LOS ANGELES — The Rams went into Week 17 preaching that they could only control their own responsibilities in the hunt for the NFC West crown. That became a little more true Thursday night.
Following the Seattle Seahawks’ win over the Chicago Bears on Thursday night, the Rams cannot clinch the division title by beating the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday. They’d need a little help to do it, too.
Should the Rams (9-6) and Seahawks (9-7) finish tied in the standings at 10-7 following their Week 18 matchup, the tiebreakers would come down to strength of record. The Rams could clinch the NFC West based on strength of record so long as they beat the Cardinals (7-8) and get four wins or three wins and a tie out of these six teams: Buffalo, Minnesota, Cincinnati, Washington, Cleveland and San Francisco.
Cincinnati is playing for its slim playoff chances against Denver this weekend. Buffalo is facing the downtrodden New York Jets. Washington hosts the up-and-down Atlanta Falcons. Minnesota has a tough divisional matchup with the Green Bay Packers. Cleveland is starting its third-string quarterback against the Miami Dolphins. And the 49ers host the NFC-leading Detroit Lions.
What happens in those six games is anyone’s guess. But none of it matters this week if the Rams don’t handle their job this week against the Cardinals.
No one in the team’s Woodland Hills facility has forgotten what happened the last time these teams met. Arizona stunned the Rams, scoring three touchdowns before the Rams had gained a first down. The Cardinals out-physicaled and out-executed the Rams, in a way that even all the injuries the Rams were going through didn’t explain it.
“It was a test of who we truly were. … You play that game, and you were almost shocked how bad you played and to go out and put on that type of performance, it was embarrassing to be honest,” Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula said. “It’s how you bounce back from those adverse situations you find out who you really are.”
The Rams have grown in every way since that Sunday. Defensive rookies Jared Verse, Braden Fiske, Kamren Kinchens and Omar Speights have hit their stride. Veterans like Bobby Brown IV and Ahkello Witherspoon have found ways to contribute. The offensive line got healthy, and suddenly the run game could move again. Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp got healthy, and the ball could travel through the air again, too.
“It takes time to jell. It takes time to understand what kind of team you’re going to be. This group has done a really nice job of fighting their tail off through all that,” Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford said. “We had a bunch of injuries early on in the season, kept our head above water, were fighting like crazy, got healthy down the stretch a little bit late and grown into the football team we could be.”
So here the Rams are, their first NFC West title since 2021 a real possibility. Heck, with a little help, they could clinch this weekend and let their starters rest in Week 18 for the second year in a row.
But only if they take care of the task at hand.
“Fortunately, we’re in a position where you don’t necessarily have to rely on other things to happen if you just handle your business,” Rams head coach Sean McVay said. “That’s where my focus and concentration lie. That’s where our coaches and that’s where our players have been throughout the course of the week as it leads into the game that we have on a weekly basis and that’ll be the same this week.”
ARIZONA (7-8) at RAMS (9-6)
When: Saturday, 5 p.m.
Where: SoFi Stadium
TV/radio: NFL Network, CBS (Ch. 2)/710 AM; 93.1 FM; 1330 AM (Spanish); Sirius 226, 225