1951 Los Angeles Rams season

Offseason

NFL draft

Main article: 1951 NFL draft

Preseason

Schedule

Regular season

Schedule

Week 1

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. 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. ;First Quarter

• LA – Elroy Hirsch 41-yard pass from Norm Van Brocklin (Tom Fears kick) – Rams 7–0
• LA – Dick Hoerner 22-yard rush (Tom Fears kick) – Rams 14–0
• LA – Vitamin Smith 67-yard pass from Norm Van Brocklin (Tom Fears kick) – Rams 21–0 ;Second Quarter
• LA – Norm Van Brocklin 1 yard rush (Tom Fears kick) – Rams 28–0
• LA – Elroy Hirsch 47-yard pass from Norm Van Brocklin (PAT failed) – Rams 34–0
• NYY – Buddy Young 79-yard punt return (Harvey Johnson kick) – Rams 34–7 ;Third Quarter
• LA – Elroy Hirsch 26-yard pass from Norm Van Brocklin (Tom Fears kick) – Rams 41–7 ;Fourth Quarter
• NYY – Art Tait 30-yard fumble return (Harvey Johnson kick) – Rams 41–14
• LA – Elroy Hirsch 1 yard pass from Norm Van Brocklin (Tom Fears kick) – Rams 48–14
• LA – Dan Towler 1 yard rush (PAT failed) – Rams 54–14

;Rams

• Norm Van Brocklin— 27/41, 554 Yds, 5 TD, 2 INT

• Elroy Hirsch— 9 Rec, 173 Yds

Week 2

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. ;First Quarter

• LA – Elroy Hirsch 34-yard pass from Norm Van Brocklin (Bob Waterfield kick) – Rams 7–0
• LA – Bob Waterfield 47-yard field goal – Rams 10–0
• CLE – Ken Carpenter 45-yard pass from Otto Graham (Lou Groza kick) – Rams 10–7 ;Third Quarter
• CLE – Ken Carpenter 2-yard rush Lou Groza kick) – Browns 14–10
• CLE – Ken Carpenter 7-yard rush (Lou Groza kick) – Browns 21–10
• CLE – Warren Lahr 23-yard interception return (Lou Groza kick) – Browns 28–10
• LA – Glenn Davis 1 yard rush (Bob Waterfield kick) – Browns 28–17 ;Fourth Quarter
• CLE – Lou Groza 44-yard field goal – Browns 31–17
• LA – Glenn Davis 14-yard pass from Norm Van Brocklin (PAT failed) – Browns 31–23
• CLE – Dub Jones 1 yard rush (Lou Groza kick) – Browns 38–23 ;Browns

• Dub Jones – 9 Rush, 110 Yds

Week 3

;First Quarter

• LA – Bob Waterfield 37-yard field goal – Rams 3–0
• LA – Elroy Hirsch 70-yard pass from Bob Waterfield (Bob Waterfield kick) – Rams 10–0 ;Second Quarter
• LA – Tom Fears 43-yard pass from Norm Van Brocklin (Bob Waterfield kick) – Rams 17–0
• DET – Dorne Dibble 36-yard pass from Bobby Layne (Doak Walker kick) – Rams 17–7
• DET – Jack Christiansen 69-yard punt return (Doak Walker kick) – Rams 17–14 ;Third Quarter
• LA – Norb Hecker 20-yard pass from Bob Waterfield (Bob Waterfield kick) – Rams 24–14
• LA – Bob Waterfield 47-yard field goal – Rams 27–14 ;Fourth Quarter
• DET – Jack Christiansen 47-yard punt return (Doak Walker kick) – Rams 27–21 ;Rams

• Elroy Hirsch – 7 Rec, 147 Yds

Week 4

;Third Quarter

• LA – Dan Towler 79-yard rush (Bob Waterfield kick) – Rams 7–0 ;Fourth Quarter
• LA – Tommy Kalmanir 38-yard pass from Bob Waterfield (Bob Waterfield kick) – Rams 14–0
• LA – Elroy Hirsch 81-yard pass from Norm Van Brocklin (Bob Waterfield kick) – Rams 21–0
• LA – Jerry Williams 5-yard rush (Bob Waterfield kick) – Rams 28–0 ;Rams

• Dan Towler – 11 Rush, 144 Yds
• Elroy Hirsch – 3 Rec, 111 Yds

Week 5

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. ;First Quarter

• SF – Gordy Soltau 23-yard field goal – 49ers 3–0
• LA – Bob Waterfield 26-yard field goal – Tied 3–3
• SF – Joe Arenas 2-yard rush (Gordy Soltau kick) – 49ers 10–3 ;Second Quarter
• SF – Gordy Soltau 10-yard pass from Frankie Albert (Gordy Soltau kick) – 49ers 17–3
• LA – Elroy Hirsch 79-yard pass from Norm Van Brocklin (Bob Waterfield kick) – 49ers 17–10
• SF – Johnny Strzykalski 1 yard rush (Gordy Soltau kick) – 49ers 24–10
• SF – Leo Nomellini 20-yard blocked punt return (Gordy Soltau kick) – 49ers 31–10
• SF – Gordy Soltau 13-yard pass from Y. A. Tittle (Gordy Soltau kick) – 49ers 38–10 ;Third Quarter
• LA – Dick Hoerner 12-yard rush (Bob Waterfield kick) – 49ers 38–17 ;Fourth Quarter
• SF – Gordy Soltau 48-yard pass from Y. A. Tittle (PAT failed) – 49ers 44–17 ;Rams

