Rams/Saints - A Forgotten Rivalry

The Rams Bum Phillips debacle was actually from 1983 season and yeah, the loss was so debilitating that some former Saints insiders, executives, players feel that although Bum Phillips continued coaching us until December 1985, he quit coaching after that day, the loss was that devastating. Phillips main problem was that his offensive philosophy was something out of a 1950s playbook, rudimentary, very basic. It didn't really matter who the QB was in Bums system, that's why Archie was desposable and he got a old washed-up QB in Stabler who was along for the ride and wouldn't complain and ask too many questions(Stabler, in his autobiography, did actually criticize Bums offense as "anemic" compared to the wide-open offense he used in Oakland).


Marc Bulges, IMHO, was one of the most underrated QBs of his era and in the NFL over the past two decades. He took over an injured Kurt Warner midway through the 2002 season when the Rams elite GSOT was in decline and in flux and actually looked halfway decent. His best seasons as Rams QB were 2003, 2004, and 2006 having to work with a once-great offense falling apart and make it look good sometimes isn't easy. If he had played during the prime of his career with teams like Ravens, Seahawks, Jaguars, Jets, teams in early-mid 2000s with good O-lines, good defenses, but suspect--above average QB's, I think his career and his overall stats would've been a lot better. Matt Schaub was a decent QB for Houston for 4-5 year period and has more career yards and TD's but he wasn't as intelligent or team leader Bulger was. Marc Bulger was sort of the Kirk Cousins of his time.

You also forgot the 1990 Week 16 matchup where Morten Andersen kicked the game-winning FG vs. Rams in OT, 16-13, to advance to our second postseason berth in then franchise history. This game was sort of similar to the 1983 Superdome contest where we lost to L.A., 26-24, except we were 7-8 and that year the NFL had just adopted 6th playoff seed and because the NFC was clustered with many mediocre teams in 1990, at 7-8 that year the Saints clinched a playoff berth beating the Rams at 8-8. Of course, the next week we lost a bitter, frustrating wild card game to Ditkas Bears, 16-6, at Soldier Field. This was the season Bobby Hebert held out for the entire season in a contract dispute and Finks made his infamous trade with Dallas for Steve Walsh, mortgaging our future. Finks I know regretted the deal. Jim Mora quickly realized just how badly the FO had bungled in acquiring Walsh finding out he didn't have an NFL arm and that he wasn't a take-charge leader Hebert was. Saints players and coaches referred to Walsh as "Pee-Wee Herman" and never gained a lot of respect from teammates in the locker room.

1980-Rams @ Saints-Saints lose a laugher to Rams on MNF, 27-7, on their way to the 1-15 nightmare season. This was also the last game coached by Dick Nolan, who was fired by incompetent, inept owner John Mecom who told reporters afterwards that he fired Nolan "for the good of his health". Its regrettable Saints fans couldn't fire Mecom due to the woeful job he did as owner from 1966-1984.

1981 Saints season-we sweep the Rams for the first time in franchise history in Bums first season. Too bad we only went 4-12 the rest of the way.