The best Rams team ever

[PhillyRam]

I know it's subjective but IMO the 1999 defense was considerably better than the 2001 D. They allowed less TDs (23 to 27), had more picks (29 to 21), were almost identical in yards (4688 #4 to 4471 #3; 13 more yards per game allowed....not a huge difference) but scored with the ball more than the 2001 D (8 TDs to 5). The run D allowed 1189 yards on 338 (3.5) while the 01 team allowed 1374 on 366 (3.8). If you add in the special teams, the 99 team had 3 return TDs while the 2001 team 0. Speaking of pinning their ears back, the 99 team had 57 sacks (on 653 drops, 8.73% ) the 2001 team had 45 (on 586 drops, 7.68%). Overall, all around, the 99 D was better.

The offenses were almost identical.
99 #1 in yards (6412) 55 TDs 23 FGs (454 pts)
01 #1 in yards (6690) 57 TDs 20 FGs (459 pts)

But the 99 team won the Lombardi.....on a defensive tackle, while the 01 team lost the Lombardi on a last second FG drive.

So throw the stats out then. You are basing it all on a made FG and tackle at the 1 yard line.

 

[Faceplant]

Yes, I did but you spelled your wrong. You tell me which is worst. HaHa

Using worst in that sentence was worse.

 

[PARAM]

So throw the stats out then. You are basing it all on a made FG and tackle at the 1 yard line.

No I'm not. I'm basing it on the stats AND getting the job done.

It's true the 2001 team had a much tougher schedule. 6 double digit win teams vs 1 in 99. 6 top 10 offenses faced vs 3. 5 bottom 10 offenses faced vs 10. But once you get to the postseason, all bets are off. There are no cupcakes. The 99 defense allowed 59 postseason points, 22 in the CCG & SB. The 2001 defense allowed 61 postseason points, 44 in the CCG and SB.

The 2001 team, for having a much tougher schedule and coming in slightly under the 99 D's performance, should have been good enough to stop a first year starting QB from driving down the field for a GW FG, shouldn't they? He wasn't the GOAT at that time. He was a fooking game manager. The gassed 99 D held a tough, very good team (who had a 36 to 23 TOP advantage and scored 16 second half points, had a vet QB who was mobile) out of the endzone on their final drive.

We can debate till the cows come home. I'll take the D who scores 8 defensive TDs and allows 6 points in the CCG, 16 in the SB to the D who allows a green, young game manager to drive the field for a GWFG. Of course we can blame it all on Lovie Smith. The 99 D created 'The Tackle'. The 2001 D created a dynasty.

 

[Karate61]

I am just comparing them to 01'

I know. I just feel stating the two loses in '99 is not a fully fair comparison, as every Super Bowl winner or contender has regular season loses. And, in '99 it's not like they were bad loses either. They were close games. That's all I'm trying to point out here.

 

[JonRam99]

maaaan where's all the old timers??? I mean, I'd say we should at least discuss the 1980 Rams team? ya I know they lost to the Steelers but....
nvm lol they were mostly a big 'D' / little 'O' team. Other than Waddy I don't know any of the other WR's, or even the RB's lol. They still had Slater, Youngblood, Cromwell, Ferragamo, et. al.
So many other great comments here, all I'll say is... maaan, what might've been in 2018, if not for TGII's knee & Kupp's injury. That was a great team.

 

[Corbin]

What year would you guys say the best Ram team ever was? I remember the 2003 team with Bulger at QB and I really thought that team could have had a championship. The same with us that year. Had we not choked on a 4th and 26 against Philly I truly believe we would have beaten Carolina in the NFC Championship Game. I believe you guys lost to Carolina the day before we lost to Philly. I believe you guys were much better than that Carolina team as well.

Okay i agree 1000% if we beat Carolina that year we would have won the SB. That year the teams were in the NFC and not the bitch ass Cheatriots.


FYI. That year we went to double overtime and lost to a Steve smith burning the fuck out Jason Seahorn.

 

[Corbin]

Still think the 2001 Rams team was the best team but won’t get its due because they didn’t win the SB due to being cheated.

 

[XXXIVwin]

Off the top of my head I'll pick, in order:

2001
1999
2021
2018
2003
2000
1979
1989
1985
2017

2001 team was dominant, even against tough competition, got robbed in the SB by flagrant cheating

99 was magic

2021 had plenty of magic too

2018 was super solid, missed healthy Gurley and Kupp

2003 was underrated and coulda gone all the way

2000 was unreal on O and coulda won it all in spite of D

1979 was the original magic (for me)

1989 was a fantastic ride (Flipper!)

1985 had plenty of fun but Dieter couldn't top da Bears

2017 was the beginning of the Golden Age of McVay


My fandom mostly began in 1979, so I'm omitting teams before then... not sure if any other 70's teams could crack the top 10? And yeah, I can't speak to the 50's and Van Brocklin and Waterfield eras.

 

[ArkyRamsFan]

If Todd Gurley and Kupp stays healthy, the 2018 squad would get more consideration. And they win that Super Bowl,

THIS!!! Many forget that we went into that fateful game without our best weapons and that combined with the cheating by the Cheatriots was all she wrote.

~ArkyRamsFan~

 

[dang]

THIS!!! Many forget that we went into that fateful game without our best weapons and that combined with the cheating by the Cheatriots was all she wrote.

~ArkyRamsFan~

RU confusing 2018 with 2001 regarding cheating by Cheatriots?

