Most Important Play In Rams History?

[Karate61]

Sitting around the offseason waiting for the draft, I stumbled across a clip of the Ricky Proehl touchdown catch in the 1999 NFC Championship, to seal the Rams trip to the Super Bowl (clip below).

Watching this clip reminded my of what a spectacular play and catch occurred in this game. I then got thinking, could I recall a more "important" play in Rams history, and I cannot come up with one present or past. This catch got the Rams into the game that got them the first Super Bowl championship. Without this catch, no Super Bowl, no Bruce catch, no "Tackle" and no Super Bowl win.

Do any of you guys want to chime in and make a case for any other play in Rams history that was more important than this one? Not necessarily going for the most spectacular play, although this one has its worth in that category, but one that sticks out as the most important play, and without it would drastically change Rams history.

If you don't want to chime in, then you can suck it! (Just kidding!)


View: https://youtu.be/MKzhAGP7L9k?si=PIW9T8yu2xfmTg0F

 

[XXXIVwin]

I'm with ya 100%.

This has always been my favorite play in Rams history. Bar none.

For me, that play encapsulated all my hopes for 2O years combined-- ever since I was a 10-year old kid disappointed by that SB loss to Pittsburgh.

What an excruciating game that was! And this play burst everything open. Without this play, there is no legend of the GSOT.

 

[Ramstien]

On a team filled with super stars, it was really an unexpected and joyful moment to see Proehl have his time. Rams Win Baby!

 

[Londoner]

Favourite or most important?

The most important was The Tackle, to seal our first Super Bowl success.

Favourite play is totally different, and there are so many from which to choose.

 

[dang]

Many important plays leading to the Rams 2 Super Bowl wins. But my favorite has to be Warner to Bruce for the game leading TD. I was watching this game during an ice storm. Lost power in the 2nd quarter. Had to start a fire to keep the young family warm then settled in to listen to the rest of the game on a transistor radio. Once I heard that TD play - I had a feeling of confidence for the first time ever that the Rams were going to win a Super Bowl. I got to see the entire game 2 weeks later when a buddy of mine sent me a copy of a VHS tape that he had recorded of the game.

 

[JonRam99]

This one wasn't on the field. Next to Proehl's catch, The Tackle, and 99H Balloon (Warner to Bruce), I can't think of a more important moment in Ram's history than this one. I got lots of fav's too but will stick w/ the OP.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=An8BQi4kxFg

 

[RamsFan4Life]

The Tackle……both times

The 2nd one INMSHO is 99 chasing down Burrow and his ring

Bruce catch was yuge but time enough after for The Tackle (1st one)…..but nothing more FINAL……more The End……The Tackles ended it for the Titans and Bengals.

 

[Psycho_X]

We're blessed to have a few that are easily debatable to be the top one. Some franchises don't even have one. But I'd probably still rate Proehl's catch as number 1. I'm sure it would be highly dependent on people's ages. For instance, I was watching the game at a couple friends dorm room. He made that catch and I went screaming and sprinting around the room and out the door and around the dorm. That game had so much tension to it with being a defensive slugfest that the release from that one moment is something I will likely never experience again.

1. Proehl catch
2. The tackle
3. AD seals the win (SF or Cincy can be put here. Dog sealed the game two weeks in a row.)
4. Stafford no look pass in SB.

 

[RamsFan4Life]

After being up against the Steelers and losing, I wasn’t happy till The Tackle lol

on edit to add…..

Don’t know if the 79 loss was bigger to 10 year old me or 99 win was to 30 year old me.

Especially after living in The Bay Are in the 90s

 

[Angry Ram]

Matthew Stafford to Cooper Kupp in the divisional to set up GW FG.

So close to replacing the Falcons choke memes.

 

[Loyal]

So which child is my favorite?

Although I loved that '99 team, it's been almost a quarter of a century ago since that Super Bowl. I have to favor my younger "children" in answering this question.
Love of the Game (NFC Divisional Game) Stafford to Kupp
"The Tackle, part 1, (NFCCG)AD crushes Jimmy G and snatches Niner fan souls.
"No Looker Pass" (Super Bowl 56) Critical completion, Stafford to Kupp.
"4th Down Sweep by Kupp"(Super Bowl 56).

**WINNER**
"The Tackle" part 2(Super Bowl 56) AD seals the World Championship for himself and for all the guys (especially for the old guys like Big Whit, Big Rob, Matthew and Eric Weddle)

 

[thirteen28]

Sitting around the offseason waiting for the draft, I stumbled across a clip of the Ricky Proehl touchdown catch in the 1999 NFC Championship, to seal the Rams trip to the Super Bowl (clip below).

