1951 Los Angeles Rams season

1951 Los Angeles Rams season
OwnerDan Reeves
Edwin W. Pauley
General managerChile Walsh
Head coachJoe Stydahar
Home fieldLos Angeles Memorial Coliseum
Results
Record8–4
Division place1st NFL National
Playoff finishWon NFL Championship
(vs. Browns) 24–17
Pro Bowlers
8
Uniform

The 1951 Los Angeles Rams season was the team's 14th year in the National Football League and the sixth season in Los Angeles. In 1951, the Rams had an up-and-down season, never winning more than three games in a row, but were able to win eight games and clinch the National Conference after defeating the Green Bay Packers during Week 12 of the season. Los Angeles also led the National Football League in attendance for the second time while in Southern California; the first of 10 consecutive seasons leading the league in attendance. The Rams' largest crowd during the 1951 campaign was 67,186 against the Cleveland Browns during Week 2.[1]

After their 8–4 campaign, Los Angeles won the National Conference and advanced to their third NFL Championship Game in a row and faced the powerhouse Cleveland Browns. The Rams ended up winning their second NFL Championship in seven seasons, and their first in Los Angeles. The 1951 NFL Championship was also the State of California's first major professional championship and was the Rams' only title while in Southern California, until Super Bowl LVI, 70 years later. The Rams would advance to the championship round four more times (1955, Super Bowl XIV, Super Bowl LIII, and Super Bowl LVI).

The Rams scored 391 points, the second-most of any NFL team in the 1950s (although significantly less than the highest-scoring team of the decade, the 1950 Rams).[2] Los Angeles led the league in total points, total yards, passing yards, and was third in the league in rushing. Ram quarterbacks Bob Waterfield and Norm Van Brocklin led the National Football League in quarterback rating, with both in the top three in yards per completion. Elroy "Crazy Legs" Hirsch led in nearly every receiving category (receptions, receiving yards, receiving touchdowns, yards per reception, yards per game, and points scored).[3] While the Rams' offensive statistics were stellar, Los Angeles' defense was middle-of-the pack in the NFL with 261 points and 3,879 yards given up.

Offseason

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NFL Draft

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Main article: 1951 NFL Draft
1951 Los Angeles Rams Draft
Round Selection Player Position College Notes
1 11 Bud McFadin G Texas
2 36 Herb Rich B Vanderbilt
3 35 Charlie Toogood T Nebraska
4 48 George Kinek B Tulane
5 59 Tony Momsen C Michigan
6 72 Norb Hecker E Baldwin–Wallace
7 83 Alan Egler B Colgate
8 96 Hugo Primiani T Boston University
9 107 Nolan Lang B Oklahoma
10 121 Roland Kirkby B Washington
11 132 John Natyshak B Tampa
12 145 Don Hardey B Pacific
13 156 Joe Reid C Louisiana State
14 169 Rob McCoy B Georgia Tech
15 180 Obie Posey B Southern
16 193 Bill Robertson E Memphis State
17 204 Hal Riley E Baylor
18 217 Dick Daugherty G Oregon
19 228 Andy Robustelli DE Arnold
20 241 Jim Nutter B Wichita State
21 252 Earl Stelle B Oregon
22 265 Billy Baggett B Louisiana State
23 276 Dean Thomas T Michigan State
24 289 Harry Abeltin T Colgate
25 300 Jackie Calvert T Clemson
26 313 Howie Ruetz T Loras
27 324 Al Brosky B Illinois
28 337 Sterling Wingo B Virginia Tech
29 348 Earl Jackson B Texas Tech
30 361 Alvin Hanley B Kentucky State

Preseason

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Schedule

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Week Opponent Result Record Venue
1 vs. 11th Naval W 55–2 1–0 Balboa Stadium
2 Washington Redskins W 58–14 2–0 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
3 Chicago Bears W 42–14 3–0 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
4 vs. Philadelphia Eagles W 31–26 4–0 War Memorial Stadium
5 vs. Chicago Cardinals L 36–21 4–1 Rice Stadium
6 at Cleveland Browns L 6–7 4–2 Cleveland Stadium
7 at New York Giants W 23–21 5–2 Polo Grounds

