49ers–Rams rivalry

San Francisco 49ers–Los Angeles Rams

San Francisco 49ers Los Angeles Rams
First meeting	October 1, 1950 Rams 35, 49ers 14
Latest meeting	January 9, 2022 49ers 27, Rams 24 (OT)
Next meeting	January 30, 2022
Statistics
Meetings total	145
All-time series	49ers, 75–67–3
Postseason results	49ers, 1–0 January 14, 1990: 49ers 30, Rams 3
Largest victory	Rams, 56–7 (1958) 49ers, 48–0 (1987)
Longest win streak	49ers, 17 (1990–98) Rams, 10 (1970–75)
Current win streak	49ers, 6 (2019–present)

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Locations of the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams

The 49ers–Rams rivalry or the Battle of California is a rivalry between the San Francisco 49ers and the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League. The rivalry began in 1950 and became one of the most intense in the National Football League in the 1970s as the two California based teams regularly competed for the NFC West Division title. The intensity of the rivalry is also due to the fact that Northern California (where the 49ers are based) and Southern California (where the Rams are based) have long been competitors in the economic, cultural, and political arenas.

During the Rams' 21 years in St. Louis, the rivalry did not have the geographical lore it once had, but games were still intense regardless of the standings. With the Rams’ return to Los Angeles in 2016, the rivalry became geographic once again. Sports Illustrated considers their rivalry the 8th best of all time in the National Football League. The 49ers and Rams are also the only two teams who have been a part of the NFC West since it was formed in 1970.

The Rams, who dominated much of the first 30 years of the rivalry, led the series by as many as 22 games in 1980, but the 49ers' strong play in the 1980s and 1990s, including a 17–game winning streak from 1990–1998 allowed them to take the lead. The teams have met once in the NFL playoffs, a 30–3 49ers victory in the 1989 NFC Championship Game and are set to meet again in the 2021 NFC Championship Game.

History

In 1950, the National Football League merged with the All-America Football Conference thus gaining three new teams. One of these teams was the San Francisco 49ers making them the second NFL franchise located on the West Coast, the first one being the Los Angeles Rams who had re-located from Cleveland in 1946. The NFL placed both of them in the newly formed National Conference (1950–52) guaranteeing that they would play each other twice during the regular season. In 1953, the National Conference was renamed the Western Conference and the American Conference was renamed the Eastern Conference which remained in place until the AFL merger forced re-alignment in 1970. For the 1967, 1968 and 1969 seasons immediately preceding the 1970 re-alignment, now with 16 franchises, the NFL divided the Western and Eastern Conferences into two Divisions of four teams each. Ironically, very similar to the present day conferences resulting from the 2002 re-alignment. The 49ers and Rams remained together in the Coastal Division of the Western Conference (1967–1969) and then in the NFC West Division since 1970. Owing to the strength of their rivalry, the 49ers and Rams have remained in place as the only two teams in the NFC West Division continuously since 1970, despite the Rams re-location to Saint Louis in 1995 and further re-alignment in 2002. They have met twice every season beginning in 1950. Their lone postseason meeting was in the NFC Championship Game during the playoffs following the 1989 season at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. This resulted in a 30–3 victory by the 49ers on January 14, 1990, immediately preceding their fourth Super Bowl appearance.

1950s

In 1950, the National Football League merged with the All-America Football Conference thus gaining three new teams. One of these teams was the San Francisco 49ers making them the second NFL franchise located on the West Coast, joining the Los Angeles Rams. The first meeting between the teams took place on October 1, 1950, in San Francisco. The Rams were alternating starting quarterbacks between Bob Waterfield and Norm Van Brocklin during the 1950 season. Waterfield was the starter for the game, but during the second quarter San Francisco's Pete Wissman landed a hard tackle on the Los Angeles quarterback. Van Brocklin filled in for Waterfield, and the Rams went on to win the game 35–14. The two teams played each other again on November 5, 1950, at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles. After beating the Baltimore Colts 70–21 and the Detroit Lions 65–24, the Rams were favored to beat the 49ers by 20 points. Yet, the 49ers played a very physical game and only lost by a touchdown holding the Rams offensive powerhouse to only 28 points.

