1976 RAM-DALLAS PLAYOFF GAME
LOS ANGELES 14, DALLAS 12 — The 1976 playoff game between the Los Angeles Rams and Dallas Cowboys was one of the best.
In their last two meetings, Dallas outscored the Rams 56-14.
In the Ram's locker room, Coach Chuck Knox tells the team "To win this game,we will have to play our best game of the year and have some luck. Most teams that win in the playoffs make their own luck."
In the first quarter, Dallas had excellent field position in their first 3 series. From their 44, Ram's 28 and 44. But, the Ram defense only gave up a FG. After the first quarter of play, it is 3-0 Dallas.
In the 2nd quarter, Haden's first three passes are completed. One to Cappaletti for 11 yards and two to Harold Jackson (one of them for 42 yards). It is 3rd and one on Dallas 4. Kenny Myer signals in a play few would expect, a rollout to the left by a crippled QB. With two great leading blocks by L. Mcutcheon and J. Williams, Haden goes in for a Ram TD. Dempsey's PA is good making it 7-3 Rams.
Rusty Jackson punt was blocked giving the Dallas the spark they needed, Staubach gets it to the 2 and Laidlaw goes in for a TD making it 10-7 Cowboys at half.
Then the break Knox talked about happened, on a screen pass to P. Pearson, Fred Dryer cracked him hard and he fumbled and Dryer recovered. The Rams get it to the Dallas 7 with a 4th and 5. The Rams bring in Dempsey, he kicks a FG it's good making it 10-10. But Wait!! It's roughing the kicker. Should the Rams take points off the board? Knox says yes and tells Haden "Don't fumble". On a 3rd and goal on the 2, Myer wigwags in 25 lead. Mcutcheon to go between D. Harrah and J. Williams .Thomas Henderson hits Clutch at the line of scrimmage,but, kept his feet and scored. Making it 14-10 Rams.
It would stay 14-10 Rams until the two minute warning. With a fourth and one on the Rams 41, the Rams had a chance to pin Dallas deep in it's own territory. Punter Rusty Jackson gets his punt blocked by Charlie Waters, the ball didn't go out of bounds until it went out on the Rams 17.
Chuck Knox stayed calm and said "they need a TD to beat us". Ray Malavasi says " They won't get it running the ball". Landry didn't even try to run it, Staubach went into the shotgun, his first pass is completed to Butch Johnson in the endzone,but, one foot was out of bounds. His next two were incomplete, now it is 4th and 10 on our 17. Staubach hits Billie Joe Dupree on the 7, when he tries to go another foot, Dave Elmendorf and Bill Simpson meet him head on and is stopped right on the seven.
Some 20 players from both teams surrounded the yard sticks, all of a sudden Ram helmets jumping up and down. Dallas missed a first down by less than an inch.
The Rams took over and with three safe handoffs to Cappaletti got a total of 5 yards, now with 34 seconds left punter Rusty Jackson (who already had two punts blocked) is going to punt from our endzone.
Jackson takes the ball and runs to the right sideline, it gives the Cowboys a safety making the score 14-12 but gives us a free punt. Clock runs out and the Rams win.
A emotional roller coaster ride from start to finish.
|
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
4th |
FINAL |
| Los Angeles |
0 |
7 |
0 |
7 |
14 |
| DALLAS |
3 |
7 |
0 |
2 |
12 |
DALLAS |
FG,Herrera 44 yard |
| L.A. |
Haden, 4, run [kick good] |
| DALLAS |
Laidlaw, 2, run [Herrera, kick] |
| L.A. |
McCutcheon, 1, run [Ray, kick] |
| Dallas |
Jensen tackled Jackson safety |
RAM TD
Lawrence Mccutcheon on a second effort got into the endzone to give the Rams a 14-10 lead.
RAMS HAVE HELD
Rams' defense was superb in the second half. After trailing 10-7 at intermission, lsiah Robertson, Dave Elmendorf and Monte Jackson thwarted Cowboy drives by intercepting quarterback Roger Staubach.
With 3:03 to go and the Cowboys facing a fourth-and-two at the Los Angeles 32, Robertson knocked down a pass intended for Preston Pearson to beat back a Dallas comeback drive and give the Rams the ball.
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