There are only three weeks left in the regular season and although the Los Angeles Rams aren’t overlooking the 4-10 New York Jets in Week 16, their final two games are far more important.
That’s because both of those games are against the two teams chasing the Rams for the NFC West title. Even if the Rams lose to the Jets on Sunday afternoon, they’re a lock to still make the playoffs if they beat the Cardinals and Seahawks in Weeks 17 and 18.
While most people are focused on the finale between the Rams and Seahawks, Los Angeles’ Week 17 showdown against the Cardinals might be even more important despite Arizona being a game back of the Rams in the NFC West right now.
Consider this scenario, for example. If the Rams beat the Jets, the Cardinals beat the Panthers and the Vikings beat the Seahawks, Week 17 will have a much greater impact on the Rams’ playoff odds than the finale against Seattle. That’s because Arizona has already beaten the Rams, so it holds the head-to-head tiebreaker.
In that scenario, the Rams will have a 99% chance of making the playoffs if they beat the Cardinals in Week 17 and a 38% chance if they lose, according to the New York Times. That’s a huge swing, much greater than the difference between beating the Seahawks (88% chance) and losing to them (72% chance).
That’s all contingent on the Rams, Cardinals and Vikings all winning in Week 16, as they’re projected to based on the betting odds. If Arizona loses to Carolina and the Rams beat the Jets, Los Angeles will have a 99% chance to make the playoffs if it simply wins one of its final two games.
There are a number of different scenarios that could play out, but if there are no upsets this week, Rams-Cardinals will almost be a playoff game – particularly for Arizona, which is one game back of Los Angeles and Seattle.
The Rams don’t want to enter the final week of the season needing a win over the Seahawks and a loss by the Cardinals to a 49ers team with nothing to play for, which is exactly how things could play out if they lose to Arizona in Week 17.
Win that game against Arizona and there’s a good chance they’ll get into the dance.
