1974 Rams @ Patriots - NFL Game of the Week

[Music] for the second time in three weeks the most significant football game in the entire NFL was played in New England Shaffer Stadium where there was once gloomed coach Chuck Fairbanks second season has brought smiles to the Northeast when the New England Patriots have suddenly and most surprisingly become a symbol of success in pro football a sellout crowd came to witness a battle of unbeatens it's really no surprise that Chuck Knox's Rams are starting the season's third week undefeated for Los Angeles has been simply awesome some experts are so high on the Rams they've picked the team to go unbeaten all season long the biggest reason may be the emergence of a new fearsome foursome free spirited Fred Dreyer is at defensive end flanked by Larry Brooks at right tackle Brooks's counterpart is the only remaining member of the Rams original fearsome foursome Merlin Olsen now in his 13th season Jack Youngblood completes a front for that may Eclipse the deeds of the Deacon Lamar Lundy and rosey Grier well the Patriots the big story has been a very small man five foot five McCarran has simply stood the NFL on its ear Minnie Mac has gotten his first crack at starting his running receiving and kick returning are a major reason his team is undefeated and in first place while the Patriots offense led by Herron and Jim Plunkett has been explosive the most pleasant factor to Fairbanks has been a resolute defense especially tough against the run the Rams of course are traditionally tough on defense and are coming off a shutout of New Orleans while their defense against the run is a strong point their own ground game led by Larry McCutcheon has been superb so today something would have to give as two teams both undefeated both ranking first in their conference in defensing the run meet in this week's NFL game of the week the New England Patriots versus the Los Angeles Rams the Patriots the only unbeaten untied team in the American Conference at first possession with McCarran ranking fourth and Sam the BAM Cunningham second in rushing and plunk at second in passing the Los Angeles defense faced a multiple threat indeed but on the first series it was Plunkett's running that pre dominated the action after Plunkett was hit hard on a keeper his attempted rollout was met by Jack Youngblood for an 8 yard loss [Music] Plunkett's increased mobility has been a surprise this season but here it put the Pats in a hole even though Harun slashed up the middle for 12 yards New England was forced to give up the ball starting with good field position on there 46 Los Angeles began a drive that consisted of nine consecutive running plays [Music] first Larry McCutcheon the NFC's leading runner then Jim Bertelsen ran for huge chunks of yardage against the Patriots stack defense finally from the one Tony Baker scored the game's first TD [Music] another look at the score shows Baker was hit but kept his feet moving to propel him into the end zone that's why Baker has become the Rams short yardage bread and butter runner he doesn't play much but when he does it's usually near the end zone with results [Music] after nine straight successful running plays Chuck Fairbanks was right where he least wanted to be down seven points to the explosive RAM but this is 1974 and the Patriots can play with anyone versatile Matt Caron started the proceedings with a 34 yard return then Jim Plunkett who is hit on a whopping 61 percent of his passes this year took to the air [Music] although Bob Windsor was hurt on the reception he later returned to the game [Music] Plunkett turned to Heron on the ground once again the RAM defense led by the charging Youngblood defensed it perfectly [Music] Plunket with byun protection and a fine reception by Darryl Stingley put the Pats in Los Angeles territory [Music] Stingley to paid the price for his catch but several plays later in the second quarter he returned and burned the Rams secondary again [Music] a key factor in New England Sutton six points was a Jack Youngblood had jumped offsides on the play and some on the Rams defense relaxed anticipating the penalties [Music] but sting Lee's touchdown was bonafide and New England had proved to themselves their opponents and their fans in Schaefer Stadium that they were for real their victories over the Giants and dolphins were no flukes this New England team could play with anyone in the National Football League [Music] while the remainder of the first half however Jim Plunkett and the patriot attack could do little the RAM defense regained its composure and for the next fourteen minutes this game was a perfect example of what football is all about a basic battle between the offensive and defensive lines led by veterans John Morris Bill and kaitos and Tom Neville the Patriots forward wall was spiced with