1985 Los Angeles Rams season

NFL team season August 2023 March 2026 Los Angeles Rams Image:Rams 40th.png Logo commemorating the Rams' 40th season in the Greater Los Angeles Area 1985 11–5 1st NFC West John Robinson Fritz Shurmur John Shaw Georgia Frontiere Anaheim Stadium Won Divisional Playoffs(vs. Cowboys) 20–0Lost NFC Championship(at Bears) 0–24 200px Rams seasons The 1985 Los Angeles Rams season was the franchise's 48th season in the National Football League and their 40th in the Greater Los Angeles Area. In the playoffs, the Rams shut out the Dallas Cowboys 20–0 in the Divisional playoffs, advancing to the NFC Championship Game, but were shut out themselves by the eventual Super Bowl champion Chicago Bears 24–0. Eric Dickerson rushed for 1,234 yards in 1985 while missing the first two games while in a contract dispute. He missed the Pro Bowl for the first time in his short NFL career. He did, however, go on to rush for a playoff record 248 yards against the Dallas Cowboys in post-season play.Eric Dickerson: Pro Football Hall of Fame, http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/member.jsp?PLAYER_ID=55 It was also the last time the Rams would win an NFC West divisional title when based in Los Angeles until 2017, and the last NFC West title until 1999 while they were in St. Louis. After the season, Russ Bolinger decided he had played his final NFL game. 2 Offseason NFL draft 1985 Los Angeles Rams 1 21 Jerry Gray Cornerback Texas yes yes 2 50 Chuck Scott Wide receiver Vanderbilt Made roster in 1986 3 77 Dale Hatcher Punter Clemson yes yes 5 113 Kevin Greene Linebacker Auburn yes yes yes 6 161 Mike Young Wide receiver UCLA yes 6 162 Damone Johnson Tight end Cal Poly Made roster in 1986 7 189 Danny Bradley Running back Oklahoma 8 218 Marlon McIntyre Running back Pittsburgh 9 245 Gary Swanson Linebacker Cal Poly 10 274 Duval Love Guard UCLA yes 11 285 Doug Flutie Quarterback Boston College yes Signed with New Jersey Generals (USFL) 11 301 Kevin Brown Defensive back Northwestern https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/ram/1985_draft.htm 1985 Los Angeles Rams Draftees Pro Football Reference February 13, 2022 Undrafted free agents + 1985 undrafted free agents of notePlayerPositionCollegeRaymond ArnoldWide receiverCal State-HaywardJonathan FinstuenWide receiverOccidental CollegeMike ShinerTackleNotre DameAlvin WrightNose TackleJacksonville State Personnel Staff 1985 Los Angeles Rams Owner/President – Georgia Frontiere Administrator of Football Operations – Jack Faulkner Director of Player Personnel – John Math Head Coach – John Robinson Running Backs – Bruce Snyder Wide Receivers – Lew Erber Tight Ends – Norv Turner Offensive Line – Hudson Houck Special Assistant – Denny Schuler Defensive Line – Marv Goux Assistant Defensive Line – Larry Brooks Inside Linebackers – Fritz Shurmur Outside Linebackers – Fred Whittingham Defensive Backs – Steve Shafer Special Teams – Gil Haskell Roster 1985 Los Angeles Rams  5 Dieter Brock  8 Steve Dils  9 Jeff Kemp 29 Eric Dickerson 44 Mike Guman 30 Barry Redden 33 Charles White American football 89 Ron Brown wide receiver 82 Bobby Duckworth 80 Henry Ellard 88 Mike Young American football y 81 David Hill tight end 85 Tony Hunter tight end 62 Bill Bain American football T 73 Russ Bolinger G 60 Dennis Harrah G 72 Kent Hill G 75 Irv Pankey T 78 Jackie Slater T 61 Tony Slaton C/G 70 Charles DeJurnett NT 71 Reggie Doss DE 68 Dennis Harrison DE 77 Gary Jeter DE 69 Greg Meisner NT 98 Shawn Miller