The 2014 season was the

St. Louis Rams The St. Louis Rams were a professional American football team of the National Football League (NFL). They played in St. Louis from 1995 to the 2015 season, before moving back to Los Angeles, where the team had played from 1946 to 1994. The arr ...

' 77th in the

National Football League The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league that consists of 32 teams, divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). The NFL is one of the ...

, their 20th in

St. Louis St. Louis () is the second-largest city in Missouri, United States. It sits near the confluence of the Mississippi and the Missouri Rivers. In 2020, the city proper had a population of 301,578, while the bi-state metropolitan area, which e ...

and their third under

head coach A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches. In some sports, the head coach is instead called the "manager", as in assoc ...

Jeff Fisher Jeffrey Michael Fisher (born February 25, 1958) is an American football coach who is the head coach and general manager for the Michigan Panthers of the United States Football League (USFL). He is a former cornerback and return specialist. He ...

. The Rams attempted to reach a playoff berth for the first time since their 2004 season, but were officially eliminated in their loss against

Arizona Arizona ( ; nv, Hoozdo Hahoodzo ; ood, Alĭ ṣonak ) is a state in the Southwestern United States. It is the 6th largest and the 14th most populous of the 50 states. Its capital and largest city is Phoenix. Arizona is part of the Fou ...

in Week 15. The Rams failed to improve on their 7–9 record from

2013 File:2013 Events Collage V2.png, From left, clockwise: Edward Snowden becomes internationally famous for leaking classified NSA wiretapping information; Typhoon Haiyan kills over 6,000 in the Philippines and Southeast Asia; The Dhaka garment fact ...

, finishing 6–10 in 2014. The Rams' 2014 season was notable for their numerous starting quarterbacks including Austin Davis,

Shaun Hill Shaun Christopher Hill (born January 9, 1980) is a former American football quarterback who played 15 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He was signed by the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2002. He played college fo ...

, and

Sam Bradford Samuel Jacob Bradford (born November 8, 1987) is a former American football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for nine seasons, most notably with the St. Louis Rams and Minnesota Vikings. He was also a member of the ...

, the last of whom was injured before the season began. Despite the lack of stability at the position, the Rams defeated both defending conference champions,

Super Bowl The Super Bowl is the annual final playoff game of the National Football League (NFL) to determine the league champion. It has served as the final game of every NFL season since 1966, replacing the NFL Championship Game. Since 2022, the game ...

participants, and 2014 division winners, the

Seattle Seahawks The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle. The Seahawks compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) West, which they rejoined in 2002 as ...

and

Denver Broncos The Denver Broncos are a professional American football franchise based in Denver. The Broncos compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) West division. The team is headquart ...

, plus also shutting out two teams in consecutive weeks: the

Oakland Raiders The Oakland Raiders were a professional American football team that played in Oakland from its founding in 1960 to 1981 and again from 1995 to 2019 before relocating to the Las Vegas metropolitan area where they now play as the Las Vegas Raide ...

and

Washington Redskins The Washington Commanders are a professional American football team based in the Washington metropolitan area. The Commanders compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) N ...

. To date, defensive tackle

Aaron Donald Aaron Charles Donald (born May 23, 1991) is an American football defensive tackle for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Pittsburgh, where he received unanimous All-American honors, and ...

is the only one remaining from the 2014 St. Louis Rams squad. This also represents the most recent last-place finish in the NFC West for the St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams.

2014 draft class

Draft trades * The Rams acquired an additional first-round selection (No. 2 overall) as part of a trade that sent the team's

2012 File:2012 Events Collage V3.png, From left, clockwise: The passenger cruise ship Costa Concordia lies capsized after the Costa Concordia disaster; Damage to Casino Pier in Seaside Heights, New Jersey as a result of Hurricane Sandy; People gather ...

first-round selection (

Robert Griffin III Robert Lee Griffin III (born February 12, 1990), nicknamed RG3 and RGIII, is an American football quarterback who is a free agent. He played college football at Baylor, where he won the Heisman Trophy as a senior, and was selected second overa ...

) to the

. * The Rams traded their second- (No. 44 overall) and fifth- (No. 153 overall) round selections to the

Buffalo Bills The Buffalo Bills are a professional American football team based in the Buffalo metropolitan area. The Bills compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) East division. ...

in exchange for the Bills' second-round selection (No. 41 overall). * The Rams acquired an additional seventh-round selection (No. 241 overall) in a trade that sent

cornerback A cornerback (CB) is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in gridiron football. Cornerbacks cover receivers most of the time, but also blitz and defend against such offensive running plays as sweeps and reverses. They create tur ...

Josh Gordy Josh Gordy (born February 9, 1987) is an American football cornerback who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent in 2010. He played college football at Central Michigan. Gordy has also be ...

to the

Indianapolis Colts The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. The Colts compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) South division. Since the 2008 ...