The 49ers got their first win against the Rams on October 28, 1951. The 49ers secondary was able to pick off Van Brocklin six times, more than half of the interceptions that he threw all season. The 49ers held the Rams to just 17 points, the lowest they put up all season and were able to capitalize on the turnovers en route to a 44–17 victory.

1960s

The rivalry was almost even through the decade, with the Rams holding a 10-9-1 edge. The 49ers were also-rans throughout the 1960s, while the Rams did not contend until the arrival of coach George Allen in 1966. In 1967, the 49ers and Rams were placed in the Coastal Division of the NFL's Western Conference with the Atlanta Falcons (who remained a rival in the NFC West through 2001) and Baltimore Colts.

1970s

After the AFL-NFL merger, both teams were placed in the NFC West, and were the only teams required to be in the same division by the merger agreement. The rivalry was at its pinnacle during the 1970s. From 1970 to 1979 one of the two teams won the division each season. The decade also featured 10 and 8-game win streaks by the Rams (the 8-game streak stretched into the early 1980s). The 49ers were the NFC West's top team in the beginning of the decade winning the first three post merger division crowns despite going 1–5 in that period vs. the Rams. The Rams answered right back winning seven straight division crowns from 1973 to 1979, culminating with Super Bowl XIV loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

1980s

On January 2, 1983, a 1–7 Rams team met the 3–5 defending Super Bowl champion 49ers in San Francisco for the last game of the 1982 season (a players' strike shortened the season to 9 games), with the 49ers needing a win to make the playoffs. The Rams led late in the 4th quarter 21–20 until 49ers quarterback Joe Montana led a two-minute drive, putting the 49ers in position for a short field goal. But Ivory Sully blocked Ray Wersching's kick to preserve a 21–20 win and knock the 49ers out of the playoffs.

On January 14, 1990, the two teams met in the 1989 NFC Championship game. The Rams were heavy underdogs but had already pulled off two upsets on the road in the playoffs (over the Eagles and Giants). The Rams took an early 3–0 lead and were driving again, but Rams quarterback Jim Everett noticed a wide open Flipper Anderson a second too late and the pass was knocked away by 49ers safety Ronnie Lott. Instead of a 10–0 Rams lead, Montana led the 49ers on a touchdown drive and San Francisco took the lead 7–3. The 49ers would win the game, 30–3.

1990s

The 49ers dominated the rivalry during the 1990s, winning 17 straight games against the Rams. They also won their fifth Super Bowl in 1994. After nearly fifty years, it seemed like the rivalry was coming to an end when the Rams relocated to St. Louis in 1995. Yet, some players did not believe so. Roger Craig stated in Tales from the San Francisco 49ers Sideline that "the Rams will always be the 49ers' biggest rival. It doesn't matter if they no longer play in Los Angeles. If the Rams played their home games on Mars, it would still be a rivalry."

By the end of the 1998 season, San Francisco lead in the all-time series (49–48–2) for the first time ever. The Rams previously lead in the series by as many as 22 games in 1980. The 49ers lead in the series was short-lived, however, as St. Louis won both games against San Francisco during their championship season in 1999 to retake the lead.

2000s

The Rams and their Greatest Show on Turf offense (1999-2001) regained the upper hand against San Francisco with 6 consecutive regular season victories against them in that time period right after having previously dropped 17 straight games including one playoff loss in the 1989 NFC Championship game. Ultimately, in the early part of the decade, they went 8–2 against the 49ers from 2000 to 2004. But both teams fell into decline and neither team was a playoff contender as the decade wore on. The 49ers had the upper hand during the latter part of the decade, going 8–2 against St. Louis from 2005 to 2009.

During the 2002 realignment, only the Rams and 49ers would remain in the NFC West, as their former division rivals, the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, and New Orleans Saints, would all move to the newly formed NFC South. The Rams and 49ers would be joined by the Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks in the "new" NFC West.

2010s

In 2011, the 49ers took the all-time series lead for the first time in 13 years. The Rams tied it back up with a win at Edward Jones Dome in 2012, but then they lost both 2013 games to the 49ers.

