INGLEWOOD, Calif. — With a 13-9 victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday night time, the Los Angeles Rams introduced themselves to the cusp of clinching a playoff spot and successful the NFC West.
The Rams entered the day needing a victory towards the Cardinals and three.5 or extra wins by any of the Vikings, Payments, 49ers, Bengals and Browns to clinch the strength-of-victory tiebreaker over the Seattle Seahawks. Los Angeles received assist earlier Saturday, because the Bengals beat the Broncos for a kind of wins.
Los Angeles (10-6) hosts second-place Seattle throughout Week 18 in what may very well be a meaningless sport if the Rams clinch the tiebreaker by the top of this weekend.
The Rams are at the moment the No. 3 seed within the NFC, 1.5 video games forward of the Atlanta Falcons getting into the Sunday slate.
Listed here are crucial issues to know from Saturday night time for each groups:
Describe the sport in two phrases: Scoring struggles. Within the three video games since scoring a season-high 44 factors towards the Payments in Week 14, the Rams have failed to interrupt the 20-point mark. However the Rams have received all three of these video games, together with Saturday’s.
Prediction for subsequent week: If the Rams clinch a playoff berth this weekend, their key starters won’t play in Week 18, even when the No. 3 seed is up for grabs. And there is precedent. A 12 months in the past, the Rams began backup quarterback Carson Wentz in Week 18 with playoff seeding in play.
Troubling pattern: Sluggish begins stay a problem for the Rams’ offense, which has now gone 13 video games with out scoring a landing within the first quarter this season. Los Angeles has additionally gone 11 video games with out scoring in any respect within the first quarter, the second-worst mark within the NFL, in response to ESPN Analysis.— Sarah Barshop
Subsequent sport: vs. Seahawks (Sunday, Jan. 5)
The Cardinals could not play spoiler for the Rams however they did get tight finish Trey McBride his first receiving landing of the season.
That was the spotlight for a staff already eradicated from playoff competition that got here into the sport with two hopes: make the Rams’ path to the playoffs more durable and attempt to discover one thing — or some issues — to construct on heading into 2025.
Shedding operating again James Conner to a knee harm early within the second quarter did not assist both of Arizona’s causes. Nevertheless, quarterback Kyler Murray did his half to maintain Arizona within the sport. He ran 4 instances for 32 yards and threw 48 instances for 321 yards and a landing with two interceptions, placing a staff with little to play for on his shoulders so long as he may.
Regardless of not hitting double digits in factors, Arizona noticed its passing sport flourish with Murray throwing for 300 yards for the second time this season, McBride breaking 100 yards for the third time and Marvin Harrison Jr. ending with 96 yards.
QB breakdown: The rating won’t replicate it, however Murray was on level. Within the third quarter, he accomplished 13 passes. Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford accomplished 11 passes within the first three quarters. Murray completed 33-of-48 passing.
Troubling pattern: The Rams have discovered methods to get to Murray all through his profession, and their success continued Saturday night time. They sacked Murray 4 instances, which introduced their whole to twenty-eight sacks in 10 video games towards him. The Rams’ common of two.8 sacks per sport towards Murray is increased than his general profession common of two.2 sacks per sport. Solely the Seahawks have sacked him extra (32 instances).
Eye-popping stat: McBride lastly received into the top zone with a receiving landing on his 98th catch of the 12 months, but it surely was after setting an NFL file. His 97 catches earlier than his first landing reception of the season at the moment are probably the most in NFL historical past. The earlier excessive was 92 by Keyshawn Johnson in 2001. — Josh Weinfuss
Subsequent sport: vs. 49ers (Sunday, Jan. 5)