Staff

Final roster

Schedule

Preseason

The season took a turn for the worst when starting QB

tore his ACL against the

Cleveland Browns The Cleveland Browns are a professional American football team based in Cleveland. Named after original coach and co-founder Paul Brown, they compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the American Football Conference ( ...

on August 23. It was the same ACL he tore the year before that caused him to miss the last half of the year.

Regular season

:Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

Week 1: vs. Minnesota Vikings

The Rams started the season at home against Minnesota, their first meeting at home since week 15 two years back. The Vikings went on to stun the Rams, 36-22. Already missing starting quarterback

for the year with another knee injury, the Rams lost several starters via injury; New starting quarterback

, to injured quadriceps, and defensive end

Chris Long Christopher Howard Long (born March 28, 1985) is a former American football defensive end who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 11 seasons. The son of Hall of Fame defensive end Howie Long and older brother of NFL guard Kyle Lon ...

was hampered by an ankle injury which forced him to miss two months. An unknown, but third-string quarterback named Austin Davis, who would take the starting job for the next few games, took over for Hill in the second half. The Rams, limited by two field goals, would go on to lose their home opener, 34-6.

Week 2: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

With Chris Long and Shaun Hill out, the Rams travel to Tampa Bay looking to rebound from the blowout home loss against Minnesota. The game saw Austin Davis get first start. Most of the game was delayed due to lightning and thunder after the game was tied to 7. Rams kicker Greg Zurelien nailed a last minute field goal to give the Rams a close 19-17 victory, giving them their first win of the season, with a record of one game tied apiece.

Week 3: vs. Dallas Cowboys

The Rams started off hot early in the game, but Dallas responded in the second half, including a

Tony Romo Antonio Ramiro Romo (born April 21, 1980) is an American sportscaster and former American football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 14 seasons with the Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at Eastern Illino ...

pass to

Dez Bryant Desmond Demond Bryant (born November 4, 1988) is an American football wide receiver who is a free agent. He played college football at Oklahoma State, where he earned All-American honors in 2008. He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the fir ...

for 68 yards, in which stunned the St. Louis home crowd. In the fourth quarter Rams tight end

Jared Cook Jared Alan Cook (born April 7, 1987) is an American football tight end who is a free agent. He played college football at the University of South Carolina and was drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the third round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He has ...

's temper snapped on the sidelines as he shoved quarterback Austin Davis who attempted to find Cook in the end zone, but Davis pass was incomplete. Davis threw a couple of interceptions, including one by a swarming of Dallas defenders to give Dallas a 34-31 victory.

Week 5: at Philadelphia Eagles

Week 6: vs. San Francisco 49ers

Hosting the 49ers on Monday Night, the Rams, sporting their 1999 throwbacks, welcomed back "The Greatest Show on Turf" at halftime. But the 49ers ruined their party as they would go on to stun the Rams at home 31-17.

Week 7: vs. Seattle Seahawks

Hoping to rebound from the heartbreaking Monday Night loss at home, the Rams face the defending Super Bowl champion Seahawks. Highlighted by a series of fake punts and long returns, the Rams managed to squeeze past the Super Bowl champions, 28-26.

Week 8: at Kansas City Chiefs

The Rams travel to Kansas City to face their in-state rival and the first of four AFC West opponents of the season, the Chiefs. Things would get ugly for the Rams as more injuries continue to pile up as both offensive lineman Jake Long and wide receiver

Brian Quick Brian Rumeal Quick (born June 5, 1989) is a former American football wide receiver that played in National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Appalachian State, and was drafted by the St. Louis Rams with the 1st pick in the ...

suffered season-ending knee and shoulder injuries, respectively. With the loss, the Rams are 0-1 against AFC West opponents.

Week 9: at San Francisco 49ers

In the last seconds of the fourth quarter, Rams linebacker

James Laurinaitis James Richard Laurinaitis (born December 3, 1986) is a former American football linebacker who played for the St. Louis Rams and New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Ohio State, where he was a ...

scooped a fumble from 49ers' quarterback

Colin Kaepernick Colin Rand Kaepernick ( ; born November 3, 1987) is an American civil rights activist and football quarterback who is a free agent. He played six seasons for the San Francisco 49ers in the National Football League (NFL). In 2016, he knelt du ...

, who attempted to dive into the endzone for a game-winning touchdown, to give the Rams a 13-10 victory. The defense, for the most part, sacked Kaepernick eight times.

