[max]

OK. I looked at our opponents records and compared us to Seattle as follows:


Seattle Rams
OPPONENT RESULT W OPPONENT RESULT W
Denver W26-20  9 Detroit L26-20 OT

New England W23-20 OT 3 Arizona L41-10 

Miami W24-3  6 San Francisco W27-24  6

Detroit L42-29  Chicago L24-18 

New York L29-20  Green Bay L24-19 

San Francisco L36-24  Las Vegas W20-15  2

Atlanta W34-14  6 Minnesota W30-20  11

Buffalo L31-10  Seattle W26-20 OT 8

Los Angeles L26-20 OT Miami L23-15 

San Francisco W20-17  6 New England W28-22  3

Arizona W16-6  7 Philadelphia L37-20 

New York W26-21  4 New Orleans W21-14  5

Arizona W30-18  7 Buffalo W44-42  11

Green Bay L30-13  San Francisco W12-6  6

Minnesota L New York W 4

Chicago W 4 Arizona W 7

Los Angeles W 8 Seattle L

Opponents Wins 60 Opponents Wins 63


Takeaway is that currently we are up by 3 opponents wins over Seattle.

So if we win our next 2 games and Seattle loses to Vikings but win their last 2 games, including beating us, then it comes down to Opponents record of teams we beat.

Obviously, the opponents records will change in the next 3 games but I think we have the edge. I will update my spreadsheet next week if we beat the Jets and they lose to Vikings.

[Elvis]

So a couple things:

Even if we lose to the Jets, Rams still control their own destiny and would win division by winning last two games. (Obviously it's still much better to beat the Jets).

If the Rams beat the Jets, they can lose against AZ or Seattle provided that team loses another game. Again, obviously, Seattle is a lot more likely to lose to MN than AZ to Carolina. But even if the Rams beat Jets and then lose to AZ while AZ beats Carolina, Rams could still win the division by beating Seattle and AZ losing to SF in their final games.

So lots of scenarios where the Rams win the division but, of course, best thing is to keep winning...

[actionjack]

So if we win our next 2 games and Seattle loses to Vikings but win their last 2 games, including beating us, then it comes down to Opponents record of teams we beat.

Obviously, the opponents records will change in the next 3 games but I think we have the edge. I will update my spreadsheet next week if we beat the Jets and they lose to Vikings.

No if we win our next two and Seattle loses to the Vikings the last game is meaningless as we have the better division record.

The division comes down to the Cardinals game...

[max]

So a couple things:

Even if we lose to the Jets, Rams still control their own destiny and would win division by winning last two games. (Obviously it's still much better to beat the Jets).

If the Rams beat the Jets, they can lose against AZ or Seattle provided that team loses another game. Again, obviously, Seattle is a lot more likely to lose to MN than AZ to Carolina. But even if the Rams beat Jets and then lose to AZ while AZ beats Carolina, Rams could still win the division by beating Seattle and AZ losing to SF in their final games.

So lots of scenarios where the Rams win the division but, of course, best thing is to keep winning...

Yup. Still lots of permutations for us to win West.

But I fully expect us to beat Jets with 10 days rest. Really, we have no business losing to them at this point in the season if we are even a remotely borderline playoff team.

And I even more expect SEA to lose to Vikings with an injured Geno.

I played around with the ESPN machine and got 2 answers...

4th Seed - Los Angeles
NFC West Champ (Wins tie break over Seattle based on strength of victory.)

4th Seed - Los Angeles
NFC West Champ (Wins tie break over Seattle based on strength of schedule.)

[actionjack]

So a couple things:

Even if we lose to the Jets, Rams still control their own destiny and would win division by winning last two games. (Obviously it's still much better to beat the Jets).

If the Rams beat the Jets, they can lose against AZ or Seattle provided that team loses another game. Again, obviously, Seattle is a lot more likely to lose to MN than AZ to Carolina. But even if the Rams beat Jets and then lose to AZ while AZ beats Carolina, Rams could still win the division by beating Seattle and AZ losing to SF in their final games.

So lots of scenarios where the Rams win the division but, of course, best thing is to keep winning...

Yeah I think likely scenario is the Rams will have to beat Cards for division. Seattle has it tough against the Vikings. I think the niners could beat the cards in the last game but dont want to bank on that.

[Elvis]

Yeah I think likely scenario is the Rams will have to beat Cards for division. Seattle has it tough against the Vikings. I think the niners could beat the cards in the last game but dont want to bank on that.

Right? And who knows how SF would feel in that situation with a chance to send us home by not giving it their all against AZ?

[max]

Right? And who knows how SF would feel in that situation with a chance to send us home by not giving it their all against AZ?

I've been watching the Cards a lot this year. Murray has looked awful, especially recently. He always seems to wear down at the end of the season.

Losing to him in LA in 2 weeks would be disgusting. All we have to do is shut down their running game and not turn the ball over. That shouldn't be too difficult.

Honestly, we have the much better combo of HC and QB in our next 3 games. Plus the rest of the roster is at least as good if not better than the Jets, Cards, and SEA.

[actionjack]

Right? And who knows how SF would feel in that situation with a chance to send us home by not giving it their all against AZ?

Agreed, but I do think the niners will play with pride, still a division opponent. Hopefully it doesnt come down to that.

[Elvis]

Another factor is AZ is one team that doesn't show well at Sofi. Don't want to jinx it but should be a solidly Rams crowd for that game...

[rams74]

Agreed, but I do think the niners will play with pride, still a division opponent. Hopefully it doesnt come down to that.

I agree that they still have pride. Aside from the one guy who isn't interested at all in giving it his all.

But by the time they get to kickoff at Arizona in week 18, what kind of shape will they even be in? At Miami next week, then hosting the Lions. The wheels might have fallen off completely by then.