1968 Los Angeles Rams season


The 1968 Los Angeles Rams season was the team's 31st year with the National Football League and the 23rd season in Los Angeles.

Roster

Season Recap

Just as they had in 1967, the Rams and Colts staged a season long battle for the Coastal Division title. The Rams won their first six games, but lost to the Colts in Baltimore in week seven, 27-10, to fall into a tie with the Colts. Both teams won their next two games, but then the Rams had to rally from a 10-point 4th quarter deficit to tie the 49ers in San Francisco, 20-20.
Going into the second to the last game of the season against the Bears, the Rams trailed the Colts by 1/2 game, with a regular season finale vs. the Colts in Los Angeles looming the following week to decide the title. The Colts won a Saturday game in Green Bay 16-3. On Sunday, the Bears, the breaks, and the officials all played a role in the Bears 17-16 win that eliminated the Rams. The Bears played inspired defense, even knocking quarterback Roman Gabriel out of the game for a time. The Rams blocked a Bears punt, but it rolled out of the end zone for a safety just before the Rams were about to recover the ball in the end zone for a touchdown. Finally, trailing by a point, Gabriel rallied the Rams and appeared to pass them into field goal range. But a late flag for clipping cost the Rams the gain and set them back 15 yards into their own territory. At the same time, the officials neglected to re-set the down marker back to 3rd down, so when the next play was an incomplete pass, the officials awarded the Bears the ball. The Rams protested vehemently that it was still their ball down but to no avail. The NFL later acknowledged the officials' mistake but said the result of the game could not be changed.

Schedule

WeekDateOpponentResultAttendance
1September 16, 1968at St. Louis CardinalsW 24–1349,757
2September 22, 1968Pittsburgh SteelersW 45–1049,647
3September 29, 1968at Cleveland BrownsW 24–682,514
4October 6, 1968San Francisco 49ersW 24–1069,520
5October 13, 1968at Green Bay PackersW 16–1449,646
6October 20, 1968Atlanta FalconsW 27–1454,443
7October 27, 1968at Baltimore ColtsL 27–1060,238
8November 3, 1968Detroit LionsW 10–777,982
9November 10, 1968at Atlanta FalconsW 17–1053,979
10November 17, 1968at San Francisco 49ersT 20–2041,815
11November 24, 1968New York GiantsW 24–2168,534
12December 1, 1968at Minnesota VikingsW 31–347,644
13December 8, 1968Chicago BearsL 17–1666,368
14December 15, 1968Baltimore ColtsL 28–2469,397

Standings