The Rams didn’t enter the playoffs on a high note. Sure, they had won five of their last six games, but their loss to the 49ers in Week 18 stung, taking the wind out of the Rams’ sails after they had gotten hot.
It was the 49ers’ sixth straight win over the Rams, proving to be their kryptonite – until the NFC title game, of course. But that season-finale loss to San Francisco was one of the worst Les Snead has ever experienced.
During an appearance on “Basketball and Beyond with Coach K,” Snead told Mike Krzyzewski just how much it hurt to lose to the 49ers in Week 18 despite the fact that they clinched the NFC West crown on that same night.
“We lost Week 18 of this year and we had won the NFC West championship,” Snead said. “But that loss, because it was San Fran, it hurt more than any loss I’ve ever been a part of. And it was really a meaningless loss – not meaningless, but it didn’t really affect the math or our NFC West championship or anything like that. But it did still sting and we still had work to do.”
Krzyzewski can relate after Duke lost to North Carolina in his final game ever at Cameron Indoor Stadium, a souring end to what was a fantastic regular season for the Blue Devils. Coach K was visibly mad about the loss, but he also noted that the season isn’t over yet.
The Rams avenged that loss by winning four straight postseason games to finish off their Super Bowl run, including a victory over the 49ers in the NFC Championship Game.
Perhaps Coach K and the Blue Devils will enjoy a similar ending to their season by winning not only an ACC title, but also a national championship this year.
