The Rams vs. 49ers rivalry has gotten a little one-sided over the last few years, with San Francisco winning seven straight regular-season matchups. A rivalry that began 72 years ago has only gotten bigger since. The Rams vs. 49ers rivalry has seen over 50 Hall of Famers, disrespectful celebrations, and benches-clearing brawls. The Rams vs. 49ers rivalry is the best in the NFL, regardless of the head-to-head record. Ahead of their week eight showdown, let’s take a deep dive into the history of this matchup.
Rams vs. 49ers- Where it began:
The first matchup between the Rams and the 49ers happened way back in October 1950. LA came out on top in that matchup 35-14 on the back of four rushing touchdowns from four players. Norm van Brocklin threw 10 passes in the game, which is odd for the man who holds the record for most passing yards in a single game (554).
LA led 14-0 early but would cough up the lead in the third quarter after a 13-yard touchdown pass by Frankie Albert. It was all Rams after that, as they scored 21 unanswered points. LA started the Rams vs. 49ers rivalry 5-1 in the first six matchups from 1950-1952. Since then, things have gone more the 49ers way as they lead the all-time series 76-68.
Rams vs. 49ers History:
After the initial start of the rivalry, both teams have had their fair share of winning streaks, bragging rights, and beatdowns. The Rams won 10 straight games over San Francisco from 1970 to 1975. Over that period, the Rams averaged 27 points per game and allowed 12.9 points per game. Since most of the butt-kickings have come in the early years of the NFL, I’d like to focus more on the recent history of the rivalry.
In the 90s, things got out of hand for LA. By 1995 they were in a new city across the country, still rebuilding a team with new ownership. The 49ers were coming off five Super Bowl wins by 95’ and still looked like a force. Joe Montana was shipped out to Kansas City in favor of Steve Young, but the 49ers continued to dominate the rivalry.
The decade started with an NFC championship matchup in the 1989 season. This was the first playoff meeting and resulted in a 30-3 blowout in favor of San Francisco, sending them to the Super Bowl. Joe Montana was still slinging the rock all over the yard, and the Niners beat the Denver Broncos while scoring 55 points (Super Bowl record) en route to their fourth ring.
The 49ers won the next 17 out of 18 meetings in the 90s. From December 17th, 1990, to December 27th, 1998, San Francisco won 17 straight games vs. the Rams. During that streak, the 49ers scored 31 points per game and allowed a mere 13 points per game. The streak was the longest of any win streak of the Rams vs. 49ers rivalry.
History Continued:
The Rams broke that dreaded streak with a statement victory in 1999. During a week five matchup, the then-St. Louis Rams hosted their division rival. In a 42-20 win, Kurt Warner threw five touchdowns, four going to Isaac Bruce. The Rams led 21-3 after the first quarter and finished the job in the fourth quarter with a 42-yard touchdown pass to Bruce.
The Rams won the next five meetings, again establishing themselves in the rivalry. The Rams vs. 49ers rivalry hit a draw in the 2000s at 11 wins a piece. The 2010s went to the 49ers 11-7, which brings us to the newest streak. The 49ers have won seven straight and eye an eighth consecutive victory in week eight.
Recent History:
The Rams vs. 49ers is as entertaining of a matchup as it gets in the NFL. Yes, I know, “But the Niners have won seven straight.” Who cares? The games usually are entertaining and could go either way. Dating back to the 2019 season, LA is 1-7 vs. the 49ers, including the playoffs. The 49ers defense has done its job to the fullest during this seven-game win streak. The San Francisco defense has allowed 16.7 points per game and created 13 turnovers.
On the flip side, the Niners offense has scored 26 points per game. Their rushing attack has played its part to almost perfection, averaging 118 yards on the ground in the seven wins. The Rams lone win came in the NFC Championship game last season. In a 20-17 victory, the Rams punched their ticket and silenced a lot of screaming visiting fans in their own house. In the second-ever playoff meeting between the two, LA overcame a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter. All-Pro Defensive Tackle Aaron Donald closed out the game after great drives by Matthew Stafford and the offense.
Final Thoughts:
The Rams vs. 49ers rivalry is one of the most frustrating things to watch. For a team so talented with a brilliant coach, it’s hard to understand why the 49ers are the worst matchup for LA. The last time they faced off, the 49ers sacked Stafford seven times. Now with guys coming back off of IR this week, this matchup doesn’t look all that bad this season. A win in week eight would be a weight lifted off the shoulders of every Rams fan and the Rams themselves. If you’re a Rams fan and getting down after a loss to the Niners. Just remember this… They’ve beaten the Rams 17 consecutive times. It can’t get any worse than that.
For More Great Football Content
Follow us on Twitter at @GridironHeroics for more great content. We appreciate you taking time to read our articles. To interact more with our community and keep up to date on the latest in Football news, JOIN OUR FREE FACEBOOK GROUP by CLICKING HERE