• Elroy Hirsch – 7 Rec, 163 Yds ;49ers

• Gordy Soltau – 6 Rec, 132 Yds

Week 6

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. ;First Quarter

• LA – Bob Waterfield 39-yard field goal – Rams 3–0
• LA – Bob Waterfield 1 yard rush (Bob Waterfield kick) – Rams 10–0 ;Second Quarter
• SF – Joe Perry 58-yard rush (Gordy Soltau kick) – Rams 10–7
• LA – Bob Waterfield 20-yard field goal – Rams 13–7 ;Third Quarter
• SF – Frankie Albert 7-yard rush (PAT failed) – Tied 13–13 ;Fourth Quarter
• SF – Gordy Soltau 11-yard field goal – 49ers 16–13
• LA – Elroy Hirsch 76-yard pass from Bob Waterfield (Bob Waterfield kick) – Rams 20–16
• LA – Bob Waterfield 38-yard field goal – Rams 23–16 ;49ers

• Joe Perry – 12 Rush, 115 Yds

;Rams

• Elroy Hirsch – 4 Rec, 103 Yds

Week 7

;First Quarter

• CHC – Billy Cross 80-yard pass from Jim Hardy (Cliff Patton kick) – Cardinals 7–0 ;Second Quarter
• LA – Dick Hoerner 11-yard rush (Bob Waterfield kick) – Tied 7–7 ;Third Quarter
• LA – Bob Waterfield 1 yard rush (Bob Waterfield kick) – Rams 14–7
• LA – Tommy Kalmanir 67-yard punt return (Bob Waterfield kick) – Rams 21–7
• LA – Dick Hoerner 3-yard rush (Bob Waterfield kick) – Rams 28–7
• LA – Elroy Hirsch 53-yard pass from Bob Waterfield (Bob Waterfield kick) – Rams 35–7 ;Fourth Quarter
• CHC – Charley Trippi 3-yard rush (Cliff Patton kick) – Rams 35–14
• LA – Elroy Hirsch 54-yard pass from Norm Van Brocklin (Bob Waterfield kick) – Rams 42–14
• LA – Bob Waterfield 26-yard field goal – Rams 45–14
• CHC – Fran Polsfoot 80-yard pass from Charley Trippi (Cliff Patton kick) – Rams 45–21

;Rams

• Dan Towler – 11 Rush, 109 Yds
• Elroy Hirsch – 6 Rec, 195 Yds

Standings

Postseason

NFL Championship Game

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. '51 Rams Celebrate Their Title Season (LA Times) ;Second Quarter

• LA – Dick Hoerner 1-yard run (Bob Waterfield kick) – Rams 0–7
• CLE – Lou Groza 52-yard field goal – Rams 3–7
• CLE – Dub Jones 17-yard pass from Otto Graham (Lou Groza kick) – Browns 10–7 ;Third Quarter
• LA – Dan Towler 1-yard run (Bob Waterfield kick) – Rams 10–14 ;Fourth Quarter
• LA – Bob Waterfield 17-yard field goal – Rams 10–17
• CLE – Ken Carpenter 5-yard run (Lou Groza kick) – Tied 17–17
• LA – Tom Fears 73-yard pass from Norm Van Brocklin (Bob Waterfield kick) – Rams 17–24 ;Browns
• Otto Graham— 19/40, 280 Yds, 1 TD, 3 INT
• Otto Graham— 5 Rush, 43 Yds
• Mac Speedie— 7 Rec, 81 Yds ;Rams
• Norm Van Brocklin— 4/6, 128 Yds, 1 TD, 0 INT
• Dan Towler— 16 Rush, 36 Yds
• Tom Fears— 4 Rec, 146 Yds

Coaching staff

• Owner/CEO – Dan Reeves
• COO/executive vice president of football operations – Edwin W. Pauley
• General manager – Chile Walsh
• Head coach – Joe Stydahar
• Wide receivers – Red Hickey
• Defensive backs/pass game coordinator – Hampton Pool
• Outside linebackers – Ray Richards

Final roster

P K

CB T/DE T G G C T T/DT

DE DT/G DT DE DT/G MG DT

• Tank Younger RB

S/CB/WR S/WR CB/RB CB S CB/RB

RB (Military) LB (DNR)

• George Sims CB (Military) DE (IR) [[Image:Injury icon.svg|7px]]

References

References

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