Last time Rams and 49ers were truly evenly matched??

Despite the great rivalry (that the Fish re-ignited in 2012), there haven't been many games in the last 40 years where I thought heading into the game that the Rams and 49ers were evenly matched. This Sunday it might be the first day since the 1985-1989 era.

Here are some years where I remember the Rams were about even going into the game against the 49ers--despite the 49ers superior roster I thought it might be close; ya know, they did win 4 superbowls then:

1985: Mostly even, with Rams maybe a tiny better. Classic MNF game.
1986: Rams were a nasty team, I thought it was near an even match...mostly.

1989: Heads up, the Rams were the better team in team in both regular season games; but, really, come on, the
49ers had much more talent and HOFers. I couldn't believe they outplayed the 49ers on MNF, albeit losing because
of a center exchange. Still that game blows me away.

1981: Believe it or not, the Rams should have won one game, and at least gone near OT in the other. Of course you gotta watch the whole game(s) to see why.
1983: Maybe they were near even....But how can you take Vinny over JOe.

After the 80s, only 2001 was close to a 'real' NFL matchup:
2001: even when 49ers were 12-4, we still held them to 220 yards of offense in both games.
Wasn't even close to an even matchup then.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/08/2019 08:56AM by Steve.