The Los Angeles Rams were almost a lock to make the playoffs and had a chance to win the NFC West two weeks ago, but a stunning loss to the previously winless New York Jets and a 20-9 defeat to the Seattle Seahawks in Week 16 not only put the division title out of reach, but also diminished their chances of returning to the postseason.
Despite the two-game skid, the Rams still have a good chance of making the playoffs, and The New York Times gives them an 83% chance heading into their Week 17 game against the Arizona Cardinals. Los Angeles can punch a playoff ticket with a win over Arizona, but the Rams can still qualify even if they lose as long as the Green Bay Packers beat the Chicago Bears.
A loss by the Cardinals, meanwhile, would mean an early end to their season, so Kyler Murray, DeAndre Hopkins, and the rest of their teammates are expected to go all out against the Rams. The teams previously met in Week 13, with the Rams winning, 38-28, and they have dominated the Cardinals since Sean McVay became the team’s head coach, winning their last seven meetings.
However, Los Angeles stumbles into Week 17 game without Jared Goff, Cooper Kupp, Darrell Henderson, and perhaps Cam Akers, which makes their matchup against the Cardinals more difficult. Here are four predictions when the Rams welcome the Cardinals to SoFi Stadium.
1. John Wolford does well in his first start
With Goff out against the Cardinals with a broken thumb, the Rams will rely on backup John Wolford, who is set to make his NFL debut on Sunday. Wolford, a Wake Forest product, went undrafted in 2018 and signed with the New York Jets before being cut and playing in the AAF. He was signed by the Rams last year. McVay, for one, can’t wait for the 25-year-old signal-caller to play on Sunday:
“I think anybody who’s been around John Wolford, this guy – I mean, if you don’t like him, then something is probably wrong with you,” McVay said, via ESPN. “John has been waiting on this day. He’s been preparing for this day. We just want him to go out, be comfortable and be John.”
Wolford may be a newcomer, but he has shown in the team’s scrimmages over the summer that he can not only pass, but is also mobile and can make plays with his legs. Granted, this all happened in scrimmages, but these glimpses of potential and McVay’s excitement about using him against the Cardinals should offer encouraging signs for a shorthanded Rams offense. Wolford may not play as well as Goff does when at his best, but it also wouldn’t be surprising to see him do a respectable job in his first start.
2. The other wide receivers step up
Without Kupp, the Rams' other receivers will have to step up. Kupp has 92 receptions for 974 receiving yards and three touchdowns, but wide receiver Robert Woods isn’t far behind with 86 receptions, 900 receiving yards, and a team-high six touchdowns.
Other receivers capable of stepping up are Josh Reynolds and Van Jefferson, along with tight ends Gerald Everett and Tyler Higbee. Losing Kupp and potentially two of their top running backs is tough, but Woods, Reynolds, Jefferson, and their tight ends are more than capable of filling in.
3. The Rams pressure and sack Kyler Murray three times
The Rams will also miss a key defensive player in Michael Brockers, who has been placed on the team’s reserve/COVID-19 list. This comes at a time when Los Angeles will rely more than usual on defense, especially in the absence of some of their top options on offense.
Murray suffered a leg injury in the Cardinals’ 20-12 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Week 16, but should be available to play against the Rams with their postseason chances on the line. The Rams — tops in the NFL in total yards allowed, yards allowed per game, and passing yards allowed per game — will have their hands full against the 23-year-old quarterback.
Despite back-to-back losses to the Jets and Seahawks, the team’s defense has remained stout, especially with Pro Bowlers Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey expected to be there to disrupt the Cardinals’ offense. Los Angeles ranks second in the league in sacks with 49 and has five games this season with at least five sacks, including against Russell Wilson and the Seahawks in Week 16.
Donald, the two-time Defensive Player of the Year, ranks second in the league in total sacks with 13.5, and he should be able to get to Murray along with the Rams’ other pass rushers as they have against most of the quarterbacks they’ve faced this season.
4. The shorthanded Rams pick up a win to return to the playoffs
Even if they aren’t yet assured of a spot in the playoffs, there’s no doubt the Cardinals face more pressure than the Rams when they face off on Sunday. That isn’t to say that Los Angeles won’t treat the game as a must-win and just hope that Aaron Rodgers continues to flash his MVP form against the Bears to give them a free ride to the postseason.
McVay and his players also know that this game is their most important of the season and will do their best to overcome the absence of some of their top players, especially on offense. Wolford, in particular, will be under the spotlight, since it is the first time in the Super Bowl era that a team will use a quarterback making his first start in a game this late in a season with a chance to make the playoffs, per ESPN Stats and Info.
It will take a lot for the Rams’ shorthanded offense to keep in step with the Cardinals, so it is important for L.A.'s top-ranked defense to play well. Doing that will give the Rams a chance to win to finish the season at 10-6 and return to the playoffs.
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