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.
Prior to the season in February 1984, starting cornerback Kirk Collins died of gastroesophageal cancer. Rams teammates would honor Collins during the season by placing a "42" decal on the rear of their helmets.
Before the season NFL draft
Roster
Regular season Eric Dickerson 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.Eric's Days as a Ram, http://www.ericdickerson29.com/rams.htm His efforts earned him All-Pro, Pro Bowl, Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year honors.Eric Dickerson: Pro Football Hall of Fame, https://www.profootballhof.com/hof/member.jsp?PLAYER_ID=55
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. Dickerson broke OJ’s record with a 215-yard performance in a 27–16 Rams win over the Houston Oilers in week 15.
Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 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 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 at San Francisco 49ers L 16–19 10–6 Candlestick Park Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries Week 1 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 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
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)
Vince Ferragamo was injured (hand) during the first half and replaced by Jeff Kemp. **
. Retrieved 2020-Jul-07.
Week 4 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
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.New York Giants at Los Angeles Rams. Retrieved 2014-Oct-17.
Week 6 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 Dickerson ran for 175 yards. Kemp completed only 8 passes, but three were for touchdowns. Nolan Cromwell had an interception return touchdown.
Week 8 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 The Football Database. Retrieved 2022-Jun-27.
Point spread: 49ers by 3 Over/under: 45.0 (under) Time of game:
49ersGame statisticsRams23 First downs 1239–111 Rushes–yards 19–72376 Passing yards 18022–32–0 14–30–22–15 Sacked–yards 5–46361 Net passing yards 134472 Total yards 20635 Return yards 1233–38.0 6–39.82–2 Fumbles–lost 5–36–41 Penalties–yards 3–2534:26 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 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 Rams continued their playoff push by overcoming a 10–0 deficit behind 149 yards and 2 touchdowns by Dickerson.
Week 12 Eddie Lee Ivery ran for 3 touchdowns and Tim Lewis returned an interception 99 yards for another.
Week 13 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 Rams built a 24–7 halftime lead and cruised behind 2 Kemp touchdown passes and 149 yards and a touchdown from Dickerson.
Week 15
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. Eric Dickerson sets NFL single season rushing record in the game. Jack Youngblood missed his first NFL game due to injury in his career.
Week 16 (Friday, December 14, 1984): at San Francisco 49ers The Football Database. Retrieved 2022-Jun-27.
Point spread: 49ers by 6 Over/under: 44.0 (under) Time of game:
RamsGame statistics49ers19 First downs 1537–185 Rushes–yards 20–89180 Passing yards 21911–22–0 20–31–01–10 Sacked–yards 4–19170 Net passing yards 200355 Total yards 28995 Return yards 884–37.8 6–44.52–1 Fumbles–lost 2–06–57 Penalties–yards 8–7532:52 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 Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap Wild Card December 23 New York Giants L 13–16 0–1 Anaheim Stadium Recap
Standings
Awards and honors Eric Dickerson, NFC Pro Bowl Selection Eric Dickerson, All-Pro Selection Eric Dickerson, UPI NFC Player of the Year
Milestones Eric Dickerson, NFL Record 2,105 Rushing Yards in a Single Season
See also Other Anaheim–based teams in 1984 California Angels (Anaheim Stadium) 1984 California Angels season
References
External links 1984 Los Angeles Rams Season at Pro-Football Reference