American football NT 93 Doug Reed DE 50 Jim Collins linebacker ILB 55 Carl Ekern ILB 91 Kevin Greene y OLB 59 Mark Jerue ILB 57 Jim Laughlin ILB 58 Mel Owens OLB 51 Norwood Vann OLB 54 Mike Wilcher OLB 21 Nolan Cromwell SS 48 Tim Fox American football FS 25 Jerry Gray y CB 27 Gary Green American football CB 47 LeRoy Irvin CB 20 Johnnie Johnson American football FS 22 Vince Newsome SS 90 Ed Brady American football y LS  3 Dale Hatcher y P  1 Mike Lansford K 52 George Andrews American football LB IR 34 Danny Bradley y WR IR 26 Eric Harris gridiron football CB IR 38 Damone Johnson y TE IR 67 Duval Love y G IR 83 James McDonald American football TE IR 43 Mike Pleasant CB IR 84 Chuck Scott y WR IR 65 Mike Shiner offensive lineman y T IR 56 Doug Smith offensive lineman C IR Regular season Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 September 8 Denver Broncos W 20–16 1–0 Anaheim Stadium Recap 2 September 15 at Philadelphia Eagles W 17–6 2–0 Veterans Stadium Recap 3 September 23, 1985 at Seattle Seahawks W 35–24 3–0 Kingdome Recap 4 September 29 Atlanta Falcons W 17–6 4–0 Anaheim Stadium Recap 5 October 6 Minnesota Vikings W 13–0 5–0 Anaheim Stadium Recap 6 October 13 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 31–27 6–0 Tampa Stadium Recap 7 October 20 at Kansas City Chiefs W 16–0 7–0 Arrowhead Stadium Recap 8 October 27 San Francisco 49ers L 14–28 7–1 Anaheim Stadium Recap 9 November 3 New Orleans Saints W 28–10 8–1 Anaheim Stadium Recap 10 November 10 at New York Giants L 19–24 8–2 Giants Stadium Recap 11 November 17 at Atlanta Falcons L 14–30 8–3 Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium Recap 12 November 24 Green Bay Packers W 34–17 9–3 Anaheim Stadium Recap 13 December 1 at New Orleans Saints L 3–29 9–4 Louisiana Superdome Recap 14 December 9, 1985 at San Francisco 49ers W 27–20 10–4 Candlestick Park Recap 15 December 15 St. Louis Cardinals W 46–14 11–4 Anaheim Stadium Recap 16 December 23, 1985 Los Angeles Raiders L 6–16 11–5 Anaheim Stadium Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text. Game summaries Week 1 Broncos 0 16 0 0 Rams 3 7 0 10 September 8 Anaheim Stadium Gordon McCarter Rams overcame 2 touchdown passes by John Elway with a late comeback led by "old" rookie QB Dieter Brock, who passed for 174 yards and a touchdown in his first NFL start. Backup RB Charles White ran for the winning touchdown in place of holdout Eric Dickerson. Week 2 Rams 10 0 0 7 Eagles 3 3 0 0 September 15 Veterans Stadium Jerry Markbreit Jack Buck and Hank Stram CBS Rams defense sacked Randall Cunningham 5 times and picked off 4 passes and White ran for 144 yards and a touchdown. Henry Ellard added an 80-yard punt return touchdown. Week 3 Rams 7 0 14 14 Seahawks 0 7 3 14 September 23 Kingdome Fred Wyant Frank Gifford, Joe Namath, and O. J. Simpson ABC Dickerson celebrated the end of his holdout by rushing for 150 yards and 3 touchdowns in this Monday Night matchup. Week 4 Falcons 0 3 3 0 Rams 0 10 7 0 September 29 Anaheim Stadium Jim Tunney CBS Rams continued to dominate on defense and Brock passed for two touchdowns. Week 5 Vikings 0 0 7 3 Rams 0 6 7 0 October 6 Anaheim Stadium Red Cashion Tom Brookshier and Dick Vermeil CBS Rams stayed unbeaten despite being outgained in yards 306–188. Week 6 Rams 0 14 10 7 Buccaneers 7 13 0 7 October 13 Tampa Stadium Ben Dreith Jim Hill and John Dockery CBS In a nip-and-tuck game, the Rams had two interception return touchdowns in the second half, by LB Carl Ekern and the winning touchdown by