Week 10: at Arizona Cardinals

Week 11: vs. Denver Broncos

The Rams meet the Broncos at home for the first time since their home opener in 2006. The Rams won 18-10. The injury-riddled Denver Broncos (7-2) travel to St. Louis, looking to extend their lead in the AFC West, but it was too late as the Rams defense harassed

Peyton Manning Peyton Williams Manning (born March 24, 1976) is an American former football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 18 seasons. Nicknamed "the Sheriff", he spent 14 seasons with the Indianapolis Colts and four with th ...

and the Broncos offense all day long. Rams' quarterback

returned from injury and took over for Austin Davis, who started only a few games. Among the game's highlights was Rams safety

Rodney McLeod Rodney McLeod Jr. (born June 23, 1990) is an American football safety for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL). McLeod played college football at Virginia and signed with the St. Louis Rams as an undrafted free agent in ...

taking a hit on Broncos' wide receiver

Emmanuel Sanders Emmanuel Niamiah Sanders (born March 17, 1987) is a former American football wide receiver who played 12 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at SMU, and was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third ...

, forcing Sanders to leave the game with a concussion. Officials later confirmed that the McLeod hit on Sanders was not illegal. The Rams won 22-7 and are tied one game apiece against all AFC West opponents.

Week 12: at San Diego Chargers

The Rams travel to San Diego, facing their third AFC West opponent, the Chargers. The Rams looked to go 2-1 against AFC West opponents, but couldn't flick the switch this time thanks to the Chargers'

Philip Rivers Philip Michael Rivers (born December 8, 1981) is an American former football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 17 seasons, primarily with the Chargers franchise. He played college football at NC State and was sele ...

' late game heroics and the defense, who intercepted a pass from Shaun Hill, who attempted a game-winning touchdown pass. With the 27-24 loss, this gave the Rams a 1-2 record against all AFC West opponents. Rams fans, who attended the game, were seen holding up signs involving a possible return to Los Angeles.

Week 13: vs. Oakland Raiders

The Rams meet the Raiders at home for the first time in twelve years after Week 6 of 2002, where the Rams defeated the Raiders, who were 4-0 at the time, 28-13 to give the Rams their first victory of 2002 after starting the year with five consecutive losses. Before the game, five Rams receivers came out of the tunnel with their hands up in protest to support the

Ferguson unrest The Ferguson unrest (sometimes called the Ferguson uprising, Ferguson protests, or the Ferguson riots) were a series of protests and riots which began in Ferguson, Missouri on August 10, 2014, the day after the fatal shooting of Michael Bro ...

, causing controversy (see hands up don't shoot). Amid the "Hands Up" controversy, the Rams defense obliterated the Raiders and struggling new quarterback

Derek Carr Derek Dallas Carr (born March 28, 1991) is an American football quarterback for the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Fresno State, where he twice received first-team All- MWC honors, and w ...

all game long. The game was best highlighted by two

Tre Mason Trence Mason (born August 6, 1993) is a former American football running back. He played college football at Auburn and was drafted by the St. Louis Rams in the third round of the 2014 NFL Draft. High school career Mason attended Park Vista C ...

touchdowns, including an 89-yard run. The Rams held the Raiders scoreless with a 52-0 blowout. With the victory, the Rams finished the year 2-2 against all AFC West opponents.

Week 14: at Washington Redskins

Despite Rams' kicker Greg Zuerlein missing a series of field goals and chants of " RG3!!!" from Washington's home crowd, the Rams still managed to hold Washington scoreless, giving them a 24-0 victory, and their sixth and final win the Rams would get this year. For the second time in a row this season, the Rams held an opponent scoreless.

Week 15: vs. Arizona Cardinals

With the loss, the Rams were officially eliminated from playoff contention.

Week 16: vs. New York Giants

The Rams wrapped up their 2014 home schedule, facing their fourth and final NFC East opponent, the Giants, led by new wide receiver

Odell Beckham Jr. Odell Cornelious Beckham Jr. (born November 5, 1992), commonly known by his initials OBJ, is an American football wide receiver who is a free agent. Born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Beckham played college football at LSU and was drafted by the ...

Tempers flared later in the game as a sideline brawl escalated after a late hit on Beckham, drawing 3 ejections to Giants'

Damontre Moore Damontre Lamounte Moore (born September 11, 1992) is an American gridiron football defensive end for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was drafted by the New York Giants in the third round of the 2013 NFL Draft. H ...

and Preston Parker and Rams' defensive end William Hayes. The Rams went on to lose their final home game, 27-37.

Week 17: at Seattle Seahawks

Going to Seattle for their third straight year, the Rams once again struggled all game, losing the game 20-6, ending their season with a disappointing 6-10 record. The record led the team to draft running back

Todd Gurley Todd Jerome Gurley II (born August 3, 1994) is an American former football running back who played in the National Football League (NFL) for six seasons, primarily with the Los Angeles Rams. He played college football at Georgia, where he recei ...

from

Georgia Georgia most commonly refers to: * Georgia (country), a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia * Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the Southeast United States Georgia may also refer to: Places Historical states and entities * Related to the ...

with the 10th pick in the first round of the

2015 NFL Draft The 2015 NFL Draft was the 80th annual meeting of National Football League (NFL) franchises to select newly eligible football players. It took place in Chicago at the Auditorium Theatre and in Grant Park, from April 30 to May 2. The previous ...