talented youth such as John Hannah Leon gray and Bill du Lacs their adversaries the RAM defense but only led their conference in stopping the run but at hammered opposing passers a league-leading 11 times for the rest of the first half it was a battle between the men in the pit and ferocious defense prevailed the Rams were not alone in dealing out punishment New England's 3/4 stack defense has been tough all year and today was no exception led by number 71 sugarbear Hamilton and number 85 Julius Adams they exerted tremendous pressure on John Adel all day long after Hado was forced to abandon the pass and run the ball himself something he dearly dislikes he turned to his powerful ground attack which had produced the long touchdown drive in the first quarter but the Patriot defense was ready and willing to pay the price [Music] Universal Oso display of hard-hitting and gang tackling the patriot defense matched that of the rams to thwart any further scoring in the first half the only significant offensive gains came when John Hagel off a play fake found McCutcheon loose in the flat for 22 yard advance but a fumbled snap was recovered by Ray Hamilton and ended the Rams short spurt as he was in the opening game upset against Miami sugarbear was in the right spot most of the day on the next play Plunkett attempted to capitalize on the break and just missed connections with Randy Fatah ha who was out in front of his defender [Music] later John Hale too tried the bomb to Harold Jackson who was well covered by number 37 Willie Asli Asli Rickey had been burned repeatedly by Marlin Briscoe in the opener against Miami and this was not lost on John Hagel who came right back to Jackson who this time got behind the first year cornerback [Music] but this play too was negated by good defense on the part of the Patriots just before the end of the second quarter New England got hot with a pitch to Haren for 17 yards [Music] then plunk it again went for the deep-six to Fatah ha who again should have had it Steve priest defensed on the play [Music] Plunkett's line was giving him more and more time to throw now and he hit Bob Windsor over the middle for a nice game that was nullified by a holding penalty [Music] with one last chance before the half ended Plunkett rolled right and under threw into the hands of Rams safety Steve priests it was fitting that a fine defensive play ended the half with a score tied at 7 apiece [Music] Ram quarterback John Hagel began the second half still searching for an answer to the Patriots new fangled defense the Rams who were the highest-scoring team in pro football last season had scored with seven points on what used to be a pitiful forest pat defense but there's no need to pity the Pats anymore and on the Rams first series of the new half they went nowhere [Music] after just three plays Los Angeles was forced to punt and Mack the Knife sliced through the Rams for 38 yard return [Music] [Music] feeding the play from our end zone camera we can get a look at what Herron looks like if you're on the bomb squad [Music] parent of one step to the left to get the Rams leaning that way then went for the wall on the right getting good blocks from John Harbor and later on from will Foster Heron went untouched until Bob Stein saved a touchdown herons return gave the Pats possession inside the RAM 30-yard line but they could not get any farther as Plunkett could find no one open and Larry Brooks put him down on his head Plunkett got the lost yardage back with an option play on third down but he did not get the first down and New England had to try a field goal from the 29 a 39 yard field goal John Smith put the Patriots in the lead 10 to 7 [Music] John Smith an English soccer player was discovered on a worldwide tour conducted by the Patriots when Geno cappelletti retired known as the search for super foot and despite the new rule placing kickoffs on the 35 yard line Smith repeatedly kicked the ball out of the end zone denying the rams returns into good field position starting from the 20 Adel began to move the Rams with a short crisp passing game [Music] nickel-and-diming with an out - Harold Jackson good for 14 yards plus 15 for personal foul on Ron Bolton then a pop over the middle - Jax no for 17 more Keadle had the Rams on the Patriot 35 - running plays gained 10 more yards then Hado went for it all aiming one for Lance renzo at the Patriot goal line a DeLand rensil just missed connections and on a repeat we can see that the play might well have succeeded Adel got plenty of time and rensil was indeed open but the pass was thrown too high and the norm of a sure-handed receiver could not hold on Patriot fans loved it and went on the next play a 41 yard field goal try by David Ray was blocked they got even more to cheer about [Music] it was a scoring chance the Rams could not