Rams’ Only Hope: a Throwback : Pro football: Going by today’s standards, they don’t have much of a chance against the 49ers.
It’s “Throwback Weekend” in the NFL, and while this isn’t what the Park Avenue marketing folks had in mind, you have to go all the way back to 1986 to mark the last time the Rams defeated the 49ers in Anaheim Stadium.
The 1994 Rams will be wearing replica uniforms of the 1951 NFL championship Rams, who lost their first meeting with San Francisco that year, 44-17.
The championship Rams rebounded to beat the 49ers in 1951, 23-16, but Ram victories at the expense of the 49ers are ancient history.
The Rams lead the series with the 49ers 48-39-2, but have lost the last seven games in the series.
Wayne Sevier, a student of NFL history who coaches the special teams for the Rams, studies videotape daily and is privy to the present-day strengths and weaknesses of friend and foe.
He should know better, but Sevier said he looks upon today’s game with San Francisco in Anaheim Stadium as “the battle for first place.”
He says this with a straight face and with no regard for past performances, which include the Rams’ being outscored, 102-37, in the last three meetings with San Francisco and seven consecutive defeats in Anaheim Stadium by the 49ers.
“The facts are, there are two teams in this conference 2-0, 10 teams that are 1-1 and two teams 0-2,” Sevier said. “We’re one of the ones that are 1-1, tied for first in the division with the 49ers, and I look at this as a chance to take over the division lead.
“Say the Chiefs are able to go beat Atlanta, we’d be sitting 2-1. The facts are, we’re playing for first place.”
The facts are, the 49ers are considered overwhelming favorites in this game, and in the past few days have added cornerback Deion Sanders and defensive end Charles Mann to their roster, while the Rams have stood pat.
The Ram offense has generated three touchdowns, ranks 27th in first downs and 26th in time of possession. As a team, the Rams have as many penalties as the Raiders, 19, which is second most in the league.
The 49ers, meanwhile, are projected to battle Dallas for the opportunity to play in the Super Bowl.
“If you polled people around the country, sure, they’d say we don’t have a prayer,” said Sevier, who earned two Super Bowl rings while an assistant coach with the Redskins. “But you don’t have to be a better team in the long run to beat somebody. All you have to do is be better on a given day.”
If the Rams are to have their day, the circumstances might get no better. The 49ers have lost starting right tackle Harris Barton, starting right guard Ralph Tamm and starting defensive end Richard Dent to injuries and might be without starting left guard Jesse Sapolu as well.
In addition, they are coming off an emotionally draining defeat by the Chiefs and former 49er quarterback Joe Montana.
“When you get a wounded animal in a corner, that’s when he fights his hardest,” said Jim Erkenbeck, Ram offensive line coach, acknowledging that most observers still have given the Rams no chance of beating the 49ers.
“A couple of years ago, I remember the same situation when we went down and played the Dallas Cowgirls and just kicked the heck out of them. I’m not saying that’s going to happen again, but it’s about the same atmosphere--when people who are not in the know give us no chance to win.”
The Cowboys had Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin and Emmitt Smith in 1992 and the Rams upset Dallas, 27-23.
The 49ers have Steve Young, Jerry Rice and Ricky Watters, who a year ago pounded the Rams, 35-10, in Anaheim Stadium, and by 40-17 in Candlestick Park.
“That’s in the past,” said Anthony Newman, Ram safety. “This game is going to be a different story. Their whole offensive line is hurting a bit. It’s a different game.
“We can’t go off what Steve Young did to us last year. It won’t happen.”
Young threw for 462 yards against the Rams in Anaheim last season, an NFL high in 1993, and had four touchdown passes, including two to Rice.
“Look at Kansas City’s team, they don’t have the athletes that San Francisco has,” Newman said. “And yet they beat them. They had the pass rush, total team effort and played mistake-free football. San Francisco is beatable.”
RAMS
TODAY’S GAME
* Opponent: San Francisco 49ers.
* Site: Anaheim Stadium.
* Time: 1:00 p.m.
* Records: Rams 1-1, 49ers 1-1.
* TV: Blacked out in L.A.
* Radio: KMPC (710).
* Rosters: C14.