CB Leroy Irvin. Week 7 Rams 0 13 3 0 Chiefs 0 0 0 0 October 20 Arrowhead Stadium Dick Jorgensen Dickerson ran for a touchdown and Mike Lansford kicked three FG's. Rams' opportunistic defense intercepted Todd Blackledge six times. Brock passed for only 68 yards. Week 8 49ers 14 14 0 0 Rams 0 0 7 7 October 27 Anaheim Stadium 1:00 PST Gene Barth Tom Brookshier and Dick Vermeil CBS Rams were knocked from the unbeaten ranks at home as their offensive failures came back to haunt them. Joe Montana passed for 3 touchdowns and led the 49ers to a 28–0 lead. Brock passed for 344 yards (most of them late) and two late touchdowns. Week 9 Saints 0 0 7 3 Rams 7 7 7 7 November 3 Anaheim Stadium Tom Dooley Rams were totally dominant at home as Brock passed for 2 touchdowns and Dickerson (108 yards rushing) and White each had a touchdown run. Rams picked off 3 passes and had nine QB sacks. Week 10 Rams 7 6 3 3 Giants 0 7 10 7 November 10 Giants Stadium Jerry Markbreit Giants fought back from a 16–7 early 2nd half deficit behind 2 touchdown runs by Joe Morris. Week 11 Rams 0 0 0 14 Falcons 10 10 3 7 November 17 Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium Bob Frederic Surprising blowout by the 1–9 Falcons behind three rushing touchdowns by Gerald Riggs and a Falcons' defense that held the Rams to only 45 yards rushing. Week 12 Packers 0 10 7 0 Rams 7 7 7 13 November 24 Anaheim Stadium Pat Haggerty Dickerson had 150 yards and a touchdown, but the real hero was Olympic sprinter-turned-WR Ron Brown. Brown returned two kickoffs for touchdowns and caught a touchdown pass. Week 13 Rams 0 3 0 0 Saints 6 3 0 20 December 1 Louisiana Superdome Indoors (dome) Jerry Seeman Jack Buck and Hank Stram CBS Saints got their revenge for the earlier blowout by sacking Brock nine times and recovering 3 fumbles. Bobby Hebert passed for a touchdown and LB Jack Del Rio returned a fumble for another. || Louisiana Superdome Week 14 Rams 0 3 7 17 49ers 0 7 6 7 December 9 Candlestick Park, San Francisco, California 60,581 Red Cashion Frank Gifford, Joe Namath and O. J. Simpson ABC yes Q2 14:54 SF Clark 7 yard pass from Montana (Wersching kick) SF 7–0 Q2 8:52 LA Lansford 25 yard field goal SF 7–3 Q3 14:46 LA Brown 86 yard kickoff return (Lansford kick) LA 10–7 Q3 13:10 SF Rice 66 yard pass from Montana (kick blocked) SF 13–10 Q4 9:32 LA Lansford 29 yard field goal Tie 13–13 Q4 5:38 SF Craig 1 yard pass from Montana (Wersching kick) SF 20–13 Q4 5:08 LA Ellard 39 yard pass from Brock (Lansford kick) Tie 20–20 Q4 3:24 LA Green 41 yard interception return (Lansford kick) LA 27–20 yes In this road Monday Night matchup, the 49ers looked to be in control until Henry Ellard scored on a tipped pass and CB Gary Green returned an interception for the winning points. Montana passed for 328 yards and 3 touchdowns. The Rams clinched a playoff spot with the win."Rams get rid of their bum rap." The Miami News. 1985 Dec 10. Week 15 Cardinals 7 0 7 0 Rams 13 23 7 3 December 15 Anaheim Stadium Chuck Heberling Jack Buck and Hank Stram CBS Brock picked the right time to have his best game as a Ram as the Rams clinched their first NFC West Division crown since 1979. Brock passed for 4 touchdowns, Dickerson ran for 124 yards and two more, and the Rams rolled up 425 yards of offense. Week 16 Raiders 0 6 0 10 Rams 0 3 3 0 December 23 Anaheim Stadium Ben Dreith Frank Gifford, Joe Namath, OJ Simpson ABC In a somewhat lackluster performance at home on Monday Night, the Rams could only muster two FG's and Brock was