The young Los Angeles Rams had plenty of momentum as they hosted the St. Louis Car­dinals in the first round of the playoffs. The Rams had just completed their 12-2 regular sea­son with a 10-3 victory over Pittsburgh for their sixth straight win.

Rams coach Chuck Knox had not yet decided on his starting quarterback, Ron Jaworski or James Harris. Harris had been the starter but was nursing a bruised shoulder. So Jawor­ski led the last two regular season victories. Knox said he would make his decision right be­fore kickoff.

In either case, the Rams were favored by six points thanks to their defense, which scored a league-low 135 points in 14 games. Opponents averaged just 237.3ypg and scored only 15 touchdowns. Only three of those came during the Rams' six-game winning streak to end the season.

The Rams also sacked opposing quarterbacks 43 times, second in the NFC. But on the other side, St. Louis QB Jim Hart had been sacked only eight times all season. Irresistable force vs immovable object?

"This will be our toughest game of the year from the offensive standpoint," said Cardinals' coach Don Coryell, "because the Rams are so tough defensively." LA's chances were en­hanced by the return of FB Lawrence McCutcheon after missing the Pittsburgh game with a pulled thigh muscle.

Knox expressed the same sentiment as Coryell from the other side of the ball. "This will be the biggest challenge for our defense because the Cardinals have such a potent offense with so many all-pros on the team." Add the fact that the Rams were without their starting tight end, best blocking halfback, and best blocking tackle, and scoring points seemed to be a mon­umental challenge. Fortunately, the Cardinals had one of the most porous defenses in the NFL.

Jaworski, told he was the starter just three minutes before the kickoff, immediately led the Rams on a 79y, 13-play march and scored the touchdown himself on a 5y rollout around left end. Rams 7 Cardinals 0 with 6:32 left in the first quarter.

The Rams added to their lead on the Cardinals' first offensive possession. Let DE Jack Youngblood tell what happened.

"Preparing for a Don Coryell-coached team wasn't easy. The Cardinals had a lot of wea­pons: Terry Metcalf and Jim Otis at running backs, Jimmy Hart at quarterback and re­ceivers like Mel Gray, J.V. Cain and Jerry Smith. The key, of course, was applying pressure on Hart because he'd pick you apart if he was given time. We went into the game with the reputation for having a good pass rush, and the Cardinals' offensive line had a reputation for providing excellent pass protection. ...

"My opponent was Dan Dierdorf. He was one of the top four tackles I faced in my career. ... He had all the attributes necessary to be a super tackle: size, strength, quickness and intelli­gence. He was a great pass blocker."

"On the Cardinals' second play from scrimmage, we called a dog blitz, and I stayed back to spy. I stepped outside, and the tackle came on me okay, but the back flared too close to me. Hart hurried his throw intended for Otis, and the ball came right to me." He bobbled it from one hand to the other, then caught it. "I know I like to have missed it. You know, we defensive linemen have our hands all taped up. Fred Dryer, Al Cowlings, and I go out before every game and throw the ball around. I swear, I dropped every ball they threw to me today."

Youngblood returned it 47y for a touchdown with the help of Dryer's crunching block on Dierdorf at the 27. Jack said, "It all happened so fast, I didn't have time to be surprised. Once I got the ball, I wanted to hang onto it and get as far downfield as I could. I didn't want to get caught from behind by some offensive tackle because I would have never been able to live that down. Everything falls into place. ... It was my second career interception. I ran the other one back for a touchdown too." Rams 14 Cardinals 0

The Rams got another pick six on the first play of the second quarter. FS Bill Simpson intercepted a Hart pass and returned it 65y for a touchdown. Rams 21 Cardinals 0

"We had double coverage on Mel Gray," said Simpson. "I had the inside, and Monte Jackson had the outside. I read a delay pattern in the middle as Gray broke ... I thought I knew where Gray and the ball would be, and the ball was there. After the first 15y or so, it was clear sailing—a great feeling."

St. Louis got on the board in the second quarter on FB Jim Otis's 2y plunge that culmi­nated an eight-play drive. But Youngblood blocked Jim Bakken's conversion try.
Rams 21 Cardinals 6

The Rams responded with a touchdown on their first play after receiving the kickoff. Coach Knox called for the bomb. As Jaworski dropped back, the Cardinals' safetymen were playing run. So WR Harold Jackson sped past CB Norm Thompson and cut to the middle of the field where he took Jaworski's beautiful pass in stride on the 20 and raced to the end zone to com­plete the 66y touchdown. Rams 28 Cardinals 6

Jackson: "I was running an 'X' or post pattern. We were hoping the free safety would come up on a red dog or a blitz. He didn't do that exactly, but he didn't stay with me either."

St. Louis drove deep enough for Bakken to boot a 29y field goal to cut the lead to 28-9 at halftime.

To have any chance for a comeback, the Cardinals needed to score first in the second half. And they did, driving 80y until Hart hit Gray for an 11y touchdown pass. Rams 28 Cardinals 16

But after no scoring the rest of the third period, the Rams essentially clinched the victory when McCutcheon fumbled on the St. Louis 2, and WR Ron Jessie picked up the ball and ran it in. The score was set up by Simpson's second interception, this one on a pass tipped by LB Jack Reynolds, to put the ball on the St. Louis 36. Rams 35 Cardinals 16

The Cardinals made the score more respectable when Steve Jones carried 3y into the end zone. FINAL SCORE: RAMS 35 CARDINALS 23

Jim Otis, the St. Louis fullback who gained just 38y after leading the NFC during the sea­son with 1,076, said afterward: "Youngblood is the best defensive man I have ever played against."