The Rams Win NFC West Despite Not Playing Sunday
A victory on Saturday over the Arizona Cardinals positioned the Rams to capture the division title via the NFL’s strength of victory tiebreaking metric.
Tiebreaker Secures Division Title
The Cincinnati Bengals’ victory over the Denver Broncos on Saturday, plus the Buffalo Bills’ victory over the New York Jets, the Minnesota Vikings’ victory over the Green Bay Packers and the Washington Commanders’ victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday gave the Rams the tiebreaker over the Seattle Seahawks.
Resting Starters for Wild-Card Game
So the game between the Rams and Seahawks at 1:25 p.m. on Sunday at SoFi Stadium will enable Rams coach Sean McVay to possibly rest starters for an NFC wild-card playoff game that the Rams will host.
Rams’ History of Dominance
The Rams won the division for the fourth time in McVay’s eight seasons as coach. They also won in 2017 when they lost in the wild-card round, 2018 when they lost to the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LIII and 2021 when they defeated the Bengals in Super Bowl LVI at SoFi Stadium.
Dramatic Turnaround
For the second season in a row, the Rams made a dramatic turnaround after their open date.
In 2023, the Rams were 3-6 and then won seven of their last eight games to advance to the playoffs. The Detroit Lions then defeated the Rams in a wild-card game at Detroit.
This season, the Rams started 1-4 before winning nine of their next 11 games.
Quarterback Matthew Stafford’s Praise
“A lot of people doubted us and a lot of people wrote us off at 1-4,” quarterback Matthew Stafford said after a 13-9 victory over the Cardinals. “To be able to sit here with our record what it is right now, I feel proud of this group.”
Conclusion
The Rams have secured the NFC West division title, despite not playing on Sunday. With a strong finish to the season, the team is poised to make a deep run in the playoffs. Coach Sean McVay will have the opportunity to rest starters for the wild-card game, giving the team a chance to come out strong in the postseason.
FAQs
Q: How did the Rams secure the NFC West division title?
A: The Rams secured the division title via the NFL’s strength of victory tiebreaking metric, thanks to victories by the Cincinnati Bengals, Buffalo Bills, Minnesota Vikings, and Washington Commanders.
Q: Will the Rams rest starters for the wild-card game?
A: Yes, the game between the Rams and Seahawks on Sunday will give coach Sean McVay the opportunity to rest starters for the wild-card game.
Q: How many times have the Rams won the NFC West under coach Sean McVay?
A: The Rams have won the NFC West four times under coach Sean McVay, in 2017, 2018, 2021, and 2023.