sacked 6 times. Standings Statistics Passing Player Games Played Completions Attempts Yards Touchdowns Interceptions Rating Dieter Brock 15 218 365 2658 16 13 82.0 Jeff Kemp 5 16 38 214 0 1 49.7 https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/ram/1985.htm 1985 Los Angeles Rams Statistics & Players Pro-Football-Reference.com Rushing Player Games Played Attempts Yards Touchdowns Longest run Eric Dickerson 14 292 1234 12 43 Barry Redden 14 87 380 0 41 Charles White 16 70 310 3 32 Dieter Brock 15 20 38 0 13 Lynn Cain 7 11 46 0 9 Mike Guman 8 11 32 0 6 Jeff Kemp 5 5 0 0 3 Henry Ellard 16 3 8 0 16 Ron J. Brown 13 2 13 0 9 Steve Dils 15 2 −4 0 −2 Receiving Player Receptions Yards Touchdowns Longest reception Henry Ellard 54 811 5 64 Tony Hunter 50 562 4 47 David Hill 29 271 1 37 Bobby Duckworth 25 422 3 42 Playoffs Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap Divisional Playoff January 4, 1986 Dallas Cowboys W 20–0 1–0 Anaheim Stadium Recap NFC Championship January 12, 1986 at Chicago Bears L 0–24 1–1 Soldier Field Recap Divisional Cowboys 0 0 0 0 Rams 3 0 10 7 January 4 Anaheim Stadium 1:00 p.m. PST Fog/drizzle; 67 F Dick Jorgensen Jack Buck, Hank Stram, and Dick Vermeil CBS thumb|right|Rams' running back Dickerson (29) rushing the ball through the Cowboys' defense in the 1985 NFC Divisional Playoff Game. Running back Eric Dickerson led the Rams to a victory by scoring two touchdowns and recording a playoff record 248 rushing yards. After the first half ended with a 3–0 Los Angeles lead, Dickerson scored on a 55-yard touchdown run early in the third period. On the ensuing kickoff, Kenny Duckett fumbled, and the ball was recovered by Vince Newsome to set up kicker Mike Lansford's second field goal. In the fourth period, Tony Hunter recovered a fumbled punt to set up Dickerson's 40-yard rushing touchdown. The Rams' defense dominated the Cowboys' offense all afternoon as the Cowboys never got inside the Rams' 20-yard-line. This was the last home playoff game for the Rams in Los Angeles until 2017. This was also the last playoff game in which Tom Landry coached.Rams meet Dallas Cowboys in NFL playoffs for first time in 33 years https://www.ocregister.com/2019/01/07/rams-meet-dallas-cowboys-in-nfl-playoffs-for-first-time-in-33-years/ OC Register 8 January 2019 OC Register 30 July 2019 Conference Championship Rams 0 0 0 0 Bears 10 0 7 7 January 12 Soldier Field 11:30 a.m. CST Cloudy/snow showers; 37 F Jim Tunney Pat Summerall and John Madden CBS The Bears defense dominated the game by limiting Rams running back Eric Dickerson to 46 yards rushing, and holding quarterback Dieter Brock to just 10 completions out of 31 pass attempts for 66 passing yards. Los Angeles only gained 130 yards of total offense. The Rams had a chance to get back in the game as they got inside the Bears' 15-yard line in the waning moments of the first half, but poor play calling and clock management, as well as a controversial call by the officials on the last play of the half, resulted in the clock running out. Officials' ability to review plays (via instant replay) was not made available until the following season. Awards and records Milestones Gary Jeter, NFL Comeback Player of Year. See also Other Anaheim–based teams in 1985 California Angels (Anaheim Stadium) 1985 California Angels season References 30em External links 1985 Los Angeles Rams at Pro-Football-Reference.com Category:Los Angeles Rams seasons Los Angeles Rams Category:NFC West championship seasons Los Ang