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In my eyes it is strange, all  the attention that is given to S.F. by the Herd. Well, I  guess it's a matter of perspective. But for me it's  very different than for most, obviously.  I've  been following the Rams for a very long time, since the 50's, and in all that time I think I can count on ONE hand the number of meaningful games these    two have played against each other. When the Rams  were on top, the Niners were down, and vice versa. Just quickly thinking back, I can only think of about 3 or 4 seasons in my 40+ years of watching the Rams and S.F. where they have actually battled for the division title. There may be some legitimacy to the in-state rivalry argument (no longer a factor). But the "in-state" rivalry was alweays bigger for the fans than the players. There isn't ANYTHING other than that that would make  S.F. an arch rival. Minn & Dallas BOTH were far bigger rivals an S.F. ever was.  It's a  matter of perspectives, I agree....and if a 17 game  losing strength creates a "rivalry" in your eyes then who am I to tell you otherwise? But I don't see it, never have.

I live in a sea of 49'r  fans, and to a man I can guarantee you that in their eyes we are nothing more than a bump in the  road. If a rivalry exists...it is a one sided one,  now residing only in the Herd. So I don't know that the S.F. rivalry, if there even is such a thing, is going to be revitalized, but I agree we're headed back to the dance floor.

ANOTHER WAY TO LOOK AT IT?  I have noticed that is a difference between backing a "losing" team and a proven winner. And I am guilty of this as well as anyone. Back when, when the Rams were always contending, I studied every opponent looking for their "strengths", at least as much, if    not more, than their weaknesses. When the bad times began I found myself looking more towards their weaknesses in hopes that we could find a way to exploit them and pull off an upset. It seems most fans now follow this later line of  thought. We look for the weak links, but seem to put aside the fact that we have to beat their strengths as well. Not a thing wrong with finding weak links, every team in the NFL spends hundreds of hours seeking them out; but until you address what your opponent does well you are not prepared  for the game. There seems to be a tendency for us to really do this regarding S.F.

Still, it is different now. Unless you are a Rams fan, and have closely followed the changes that have occurred this year, I wouldn't expect you to accept the Rams as a contender at this moment. But what we do know is that this 99 Rams team is not the team of 98. No comparison. ALL signs, thus far, are positive. What fan in their right mind would ignore that?

I am experiencing something I have not felt since the Rams were one of the league's "elite". And I'm not talking about 1989... that 89 season just never seemed that impressive to me. The Rams were coming off a losing string nearly as bad as the one we are in now, and I never thought that team was all that great. That truly was a "one season wonder" situation, the only one season wonder season the Rams had that I can remember.  It goes back further than that, to the 70's, when I "knew" we could win and I also knew we could lose to anyone, yet I also felt like it was OUR descision to win or lose. That's how I feel now. Can't explain it, but it's as real as anything else in my mind. This is not "overconfidence" ...it is FAR from  that.

And in 1995 when we started the season 5-1 I did not have this feeling. This year, I do.

I think I truly am starting to believe that the secret to success, and making the playoffs, lies within the players we see taking the field every Sunday. Not within Young  going down, or Atlanta's vengeance seeking hatred,  or Ditka's pompousness. I am beginning to believe that WE control our own destiny. Back in the 70's that feeling was automatic---I had it every game.