When you’re 9-4 and lose to an 0-13 team, the sting is going to take a while to wear off. Sean McVay called it embarrassing, saying it makes him sick to his stomach. Much of the same was said by the Rams’ players following Sunday’s loss to the Jets, too.
But even as painful as this game was for the team and its fans, one thing remains true: The Rams control their own fate in the NFC West. That’s right, even after losing to the Jets, the Rams’ chances of winning the division didn’t change much.
Sure, a win would’ve allowed them to clinch the division next week in Seattle, but they can still win the NFC West title if they do one simple thing.
All the Rams have to do is win their next two games against the Seahawks and Cardinals, and they’ll once again be crowned NFC West champs. It’s obviously much easier said than done, especially given Sunday’s result, but if the Rams handle their own business, they don’t need help from any other teams in the final two weeks.
However, because of this loss to the Jets, the Rams can no longer win the division if they lose to Seattle next week. That would put the Seahawks at 11-4 and the Rams 9-6, sealing the NFC West for Seattle in Week 16.
If the Rams beat Seattle and lose to the Cardinals in Week 17, they would also need the Seahawks to lose in the season finale to win the NFC West. So this loss to New York brings more scenarios into play, but the Rams still don’t need any help in order to win the division.
This loss did bring in a long-shot scenario where the Rams could miss the playoffs, however. Here’s how that could happen:
- Rams lose last two games.
- Cardinals lose in Week 16 and win in Week 17
- Bears win out
- Bucs go 1-1
As John Johnson put it after Sunday’s game, “We missed an opportunity to clinch, so now it’s even more important to win these next two games.”
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