Watching this clip reminded my of what a spectacular play and catch occurred in this game. I then got thinking, could I recall a more "important" play in Rams history, and I cannot come up with one present or past. This catch got the Rams into the game that got them the first Super Bowl championship. Without this catch, no Super Bowl, no Bruce catch, no "Tackle" and no Super Bowl win.

Do any of you guys want to chime in and make a case for any other play in Rams history that was more important than this one? Not necessarily going for the most spectacular play, although this one has its worth in that category, but one that sticks out as the most important play, and without it would drastically change Rams history.

If you don't want to chime in, then you can suck it! (Just kidding!)


View: https://youtu.be/MKzhAGP7L9k?si=PIW9T8yu2xfmTg0F

No argument from me. Most of that game is one I have no interest in re-watching, as it was, despite what it meant and did for the franchise, the most agonizing win I can ever remember. When the game ended with us getting the W, I was just glad it was over and we were moving on. But that play, that monumental, clutch, absolute fucking money play is one I can watch again and again and again because it did as much as any play in franchise history to move us from a team that could never quite get over the hump to one that could rise up and get it done even in dire circumstances.

I get that the tackle, that the Bruce catch, etc. were important plays. However, I just knew after we won this one we were going to get the Lombardi and the Rams would join the ranks of teams that had won a Super Bowl. In a sense, I feel like this play won us two games, not just one.

EDIT: Adding one other fun little anecdote - I remember talking to a friend on the phone the day we signed Proehl. The Rams were bad then and I sarcastically joked that this would definitely get us a championship. We both revisited that conversation after this game, and I was quite happy the joke was on me.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

Most important off the field play, may have been hiring Vermeil. Similarly to hiring McVay, it came at a time of dire need. The Rams were one of the two worst franchises in the 90’s.

Everything seemed to fall in place with Vermiel, the coaching moves, then the player acquisitions, like Faulk, Proehl, Timmerman, and signing Kurt as the backup.

Then the drafts leading up to it getting key additions like Holt, Bly (99), Leonard Little, Roland Williams, Az Hakim(98), Pace, McCleon, Tucker (97)

It was like an NFL fairytale.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

My favorite play is probably Stafford to Kupp in the Super Bowl.

I’m sure my sons is AD tackling Garapolo and Burtow in back to back games.

It really is hard to choose.

Oddly enough, one of my most memorable plays is the 1979 Steelers pass that was so close to being tipped. It was such an emotional moment, it’s etched into my brain.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

Most important play though. That’s a tough call. That Proehl catch could be. It was integral in elevating the Rams into the next level of franchises. Despite the GSOT fun, they still had so many doubters. Martz was constantly mocked on ESPN, for his offensive strategy.

 

[Snaz]

The tackle if it didn't happen wouldn't have lost us the game.
It did give is the win though.

I think the Ricky Proel Catch was Super Important, difficult catch.
The Isaac Bruce for the go ahead TD.

Bengals SB shouldn't have been that close, the no call OPI TD shouldn't have happened.
But the AD sack at the end.

 

[Memento]

I like to call the play AD made against Joe Burrow...The Pressure. It wasn't a sack because Burrow got rid of the ball, but without that play, Cinci gets a first down on fourth and short.

 

[Ram65]

I remember when the Rams signed Ricky Proel. I was excited the Rams got a solid veteran player. Back then there was much to get excited about for the Rams. Little did I know how he would make that catch that would send the Rams to the Championship. I'm sure he helped change the culture of the Rams. I enjoyed his commentary on the catch, and I'm amazed he made that catch while staying in bounds.

Proehl signed with the Rams for the 1998 NFL season on a four-year $6 million contract.

Ricky Proehl - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Rams8821]

Love of the game, Stafford to Kupp. That would have been tough to live down had we lost that game and of course no SB LVI...

I was at the game and the range of emotions was unbelievable...

 

[Loyal]

No argument from me. Most of that game is one I have no interest in re-watching, as it was, despite what it meant and did for the franchise, the most agonizing win I can ever remember. When the game ended with us getting the W, I was just glad it was over and we were moving on. But that play, that monumental, clutch, absolute fucking money play is one I can watch again and again and again because it did as much as any play in franchise history to move us from a team that could never quite get over the hump to one that could rise up and get it done even in dire circumstances.

I get that the tackle, that the Bruce catch, etc. were important plays. However, I just knew after we won this one we were going to get the Lombardi and the Rams would join the ranks of teams that had won a Super Bowl. In a sense, I feel like this play won us two games, not just one.

EDIT: Adding one other fun little anecdote - I remember talking to a friend on the phone the day we signed Proehl. The Rams were bad then and I sarcastically joked that this would definitely get us a championship. We both revisited that conversation after this game, and I was quite happy the joke was on me.

"You bastid!" ~ Aaron Freakin Donald after NFCCG vs frisco