Rams Face Crossroads in Regular Season Finale Against Cardinals
The Los Angeles Rams, grappling with an unexpected late-season slump, will attempt to lock in a favorable playoff seed when they host the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday in Inglewood, California. Despite already clinching a playoff berth, the Rams (11-5) have lost two consecutive games, jeopardizing their chances of winning the NFC West and potentially dropping them to the No. 6 seed.
The Rams’ recent struggles have cast a shadow over what was once a dominant season. After becoming the first NFC team to secure a postseason spot, Los Angeles now finds itself at a critical juncture. They could appear to be a team that peaked too early, or a resilient wild card contender capable of making a deep playoff run.
Head coach Sean McVay has emphasized the importance of finishing the season strong, confirming that the Rams’ starters will be in action against the Cardinals. The team’s playoff destiny hinges, in part, on the outcome of Saturday’s game between the Seattle Seahawks and the San Francisco 49ers. A Seahawks loss coupled with a Rams victory would secure the No. 5 seed and a matchup against the NFC South champion. Conversely, a 49ers win or a Rams loss would relegate Los Angeles to the No. 6 seed, with a challenging road game against either Chicago or Philadelphia awaiting them in the wild-card round.
“Just because you play well one week doesn’t mean you’re going to play well the next week and vice versa,” a Rams team leader stated. “I’m going to go out there and continue to trust what we’ve done all year.”
Quarterback Matthew Stafford, who threw a franchise-record 42 touchdown passes this season, has recently shown vulnerability. He threw a season-high three interceptions in Monday’s 27-24 loss to the Atlanta Falcons, a setback to his MVP aspirations. Stafford also had two interceptions in a Nov. 30 loss to Carolina, a stark contrast to the just two interceptions he threw in the Rams’ first 11 games.
McVay acknowledged Stafford’s recent performance, stating, “We wouldn’t be in a lot of the great situations we’re in without him, but… he’s capable of playing better.”
On the injury front, Rams running back Blake Corum (ankle) did not participate in Wednesday’s practice following an injury sustained against the Falcons. This could open the door for increased opportunities for Ronnie Rivers behind Kyren Williams. Wide receiver Davante Adams (hamstring) and offensive lineman Kevin Dotson (ankle) also missed practice, while tight end Tyler Higbee (ankle) has been designated to return from injured reserve and was a full participant. Adams is anticipated to miss his fourth consecutive game.
The Cardinals (3-13), enduring a disappointing season, are currently on an eight-game losing streak, most recently falling 37-14 to the Cincinnati Bengals. Quarterback Kyler Murray’s season was cut short by a foot injury suffered in Week 5 against the Tennessee Titans. Jacoby Brissett stepped in and has completed 64.5 percent of his passes in 13 games (11 starts), throwing for 21 touchdowns and seven interceptions.
A significant issue for the Cardinals has been their defense, which has surrendered an average of 35.0 points per game during their losing streak. This defensive vulnerability was particularly evident in their December 7th matchup against the Rams, where they allowed a season-high 45 points.
“Those guys, they know it. They’re going to make the most of their last opportunity here,” Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon said of his team. “They want to go and play well for their teammates and try to win a game.”
The Cardinals will be without wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. (left foot), who has been ruled out for Wednesday’s practice. Safety Kitan Crawford (ankle) and linebacker Josh Sweat (ankle/knee) also missed practice.
As the Rams prepare for their final regular season game, the team faces a crucial test – not just against a struggling opponent, but against the growing doubts surrounding their playoff potential. The outcome on Sunday will not only determine their seeding but also define their identity as they head into the postseason.