In 2016, the Rams returned to Los Angeles, making it a Bay Area–Los Angeles rivalry (similar to the Dodgers–Giants rivalry, Kings–Sharks rivalry, and the California Clasico). San Francisco finished 25–16–1 against the Rams during their time in St. Louis.

The Rams were the only team to lose to the 49ers in 2016, as the 49ers swept the two-game series against the Rams but went 0–14 against the rest of the NFL. The two teams won one NFC championship each to close out the decade (Los Angeles in 2018, San Francisco in 2019), but neither team won the Super Bowl. In 2019, the second 49ers–Rams game was featured as part of a triple-header NFL Network Special before Christmas. The Rams held an early 21–10 lead, but the 49ers came back, defeating Los Angeles 34–31 to knock the Rams out of playoff contention.

Game results

San Francisco 49ers vs. St. Louis / Los Angeles Rams Season-by-Season Results
1950s (Rams, 12–7–1) Season Season series at San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Rams Overall series Notes 1950 Rams 2–0 Rams 35–14 Rams 28–21 Rams 2–0 49ers move from the All-America Football Conference and are placed in the NFL Western Conference along with the Rams. 1951 Tie 1–1 49ers 44–17 Rams 23–16 Rams 3–1 Rams win 1951 NFL Championship. 1952 Rams 2–0 Rams 34–21 Rams 35–9 Rams 5–1 1953 49ers 2–0 49ers 31–30 49ers 31–27 Rams 5–3 1954 Rams 1–0–1 Rams 42–34 Tie 24–24 Rams 6–3–1 1955 Rams 2–0 Rams 23–14 Rams 27–14 Rams 8–3–1 Rams lose 1955 NFL Championship. 1956 Tie 1–1 49ers 33–30 Rams 30–6 Rams 9–4–1 1957 Tie 1–1 49ers 23–20 Rams 37–24 Rams 10–5–1 Rams' home game was played in front of 102,368 fans, an NFL attendance record that stood until 2009. 1958 Rams 2–0 Rams 33–3 Rams 56–7 Rams 12–5–1 Rams' 56–7 win is the biggest blowout in the history of the rivalry. 1959 49ers 2–0 49ers 34–0 49ers 24–16 Rams 12–7–1
1960s (Rams, 10–9–1) Season Season series at San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Rams Overall series Notes 1960 49ers 2–0 49ers 23–7 49ers 13–9 Rams 12–9–1 1961 Tie 1–1 49ers 35–0 Rams 17–7 Rams 13–10–1 1962 Tie 1–1 Rams 28–14 49ers 24–17 Rams 14–11–1 1963 Rams 2–0 Rams 21–17 Rams 28–21 Rams 16–11–1 1964 Tie 1–1 49ers 28–7 Rams 42–14 Rams 17–12–1 1965 49ers 2–0 49ers 45–21 49ers 30–27 Rams 17–14–1 1966 Tie 1–1 49ers 21–13 Rams 34–3 Rams 18–15–1 1967 Tie 1–1 Rams 17–7 49ers 27–24 Rams 19–16–1 1968 Rams 1–0–1 Tie 20–20 Rams 24–10 Rams 20–16–2 1969 Rams 2–0 Rams 27–21 Rams 41–30 Rams 22–16–2
1970s (Rams, 17–3) Season Season series at San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Rams Overall series Notes 1970 Tie 1–1 Rams 30–13 49ers 20–6 Rams 23–17–2 Both teams placed in the NFC West after AFL-NFL merger. 1971 Rams 2–0 Rams 20–13 Rams 17–6 Rams 25–17–2 49ers open Candlestick Park. 1972 Rams 2–0 Rams 26–16 Rams 31–7 Rams 27–17–2 1973 Rams 2–0 Rams 37–14 Rams 31–13 Rams 29–17–2 1974 Rams 2–0 Rams 15–13 Rams 37–14 Rams 31–17–2 1975 Tie 1–1 Rams 23–14 49ers 24–23 Rams 32–18–2 Rams win 10 straight meetings (1970–75). 1976 Tie 1–1 Rams 23–3 49ers 16–0 Rams 33–19–2 1977 Rams 2–0 Rams 23–10 Rams 34–14 Rams 35–19–2 1978 Rams 2–0 Rams 31–28 Rams 27–10 Rams 37–19–2 1979 Rams 2–0 Rams 26–20 Rams 27–24 Rams 39–19–2 Rams lose Super Bowl XIV.