 

[Ramlock]

If Todd Gurley and Kupp stays healthy, the 2018 squad would get more consideration. And they win that Super Bowl,

2017-2018 Gurley was incredible

 

[RecklessRams]

Would any of you sport this tracksuit? I'm kinda tempted to for $55

 

[Packfan18]

You guys seem to forget about 2003. I always thought your team was awesome that year.

 

[RecklessRams]

Nah most of us clearly remember the Fuego Bulger brought to that particular 2003 squad.

 

[tempests]

Two of their three post season games came down to the bitter end. Not like all of their regular season blowouts. Abd they lost to a so so Lions team & the Titans.

And the 01 Rams turned into a turnover factory when they played the not so good 7-9 Saints and 9-7 Bucs.

The 01' team beat many more really good teams that year,

There were no terrifying juggernauts in the 1999 NFL the Rams lucked out of playing that could've inhibited their success.
They were the best team in the league, without qualification.

Playing lesser teams doesn't make you a lesser team.

2001 Rams didn't do anything the 1999 Rams couldn't or wouldn't have done.

 

[PhillyRam]

And the 01 Rams turned into a turnover factory when they played the not so good 7-9 Saints and 9-7 Bucs.

There were no terrifying juggernauts in the 1999 NFL the Rams lucked out of playing that could've inhibited their success.
They were the best team in the league, without qualification.

Playing lesser teams doesn't make you a lesser team.

2001 Rams didn't do anything the 1999 Rams couldn't or wouldn't have done.

I disagree

 

[PARAM]

I think the biggest difference between the 1999 Rams and the 2001 Rams was attitude. The 99 team was good but the 2001 team was cocky. And IMHO, they got that from their head coach. Max-Q? A potential dynasty that failed the second they crowned themselves before getting the job done. If we're talking the more talented team, maybe the 2001 Rams fit that bill. But this thread is titled "Best Rams Team" and to me, that will always be the 1999 team until a better one comes along.

I've been told I'm basing my opinion on 1 game. It could appear that way. But the 99 team put up great numbers, won the Superbowl and went back two years later. The 2001 team put up great numbers, lost the SB to a game managing QB and faded into obscurity.

 

[den-the-coach]

I think the biggest difference between the 1999 Rams and the 2001 Rams was attitude.

 

[PhillyRam]

I think the biggest difference between the 1999 Rams and the 2001 Rams was attitude. The 99 team was good but the 2001 team was cocky. And IMHO, they got that from their head coach. Max-Q? A potential dynasty that failed the second they crowned themselves before getting the job done. If we're talking the more talented team, maybe the 2001 Rams fit that bill. But this thread is titled "Best Rams Team" and to me, that will always be the 1999 team until a better one comes along.

I've been told I'm basing my opinion on 1 game. It could appear that way. But the 99 team put up great numbers, won the Superbowl and went back two years later. The 2001 team put up great numbers, lost the SB to a game managing QB and faded into obscurity.

You could also say the 99' team, specifically the defense, imploded in 2000.

The 99' team was a great Ricky Proehl catch away from losing to Shawn King! So I would hold up on the game management QB line.

 

[PARAM]

You could also say the 99' team, specifically the defense, imploded in 2000.

The 99' team was a great Ricky Proehl catch away from losing to Shawn King! So I would hold up on the game management QB line.

Yes, it could be said the 99 imploded in 2000. Defensively. The offense was actually better statistically, except for the picks. Can we determine what happened to the defense, that made them so bad in 2000? Did they lose a lot of players? No. They lost a coach by the name of Bunting, who was co-DC with Peter Giunta. And then Giunta was scape goated and Lovie Smith was hired.

The bottom line is this. The 99 team did have an easier schedule than the 2001 team (or 2000 team for that matter). But once the playoffs arrived that goes out the window. They put up 49 on Minnesota, with their first postseason snap in a decade going 77 yards for a TD. They beat the snot-popping Bucs 11-6 in the defensively battled CCG. Then they beat the Titans in the SB after blowing a 16 point lead, the first play (again) after Tennessee tied the game went 73 yards for a TD. They got the job done. Period. People can put any disclaimers on it such as easier schedule, great catches, etc. etc. but the bottom line is, they brought home the trophy.

The 2001 team, while talented and vs a tougher schedule, didn't bring it home. Disclaimers can be put on their performance too. Such as, they were lucky the Eagles took care of Tampa and the Saints didn't make the postseason, because Martz, with any version of the Rams couldn't beat the Saints (2-4) or Bucs (1-3). They got Green Bay and Favre, who threw 6 picks in the game. Always the gunslinger, his response to being down was throw it up for grabs. The next game (Philly) they squeaked by, thanks to a McNabb fumbled snap to start things off on their first series, just like he started things off on their first series in week 1. And then they faced the Patriots, who were introduced as a 'team' while the GSOT were introduced individually all the way up to Ricky Proehl looking into the camera and saying, "a dynasty is born tonight". How fucking prophetic!!!!

When you look at the list of Superbowl Champions the 2001 team is nowhere to be found and the 1999 team doesn't have an asterisk that indicates an easy schedule. In fact, the 99 team is remembered for being one of the most amazing teams in history. Cinderella QB, Marshall, Marshall, Marshall, Ike and that rookie, TGSOT, an opportunistic defense, unequalled special teams with Money, Az and Tony Horne led by a head coach who kept it all together. Hollywood loved them!