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Rams running back Kyren Williams, who scored a touchdown, was held to 25 yards in 12 carries when the Cardinals routed the Rams 41-10 in September. (Ross D. Franklin / Associated Press)
It seems like ages ago. Week 2 of the NFL season was in September but for the Rams, the memory remains fresh.
A 41-10 rout by the Arizona Cardinals made it so.
“An ass whuppin’,” defensive lineman Bobby Brown III said this week.
“Embarrassing,” defensive coordinator Chris Shula said.
In all phases.
“We got our butt kicked,” offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur said.
Read more: Rams vs. Arizona Cardinals: How to watch, prediction and betting odds
The loss dropped the Rams’ record to 0-2 en route to a 1-4 start that had coach Sean McVay’s team on the brink of potential playoff oblivion.
Then the Rams won eight of 10 games, including their last four, to position themselves for another division title.
Their top division rivals, the Seattle Seahawks, beat the Chicago Bears 6-3 on Thursday night to improve to 9-7, so the Rams can clinch the title with a win Saturday over the Cardinals at SoFi Stadium and a “strength of victory” tiebreaker.
The Rams would claim that if four of these six teams, all playing home games, win in Week 17 — the Cleveland Browns (vs. Miami Dolphins), Cincinnati Bengals (vs. Denver Broncos), Washington Commanders (vs. Atlanta Falcons), San Francisco 49ers (vs. Detroit Lions ), Buffalo Bills (vs. New York Jets) and Minnesota Vikings (vs. Green Bay Packers).
Linebacker Dennis Gardeck (45) records one of five Cardinals sacks of Matthew Stafford (9) during a 41-10 Rams loss in September. (Rick Scuteri / Associated Press)
Defensive lineman Kobie Turner said the implications of Saturday’s game “don’t go unnoticed.” Still, at its core, the matchup against the Cardinals is a “get-back” game.
“We have a lot that we’re fighting for,” Turner said. “But we’re really strong on the get-back, and getting a little revenge game in.”
How motivated the…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/rams-revenge-nfc-west-title-110144597.html
Author : LA Times
Publish date : 2024-12-27 11:01:00
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