Wait a minute.
In fact, do it for at least 24 hours. Maybe even 48.
After 16 games, now we have to hurry up and wait ramswho moved closer to the NFC West title on Saturday with a 13-9 victory against the Arizona Cardinals in front of 73,051 people at SoFi Stadium.
Kyren Williams rushed for a touchdown, Puka Nacua had 129 receiving yards and safety Kamren Kinchens and veteran cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon had fourth-quarter interceptions as the Rams extended their winning streak to five matches and improved to 10-6.
On a night when 1990s band Sublime performed at halftime, the Rams’ performance was anything but sublime. Still, all it took was a long weekend of watching and waiting to determine whether the season finale against the Seattle Seahawks (9-7) would mean anything for both teams’ playoff hopes.
The win over the Cardinals gave the Rams the division win before this game at SoFi Stadium is played Saturday or Sunday. The NFL will announce the Week 18 schedule after the conclusion of Week 17.
The Rams, seeking a playoff spot for the sixth time in eight seasons under coach Sean McVay, need help from other teams to secure the ‘strength’ tiebreaker of victory” of the NFL which would render next weekend’s result against the Seahawks moot.
On Saturday, the Cincinnati Bengals did their part by beating the Denver Broncos in overtime. The Rams must now wait to see if three of the five teams – the Cleveland Browns, Washington Commanders, Buffalo Bills and Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, and if necessary the San Francisco 49ers on Monday – can win and allow McVay to rest the starters for the playoffs. .
The Rams entered Saturday’s game aiming to avenge the cardinals“41-10 Week 2 rout at Arizona.
After failing to score a touchdown in the rain in a win over the 49ers in Santa Clara, and doing just enough to defeat the New York Jets in frigid New Jersey, conditions seemed perfect for a stellar performance .
In the first game against the Cardinals, the Rams missed several starters due to injuries and lost more in the loss. This time they were almost complete
Plus, for once, they even had a stadium devoid of noisy opposing fans. Yet it was still tough to win for the ninth time in 11 games.
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Quarterback Matthew Stafford completed 17 of 32 passes for 189 yards. Nacua caught 10 passes for 129 yards.
Braden Fiske sacked Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray twice, and Kobie Turner and Byron Young each sacked him once.
Murray completed 33 of 48 passes for 321 yards and a touchdown. He ran for 32 yards on four carries. Tight end Trey McBride caught 12 passes for 123 yards, including one for a touchdown.
The Rams led 10-0 at halftime thanks to Williams’ 1-yard touchdown run and Joshua Karty’s 53-yard field goal.
Murray’s short touchdown pass to McBride midway through the third quarter narrowed the margin, but Rams linebacker Michael Hoecht blocked the extra point attempt.
Learn more: 🏈Rams-Cardinals Summary
The Cardinals scored one point with a field goal early in the fourth quarter, but Karty’s 25-yard field goal with less than 7 minutes left increased the lead to 13-9.
The Cardinals’ final threat seemingly ended with about 3 minutes left when Kinchens intercepted a long pass intended for Marvin Harrison Jr. After the Rams were forced to punt, however, the Cardinals got the ball back with a little more than two minutes to play.
Murray ran a drive to the five-yard line, but his pass to McBride knocked off the tight end’s helmet and was intercepted by Witherspoon.
This story was originally published in Los Angeles Times.
