Rams-49ers renew something special

          The St. Louis Rams host the San Francisco 49ers tonight on national television, the renewal of an old rivalry.

          A real old rivalry. The teams have played each other since the 49ers emerged from the old All America Football Conference and the Rams emerged from Cleveland in the late 1940s. They played for the first time in 1950.

          Through all those years there have been eras when the Niners were very good and the Rams were not. There have been times when the Rams were champions and the Niners were not close. Neither team was good in the early 1960s.

          Since the Rams left Cleveland, they have played home games against the 49ers in Los Angeles, Anaheim and now St. Louis.

          Through it all, the two teams have played in the same division and/or conference and played twice a year. Both sidelines have been blessed with future Hall of Famers.

          Through all of that, they have played evenly. According to the Associated Press, the teams have won 62 games each in this rivalry and they have tied three times. It gets even better: The split is so even, both teams have a .500 record at home against the other.

          According to the website The Football Database, the teams first played October 1, 1950 in San Francisco and the Rams won that game 35-14. Over the 127 game history of the series, the 49ers have averaged 22.275 points to the Rams’ 21.433. Given the number of games, that’s pretty darn close.

          This rivalry would make a pretty good Hall of Fame without players from any other team. Bob Waterfield, Norm Van Brocklin, Joe Namath and Kurt Warner have played quarterback for the Rams against the Niners. Y.A. Tittle, John Brodie, Joe Montana and Steve Young have played for San Francisco against the Rams.

          You want receivers? Elroy Hirsch and Jerry Rice make a nice starting pair.

          How about running backs? The Rams might lead off with Eric Dickerson and Jerome Bettis, but the guys from NorCal would counter with Joe Perry and Frank Gore. Remember Wendell Tyler? He ran for both teams.

          Jack ‘Hacksaw’ Reynolds played middle linebacker for both teams in this rivalry and there have been other truly great defensive players on both sides through the years.

          The Rams had the Fearsome Foursome. The Niners had Ronnie Lott and Kermit Alexander. You need to be an experienced veteran to remember a guy named Abe Woodson, who was a good punt returner for the Niners.

          Sid Gillman, George Allen and Dick Vermiel have coached the Rams. Bill Walsh coached the 49ers.

          The 49ers have won five NFL championships. The Rams have won three but by one measure, the Rams are the winningest team in NFL history. The Rams are the only franchise to win titles in three different towns: Cleveland (before they ever played the 49ers), Los Angeles and St. Louis.

          None of the players in tonight’s game were around when these teams started their rivalry. Heck, their parents probably hadn’t been born when the teams first butted heads.

          The rivalry has been largely ignored by the networks. I’m grateful for tonight’s game. And all football fans should play attention to the rivalry.

 

          Thanks for reading.