1980s (49ers, 13–8) Season Season series at San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Rams Overall series Notes 1980 Rams 2–0 Rams 31–17 Rams 48–26 Rams 41–19–2 Rams win 12 straight games in San Francisco (1969–80). Rams move to Anaheim Stadium. 1981 49ers 2–0 49ers 20–17 49ers 33–31 Rams 41–21–2 49ers sweep season series for first time since 1965. 49ers win Super Bowl XVI. 1982 Tie 1–1 Rams 21–20 49ers 30–24 Rams 42–22–2 Both games played despite players strike reducing the season to 9 games. Rams block a potential 49ers' game-winning field goal in the final seconds of the game in San Francisco. 1983 Tie 1–1 Rams 10-7 49ers 45-35 Rams 43–23–2 1984 49ers 2–0 49ers 19–16 49ers 33–0 Rams 43–25–2 49ers win Super Bowl XIX. 1985 Tie 1–1 Rams 27–20 49ers 28–14 Rams 44–26–2 1986 Tie 1–1 49ers 24–14 Rams 16–13 Rams 45–27–2 1987 49ers 2–0 49ers 48–0 49ers 31–10 Rams 45–29–2 1988 Tie 1–1 Rams 38–16 49ers 24–21 Rams 46–30–2 49ers win Super Bowl XXIII. 1989 Tie 1–1 Rams 13–12 49ers 30–27 Rams 47–31–2 49ers win Super Bowl XXIV. 1989 Playoffs 49ers 1–0 49ers 30–3 Rams 47–32–2 1989 NFC Championship Game. Only playoff meeting between the two teams.
1990s (49ers, 17–3) Season Season series at San Francisco 49ers at LA/St. Louis Rams Overall series Notes 1990 Tie 1–1 Rams 28–17 49ers 26–10 Rams 48–33–2 1991 49ers 2–0 49ers 27–10 49ers 33–10 Rams 48–35–2 1992 49ers 2–0 49ers 27–24 49ers 27–10 Rams 48–37–2 1993 49ers 2–0 49ers 40–17 49ers 35–10 Rams 48–39–2 1994 49ers 2–0 49ers 31–27 49ers 34–19 Rams 48–41–2 49ers win Super Bowl XXIX. 1995 49ers 2–0 49ers 41–13 49ers 44–10 Rams 48–43–2 Rams re-locate to St. Louis, play at Busch Memorial Stadium for 1995 season. 1996 49ers 2–0 49ers 34–0 49ers 28–11 Rams 48–45–2 Rams open Trans World Dome (now known as The Dome at America's Center). 1997 49ers 2–0 49ers 30–10 49ers 15–12 Rams 48–47–2 1998 49ers 2–0 49ers 38-19 49ers 28-10 49ers 49–48–2 49ers win 17 straight meetings (1990–98) and 12 straight meetings in LA/St. Louis (1987–98). 49ers take lead in the series for the first time. 1999 Rams 2–0 Rams 23–7 Rams 42–20 Rams 50–49–2 Rams' first season sweep since 1980. Rams win Super Bowl XXXIV.
2000s (Tie, 10–10) Season Season series at San Francisco 49ers at St. Louis Rams Overall series Notes 2000 Rams 2–0 Rams 34–24 Rams 41–24 Rams 52–49–2 2001 Rams 2–0 Rams 30–26 Rams 27–14 Rams 54–49–2 Rams lose Super Bowl XXXVI. 2002 Tie 1–1 49ers 37–13 Rams 31–20 Rams 55–50–2 2003 Tie 1–1 49ers 30–10 Rams 27–24(OT) Rams 56–51–2 2004 Rams 2–0 Rams 24–14 Rams 16–6 Rams 58–51–2 2005 49ers 2–0 49ers 28–25 49ers 24–20 Rams 58–53–2 2006 Tie 1–1 49ers 20–13 Rams 20–17 Rams 59–54–2 2007 Tie 1–1 Rams 13–9 49ers 17–16 Rams 60–55–2 2008 49ers 2–0 49ers 35–16 49ers 17–16 Rams 60–57–2 2009 49ers 2–0 49ers 35–0 49ers 28–6 Rams 60–59–2