Regular season

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Schedule

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Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap
1 September 28 at New York Yanks W 52–14 1–0 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Recap
2 October 7 Cleveland Browns L 23–38 1–1 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Recap
3 October 14 at Detroit Lions W 27–21 2–1 Briggs Stadium Recap
4 October 21 at Green Bay Packers W 28–0 3–1 State Fair Park Recap
5 October 28 at San Francisco 49ers L 17–44 3–2 Kezar Stadium Recap
6 November 4 San Francisco 49ers W 23–16 4–2 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Recap
7 November 11 Chicago Cardinals W 45–21 5–2 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Recap
8 November 18 New York Yanks W 48–21 6–2 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Recap
9 November 25 at Washington Redskins L 21–31 6–3 Griffith Stadium Recap
10 December 2 at Chicago Bears W 42–17 7–3 Wrigley Field Recap
11 December 9 Detroit Lions L 22–24 7–4 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Recap
12 December 16 Green Bay Packers W 42–14 8–4 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Recap
Note: Intra-conference opponents are in bold text.

Week 1

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Week one of the 1951 season for the Los Angeles Rams was an exercise in complete domination over the hapless New York Yanks at the Los Angeles Coliseum. Los Angeles jumped out to a 34–0 lead before allowing a New York touchdown in the second quarter and would have likely held the Yanks to only 7 points if it were not for a 30-yard fumble return in the fourth quarter. Ram quarterback Norm Van Brocklin sliced up the New York defense, throwing for 554 yards with five touchdown passes and three different Los Angeles receivers also had over 100 yards receiving.[4] This was the first of two home for the Rams against the now-defunct Yanks, who had to play eight of their 12 games on the road.

Week One: New York Yanks (0–0) at Los Angeles Rams (0–0)
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Yanks 0 7 0714
Rams 21 13 71354

at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California

Game information

Week 2

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Week two saw the Rams face the then-powerhouse Cleveland Browns, winners of five straight league championships (4 AAFC, 1 NFL), in front of 67,186 at the Los Angeles Coliseum. The game started well enough for Los Angeles, jumping out to a 10–0 lead and holding a 10–7 lead at halftime. The Browns, however, stormed out of the gate in the third quarter with 21 points to essentially salt away the eventual National Conference champion Rams. Los Angeles would eventually get a rematch with the eventual American Conference champion Browns in the NFL Championship Game and were able to defeat the powerhouse Browns the second time around.[5]

Week Two: Cleveland Browns (0–1) at Los Angeles Rams (1–0)
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Browns 7 0 211038
Rams 10 0 7623

at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California

Game information

Week 3

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Week Two: Los Angeles Rams (1–1) at Detroit Lions (2–0)
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Rams 7 0 211038
Lions 10 0 7623

at Briggs Stadium, Detroit

Game information

Week 4

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Week Four: Los Angeles Rams (2–1) at Green Bay Packers (2–1)
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Rams 0 0 72128
Packers 0 0 000

at State Fair Park, West Allis, Wisconsin

Game information

Week 5

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With Los Angeles heading into their rivalry game with the San Francisco 49ers on a two-game winning streak and a 3–1 record, the Rams were confident heading into Kezar Stadium in San Francisco. The Rams, however, were shocked by the rival 49ers 44–17. San Francisco exploded for four touchdowns (28 points) in the second quarter, effectively ending the game right there. The lone bright spot in the game for the Rams was the continued excellent play by Elroy "Crazy Legs" Hirsch with seven receptions, 163 yards, and one touchdown.[6]

