Hold on a minute.
Actually, make that at least 24 hours. Maybe even 48.
After 16 games it’s now hurry-up-and-wait for the Rams, who moved closer to clinching the NFC West title on Saturday with a 13-9 victory over the Arizona Cardinals in front of 73,051 at SoFi Stadium.
Rookie safety Kamren Kinchens and veteran cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon intercepted passes in the fourth quarter as the Rams extended their winning streak to five games and improved to 10-6.
“We got away with a great effort from our defense,” coach Sean McVay said.
On a night when the 1990s band Sublime performed at halftime, the Rams’ performance was anything but sublime. Still, it was enough to set up a long weekend of watching and waiting to determine whether the season finale against the Seattle Seahawks (9-7) will mean anything for either team’s playoff hopes.
The victory over the Cardinals positioned the Rams to clinch the division before that game at SoFi Stadium is played on Saturday or Sunday. The NFL will announce the Week 18 schedule after the completion of Week 17.
The Rams, seeking a playoff berth for the sixth time in McVay’s eight seasons, need help from other teams to secure the NFL’s “strength of victory” tiebreaker that would make next weekend’s result against the Seahawks moot.
On Saturday, the Cincinnati Bengals did their part by defeating the Denver Broncos in overtime. Now the Rams must wait to see if three of five teams — the Cleveland Browns, Washington Commanders, Buffalo Bills and Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, and if need be the San Francisco 49ers on Monday — can win and enable McVay to rest starters for the playoffs.
McVay said he would monitor Sunday’s games, albeit with a wary eye.
“What I don’t want to do is get ahead,” McVay said when asked if he would be scoreboard watching Sunday. “Because you get emotionally invested in other people’s games — that never has really served me very well.”
Quarterback Matthew Stafford said he would keep tabs, but only after consulting with his four daughters about how they want to spend the day.
“And then sitting around watching football doesn’t sound like it’s going to be high on the list for ‘em,” he said. “But I’m sure I’ll keep an eye on some scores.”
The Rams went into Saturday aiming to avenge the Cardinals’ 41-10 Week 2 rout in Arizona.
After not scoring a touchdown in the rain during a victory over the 49ers in Santa Clara, and doing just enough to defeat the New York Jets in frigid New Jersey, the conditions seemed perfect for a breakout performance.
In the first game against the Cardinals, the Rams were missing several starters because of injuries and lost more during the loss. This time they were near full strength.
Plus, for once they even had a home stadium devoid of boisterous opposing fans. Yet, it was still a struggle to win for the ninth time in 11 games.
Stafford completed 17 of 32 passes for 189 yards and receiver Puka Nacua caught 10 passes for 129 yards, but the Rams scored only one touchdown on Kyren Williams’ short run in the second quarter.
Braden Fiske sacked Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray twice, and Kobie Turner and Byron Young each sacked him once.
The Rams led 10-0 at halftime on Williams’ one-yard touchdown run and Joshua Karty’s 53-yard field goal.
Murray’s short touchdown pass to tight end Trey McBride midway through the third quarter cut the margin, but Rams linebacker Michael Hoecht blocked the extra-point attempt.
The Cardinals pulled within a point with a field goal early in the fourth quarter, but Karty’ 25-yard field goal with less than seven minutes remaining increased the lead to 13-9.
The Cardinals’ last threat seemingly ended with about three minutes left when Kinchens intercepted a long pass intended for Marvin Harrison Jr.
“I like when the other team kind of throws the ball in the air,” Kinchens said. “I get to show my little receiver skills. So I’m happy about that.”
After the Rams were forced to punt, however, the Cardinals got the ball with a little more than two minutes left.
Murray directed a drive to the five-yard line but his pass to McBride bounced off the tight end’s helmet and was intercepted by Witherspoon.
“It’s NFL football,” Witherspoon said, “so I’m used to those moments — one-score games, up four, up three and you’ve got to stand up.”
His plans for Sunday?
“I’ll be watching football like I always do,” he said. “But I think we’ve got business to handle against Seattle.”
If the breaks go the Rams’ way and they clinch, it won’t be business as usual.