afford to miss for as the remaining time in the third quarter ticked away the Rams were simply unable to move and the Patriot defense very nearly came up with a big play first a disappointed Sam hunt number 50 missed an easy interception then blitzing Steve King separated hail from the ball [Music] officials ruled that Hales arm had moved forward making the loose ball an incomplete pass not a fumble Tatel survived with his body intact but the same could not be said for the RAM offense which had coughed and sputtered to a dead stop late in the third quarter in point Plunkett passing had the Patriots moving again Darryl Stingley went to his knees for 13 yards then Reggie Rucker stayed on his feet for 19 more Plunkett's passes set up another Smith field goal New England led 13 to 7 and with the Patriot defense still playing tough it looked like that lead might stand up then in the fourth quarter two more Plunkett passes ballooned the lead Sam Cunningham circled out of the backfield and the big fullback carried 437 yard gain from the RAM 21 Plunkett went to his old college chum Randy rabbit but aha the rabbit bunny hopped in and New England led 22:7 last year Patriot backers were down on Jim Plunkett but he does have the tools and this year he's making them work on a repeat notice Plunkett's quit certain drop back his poise in the pocket and a classic release as he nails the Taha for the score each year bigger faster men are expected to dislodge Fattah ha from his starters role but their physical strengths have yet to offset the back but Taha and Plunkett played four years of college football together they've been playing together now for eight years though both are just four-year pros and have developed into a fearsome combination it all added up for 21 yard touchdown and a 22 7 u England lead with 11 minutes to play [Music] now the pressure of holding a fourth quarter lead would be the final test for the upstart Patriots and Hayden tested them well but after an 18-yard hookup with Jackson a curious turnover tournament began first fatal threw into double coverage Ron Bolton intercepted [Music] but with the chance to run off some time the Patriots made their first big mistake when Haren fumbled Dave Elmendorf recovered on the New England 30 [Music] surely now the Patriots would crack but with great field position the Rams returned the favor when Jim Bertelsen fumbled veteran George Webster recovered [Music] the Rams had made the mistake the Patriots were supposed to make but New England still had one more blunder in their game plan forced to punt they left rob Scribner escaped for 10 yards and then committed the unpardonable sin of personal fouling on the play tacking 15 more yards on describ neurs return [Music] from the patriot 36 at okay dawn play to score [Music] rentals touchdown brought the Rams back to 2214 less than a touchdown behind and with over four minutes still to play the Rams were alive [Music] Plunket could not move the Patriots Rams took over with two and a half minutes left and 57 yards to go to win it [Music] first Jackson caught his sixth pass of the day then rensil took a crossing pattern to the Patriot ten yard line [Music] but offsetting penalties nullified the play it was the Rams biggest mistake of the day for though he doe got some of that back this deflected pass to Bertelsen carried only to the 25-yard line not to the 10 [Music] after two incompletions Adel was sacked by Arthur Moore and Julius Adams so it all came down to one play fourth down from the Patriot 32 a minute and a half to go were the Patriots for real [Music] the answer was an emphatic yes Prentiss McCray intercepted halos desperation past all that remained was to run out the clock [Music] Patriots had done it again an opening day they had beaten last year's Superbowl champion the Miami Dolphins people called it an unbelievable upset but on this day they had beaten the team many think will be this year's Superbowl champion maybe the word upset no longer applies [Music] the Patriots are now three and old though they have one of the most demanding schedules in the league this season they've already beaten two of the toughest parts of it the idea of New England Patriots in the Super Bowl chase is not as far-fetched as it's seen before the season began especially in the light of their 22:14 win not upset over the powerful Los Angeles Rams [Music] National Car Rental player of the game is Patriot nose guard Ray Hamilton number 71 would seven tackles one sack and the fumble recovery in today's game he's the man who makes the Patriots new 3-4 stack defense work a defense it held the powerful Los Angeles Rams to just 14 points [Music] you [Music]

Channel: Bart Simpson

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Id: WZj_sIFqJxA

Length: 22min 17sec (1337 seconds)

Published: Mon Jan 28 2019