1965 Los Angeles Rams

The 1965 Los Angeles Rams had another strong season, continuing to build on their reputation as a defensive powerhouse. They finished the year with a 9–5 record, which was good enough to place them second in the NFL Western Conference. However, despite their strong record, the Rams again fell short of making the playoffs, as only the conference champion advanced to the postseason.

Here’s a detailed look at their 1965 season:

Team Overview:

• The 1965 Rams were coached by Harland Svare, who was in his sixth year as head coach.
• The Rams played their home games at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
• The Rams’ defense remained their strongest unit, featuring the dominant “Fearsome Foursome” defensive line, which consisted of Deacon Jones, Merlin Olsen, Rosie Grier, and Lamar Lundy.
• The team finished second in the NFL Western Conference behind the Green Bay Packers, but the league’s playoff system at the time only allowed one team per conference to advance to the postseason.

Performance:

• Record: The Rams finished with a 9–5 record, which was solid but still not enough to secure a playoff berth in a very competitive conference.
• Offensive struggles: While the Rams’ defense continued to excel, their offense struggled to produce consistently. The team had problems at quarterback, and their running game was inconsistent.
• Close games: Many of the Rams’ games were close, but they were unable to win enough of them to reach the playoffs. Their inability to secure crucial victories in late-season matchups against top teams ultimately kept them out of the postseason.

Key Players:

• Norm Van Brocklin: The veteran quarterback, at the age of 38, continued to lead the offense. However, his play had begun to decline, and he was replaced at times during the season by younger quarterbacks like Todd (Terry) Baker and Roman Gabriel.
• Roman Gabriel: The 25-year-old quarterback showed promise and would eventually become the Rams’ starting quarterback for the future, but he wasn’t quite the full-time starter in 1965.
• Deacon Jones: Jones was becoming one of the most feared pass rushers in NFL history, earning his first Pro Bowl selection in 1965. He finished the season with 10.5 sacks and was key to the Rams’ defensive success.
• Merlin Olsen: Olsen continued to emerge as a dominant force on the defensive line, and his combination of size and skill made him a future Hall of Famer.
• Rosie Grier: Grier was still an important contributor to the defensive front, and his strength and versatility allowed him to disrupt the opposition’s offense.
• Lamar Lundy: The fourth member of the “Fearsome Foursome”, Lundy contributed greatly to the Rams’ defense, helping to stymie opposing offenses with his power and presence on the line.
• Tom Fears and Elroy “Crazylegs” Hirsch: While both were past their prime, they continued to be key veterans in the receiving game, providing leadership and experience to the team.

Notable Events:

• Defense continues to shine: The “Fearsome Foursome” became a dominant force by the mid-1960s, making life difficult for quarterbacks across the league. The defensive line, along with the rest of the defensive unit, helped the Rams finish the season with one of the best defenses in the league.
• Quarterback instability: The Rams continued to struggle at quarterback. Norm Van Brocklin was nearing the end of his career, and Roman Gabriel was still developing, meaning the team lacked consistent play at the position.
• Playoff hopes dashed: Despite their strong record, the Rams’ 9–5 finish wasn’t enough to win the division. The Green Bay Packers, led by Vince Lombardi and Bart Starr, finished atop the NFL Western Conference, meaning the Rams would miss the playoffs again.

Legacy:

• The 1965 season reinforced the idea that the Rams were one of the top defensive teams in the league but were still lacking offensive consistency. The Rams’ “Fearsome Foursome” was becoming one of the most famous and successful defensive lines in NFL history.
• Despite the team’s success in stopping opponents, they would continue to struggle with their offense in the years that followed. The 9–5 record was good, but the Rams were overshadowed by the Packers, who would go on to dominate the NFL in the mid-1960s.
• The 1965 Rams were also starting to transition, with Roman Gabriel emerging as a future star. He would eventually become the team’s starting quarterback and lead them in the years to come.

While the 1965 Los Angeles Rams showed that they were a very strong team, they still had some gaps to fill, particularly on offense. Their defense was elite, but until they found more consistency at quarterback and in other areas, the Rams would continue to fall short in their pursuit of an NFL Championship.

Head Coach: Harland Svare

• To be listed, a player must have played at least one game for the team during this season.
• * Hall of Fame
• + Primary starter