1976 RAM DEFENSE

Look into their eyes. The focus is why the 1976 playoff game against Dallas is one of the best ever. Cause the Dallas players have that look too.

Two great defenses in their prime taking no prisoners.

Here is the last two minutes.

The Rams have a 14-10 lead with just two minutes to play.

Charlie Waters has blocked one punt of Rusty Jackson. It is 4th and 2 on our 41 yard line, hoping to pin Dallas back deep, disaster happens.

Waters blocks his second punt. the ball rolls all the way to our 17 yard line.

The Dallas crowd is going crazy. and look who is their QB. Captain comeback Roger Staubach.

On first down, Roger hits Butch Johnson back in the endzone. it looks like a TD, but, Johnson has a half a foot out. The next two passes are incomplete.

It's 4th and 10, Staubach hits Billie Joe Dupree exactly on the 7 yard line, he goes to turn around and is met by Elmendorf and Simpson and all three drop right there.

Both teams surround the chain. you can't even se the refs. but all of a sudden you see Ram helmets jumping up and down.

Dallas missed a first down by inches. You think it's over, but, Dallas has their time outs.

It's fourth down and the Rams are punting from our endzone.

Waters already has blocked two, the crowd is crazy.

Every Ramfan in the world was not sitting down, they were standing up. about a foot from the TV.

Rusty Jackson takes the snap, fakes a punt then darts right sprinting.

Every Ramfan eyes slowly widen and so does their mouth, for about 2 seconds. then they realize that our punter took a safety making it 14-12.

Time has expired and the Rams win.

THAT'S JUST TWO MINUTES!!!!

CBS shows Carroll Rosenbloom, his son Steve and Don Klosterman in their suite at the game. All three did the same thing, not sitting down, eyes got big then realized what a strategy.

A classic. Listen to KMPC Steve Baily announcing the starting lineup some 27 years ago. LISTEN