2010s (49ers, 12–7–1) Season Season series at San Francisco 49ers at St. Louis/LA Rams Overall series Notes 2010 Tie 1–1 49ers 23–20(OT) Rams 25–17 Rams 61–60–2 2011 49ers 2–0 49ers 26–0 49ers 34–27 49ers 62–61–2 2012 Rams 1–0–1 Tie 24–24(OT) Rams 16–13(OT) Tie 62–62–3 Only tie game in the series since the 1974 introduction of overtime in regular season games. The Rams had what would have been a game-winning field goal taken away because of a penalty. The Rams kicked a field goal as time expired in OT of the second game, narrowly averting a second straight tie. 49ers lose Super Bowl XLVII. 2013 49ers 2–0 49ers 23–13 49ers 35–11 49ers 64–62–3 2014 Tie 1–1 Rams 13–10 49ers 31–17 49ers 65–63–3 49ers open Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara. 2015 Tie 1–1 49ers 19–16(OT) Rams 27–6 49ers 66–64–3 Game in Santa Clara is Rams’ last game as a St. Louis-based franchise. 2016 49ers 2–0 49ers 28–0 49ers 22–21 49ers 68–64–3 Rams return to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in LA. 49ers' wins over the Rams are their only wins in a 2–14 season. 49ers' 9th shutout win in team history vs. Rams. 2017 Tie 1–1 Rams 41–39 49ers 34–13 49ers 69–65–3 2018 Rams 2–0 Rams 39–10 Rams 48–32 49ers 69–67–3 Rams sweep season series for first time since 2004, and clinch first-round bye in their home win in week 17. Rams lose Super Bowl LIII. 2019 49ers 2–0 49ers 34–31 49ers 20–7 49ers 71–67–3 49ers eliminate Rams from playoff contention with win in Santa Clara. 49ers lose Super Bowl LIV.
2020s (49ers, 4–0) Season Season series at San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Rams Overall series Notes 2020 49ers 2–0 49ers 24–16 49ers 23–20 49ers 73–67–3 No fans in attendance for either game due to COVID-19 pandemic. Rams open SoFi Stadium in Inglewood and their first ever loss there is to the 49ers. 2021 49ers 2–0 49ers 31–10 49ers 27–24(OT) 49ers 75–67–3 49ers overcome 17–0 deficit, clinch playoff berth in game in Los Angeles. 2021 Playoffs January 30 2021 NFC Championship Game. 2022 TBD TBD
Summary of Results Season Season series at San Francisco 49ers at LA/St. Louis Rams Notes Regular season 49ers 74–67–3 49ers 37–34–2 49ers 38–33–1 49ers lead the series in Los Angeles 27–23–1 and won the series in St. Louis 11–10 Postseason 49ers 1–0 49ers 1–0 no games 1989 NFC Championship Game Regular and postseason 49ers 75–67–3 49ers 37–34–2 49ers 37–33–1

See also

• Dodgers–Giants rivalry
• Sports in California#Northern California – Southern California rivalry
• Kings–Sharks rivalry
• California Clásico

References

General

• 49ers vs Rams Results
• Craig, Roger; Bill Walsh; and Matt Maiocco (2004). Roger Craig's Tales from the San Francisco 49ers Sideline. Sports Publishing LLC. ISBN 1-58261-307-9.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
• Hession, Joseph (1986). The Rams: Five Decades of Football. Foghorn Press. ISBN 0-935701-40-0.
• Hunstein, Jim (2000). How 'Bout Them Rams; A Guide to Rams Football History. Palmerston & Reed. ISBN 0-911921-62-1.