Aaron Donald is treating Rams’ rematch with Cardinals like a playoff game

Aaron Donald says he’s “a little bit more pumped up” for this rematch with the Cardinals, given the playoff implications.

The Rams have played a bunch of important games this season, from their Week 3 matchup with the Bucs to their Week 12 game against the Packers. But there’s none bigger than Monday night’s showdown in the desert with the 10-2 Cardinals, who are in position to essentially lock up the NFC West with a win this week.

This rematch of their Week 4 game – which the Cardinals won 37-20 – carries major playoff implications not only in the NFC West, but in the conference as a whole. And even though the Rams will still be in good shape regardless of the result, Aaron Donald is treating this like a playoff game.

“I know everybody’s pumped up but I’m actually a little bit more pumped up after the way they beat us at our home field last game,” he said on SiriusXM NFL Radio Thursday. And it’s division game, so any time you play a divisional game, a team you play twice a year, you’re always going to be up for that game. It’s going to be a physical game. It’s time for some get back. That’s how I see it. It’s going to be a big game for us. We need this game to keep us in a position where we want to be, so we’ve got to take this like it’s a playoff game.”

If the Rams win, they’ll be one game back of the Cardinals with four weeks remaining. If they lose, they’ll fall three behind, giving the Cardinals a chance to clinch the division with a win over the Lions in Week 15.

In all likelihood, Arizona will win the division but the Rams absolutely need a victory on Monday to stay alive. Donald seems ready to avenge their loss in Week 4, and there’s no doubt the rest of the team is prepared for this one, too.