angeles Rams Draftees". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved July 12, 2024.
  2. ^ a b Eric's Days as a Ram, http://www.ericdickerson29.com/rams.htm Archived 2007-10-14 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ Eric Dickerson: Pro Football Hall of Fame, http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/member.jsp?PLAYER_ID=55
  4. ^ [1]. Retrieved 2020-Jul-07.
  5. ^ New York Giants at Los Angeles Rams. Retrieved 2014-Oct-17.
  6. ^ The Football Database. Retrieved 2022-Jun-27.
  7. ^ Pro Football Reference; San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Rams – October 28, 1984
  8. ^ The Football Database. Retrieved 2022-Jun-27.
  9. ^ Pro Football Reference; Los Angeles Rams at San Francisco 49ers – December 14, 1984
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