The 1976 Los Angeles Rams season was the team's 39th year with the National Football League (NFL) and the 31st season in Los Angeles. The Rams continued their dominance of the NFC West to win a fourth consecutive division title. After a record-setting previous season in which their defense was nearly untouchable, the Rams were picked by many to win the Super Bowl.
Despite not improving on its 12âÂÂ2 record from 1975, the team continued to be one of the best in the NFL. This Rams team is quite notable for setting many records during the season, including the franchise record for points scored in a game (59) in a 59âÂÂ0 shutout of the Atlanta Falcons in week thirteen. Los Angeles was in the regular season; the tie (in overtime) came in week two at Minnesota (11âÂÂ2âÂÂ1) and expectedly became pivotal in the playoff seedings. The surprising shutout loss at home to rival San Francisco on Monday night in week five also contributed.
Third-seeded in the NFC and on the road in the playoffs, the Rams upset Dallas 14âÂÂ12 in the divisional round, but lost 13âÂÂ24 to the top-seeded Minnesota Vikings in the NFC Championship game.
This was the final year for the last member of the "Fearsome Foursome" defensive line of the 1960s; defensive tackle Merlin Olsen retired after fifteen NFL seasons, all with the Rams.