Week Five: Los Angeles Rams (3–1) at San Francisco 49ers (2–2)
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Rams 3 7 7017
49ers 10 28 0644

at Kezar Stadium, San Francisco, California

Game information

Week 6

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After being embarrassed on the road in San Francisco, the Rams returned home to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum to face the very same 49ers that defeated them a week earlier. This meeting, however, ended with a Los Angeles victory. The Rams had a 13–7 lead heading into halftime, but the third quarter saw San Francisco tie the game at 13 (after a missed PAT) and then early in the fourth quarter take the lead. Los Angeles responded after the 49ers took the lead and rattled off 10 points in the fourth quarter to salt the game away.[7]

Week Six: San Francisco 49ers (3–2) at Los Angeles Rams (3–2)
Quarter 1 2 34Total
49ers 0 7 6316
Rams 10 3 01023

at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California

Game information

Week 7

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Week Six: Chicago Cardinals (1–5) at Los Angeles Rams (4–2)
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Cardinals 7 0 01421
Rams 0 7 281045

at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California

Game information

Standings

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NFL National Conference
W L T PCT CONF PF PA STK
Los Angeles Rams 8 4 0 .667 7–2 392 261 W1
San Francisco 49ers 7 4 1 .636 5–2–1 255 205 W3
Detroit Lions 7 4 1 .636 5–4–1 336 259 L1
Chicago Bears 7 5 0 .583 6–2 286 282 L1
Green Bay Packers 3 9 0 .250 1–8 254 375 L7
New York Yanks 1 9 2 .100 1–7–2 241 382 L2
Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.

Postseason

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Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap
NFL Championship December 23 Cleveland Browns W 24–17 0–1 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Recap

NFL Championship Game

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Main article: 1951 NFL Championship Game

The Rams were the first to score with a 1-yard run by fullback Dick Hoerner in the second quarter. The Browns answered back with an NFL Championship record 52-yard field goal by Lou Groza. They later took the lead with a 17-yard touchdown pass from Otto Graham to Dub Jones. The Browns led at halftime 10–7.

In the third quarter Larry Brink landed a hard tackle on Graham causing him to fumble the ball. Andy Robustelli picked up the ball on the Cleveland 24 and returned it to the Cleveland 2. On the third play of the drive, "Deacon" Dan Towler ran the ball in for a touchdown from the one-yard line giving the Rams a 14–10 lead.

Early in the fourth quarter, the Rams increased their lead with a Bob Waterfield 17-yard field goal. The Browns answered back with an 8-play, 70-yard drive that ended with a 5-yard touchdown run by Ken Carpenter, tying the game at 17–17. Twenty-five seconds later, late in the fourth quarter, Tom Fears beat defenders Cliff Lewis and Tommy James and received a Norm Van Brocklin pass at midfield. Fears raced to the endzone for a 73-yard touchdown, securing a Rams 24–17 win and the 1951 NFL title.

NFL Championship Game: Cleveland Browns (11–1) at Los Angeles Rams (8–4)
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Browns 0 10 0717
Rams 0 7 71024

at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California

Game information

Coaching staff

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1951 Los Angeles Rams staff

Front office

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

  • Wide receivers – Red Hickey
 Defensive coaches
  • Defensive backs/pass game coordinator – Hampton Pool
  • Outside linebackers – Ray Richards




Final roster

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1951 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

Practice squad


None Reserve None

Rookies in italics
29 active, 0 reserve, 0 practice squad
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References

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  1. ^ "1951 NFL Opposition & Defensive Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  2. ^ "In a single season, from 1950 to 1959, in the regular season, sorted by descending Points For". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 26, 2012.
  3. ^ "1951 NFL Leaders and Leaderboards - Pro-Football-Reference.com". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on August 31, 2012. Retrieved September 13, 2012.
  4. ^ "New York Yanks at Los Angeles Rams - September 28th, 1951". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  5. ^ "1951 Los Angeles Rams Statistics & Players | Pro-Football-Reference.com". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  6. ^ "Los Angeles Rams at San Francisco 49ers - October 28th, 1951". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  7. ^ "San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Rams - November 4th, 1951". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
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