Aside from their own, there wasn’t a more important game for the Rams’ playoff hopes than Broncos-Vikings this weekend. The Vikings held a 1.5-game lead over the Rams in the wild-card race entering Week 11, so a loss by Minnesota and a win by L.A. would’ve tightened things a bit for the Rams.
If the Rams were scoreboard watching on Sunday before their prime-time matchup with the Bears, they were likely thrilled with the first half line in the Broncos-Vikings game. Denver was up 20-0 at the half, led by former Rams quarterback Brandon Allen, appearing to be on its way to pulling off a huge upset in Minnesota.
Then things went south. The Broncos somehow managed to blow their 20-point lead in the second half, losing to Minnesota 27-23. Allen has a chance to win the game in the final seconds, driving the Broncos down the field all the way inside the 10-yard line.
However, he threw three incomplete passes in the last 10 seconds, allowing the Vikings to escape with a win. It was the first time in five years that a team came back after trailing by 20 at the half.
As J.B. Long pointed out, the Rams likely need to finish no worse than 10-6 to have a chance at the playoffs with the Vikings already 8-3 at their bye.
Vikings get to 8-3 at the bye.
Finish with at Seahawks, Lions, at Chargers, Packers, Bears.
10-6 likely their floor. #LARams margin for error effectively gone.
— J.B. Long (@JB_Long) November 17, 2019
The Rams need to take care of their own business and win the games on their schedule, but they don’t “control their own destiny,” as it’s often said. In other words, they need help from other teams in order to have a shot at the postseason.
The Rams host the Bears on Sunday night, and a loss would be devastating. It would put them 2.5 games behind the Vikings in the NFC wild-card race.