Nov. 8, 1964 - Harland Svare’s Rams slugged it out on the ground today at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, had the defense when it counted, and buried the Eagles, 20-10.
The Rams, dutifully following Svare’s game plan, never trailed, leading at halftime, 7-3, to bounce back into a second-place tie with Detroit (5-3-1) in the Western Conference race.
By “race,” that means the chase for the runner-up spot, as Baltimore (8-1) is apparently playing in its own league this year.
Once again, two rookies, halfback Lester Josephson (pictured #34) and flanker Bucky Pope, treated the 53,994 fans to their quota of thrills in a contest that was more of a tactical assignment by the infantry.
Josephson, breaking tackles like a Jim Taylor or Jim Brown, ran over anyone in his path as the 212-pounder accumulated 138 yards on 16 carries, including a 75-yard run to set up the first Ram touchdown.
“We had him,” said disgusted Philadelphia safety Don Burroughs afterward, “but he just got away.”
Pope didn’t disappoint his fan club. He only caught two passes, but both receptions eventually accounted for 10 points in the third quarter.
His second catch was out of an old Elroy Hirsch or Don Hutson book. He flipped the ball up into the air with one hand and caught it with the other to complete a 31-yard pass play, giving the Rams momentum for their second touchdown.
“That 75-yard run by Josephson and Pope’s alley-oop catch — 31 yards — were key plays in their victory,” Eagle coach Joe Kuharich said afterward. “The catch by Pope kept their drive going. It was one of those impossible catches, but he made it.”
Without seeking to alibi, Kuharich declared his team was hurting healthwise before the game and that its condition worsened as the struggle unfolded.
“The Rams knew that our first-string defensive left end, George Tarasovic, was out with injuries and that a few others were not too healthy. They decided to run, and it paid off. They were able to maintain ball control.”
Former Ram Ollie Matson, who was at fullback for the Eagles, lauded the play of the Rams’ big four — Deacon Jones, Lamar Lundy, Rosey Grier, and Merlin Olsen. “They are as good as any defensive linemen in the league,” said Matson. “They have height, and that made it tough on our quarterbacks. The only thing our passers could do was try and roll away from their rushes.”
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