The Los Angeles Rams will play for the NFC West title next week, if they don’t clinch it this weekend in one of the most complicated ways possible.
The Rams moved within a heartbeat of the NFC West title on Saturday with a 13-9 win over the Arizona Cardinals, improving their record to 10-6 and keeping them a game ahead of the 9-7 Seattle Seahawks.
The game came down to one final drive, in which the Cardinals had plenty of time to score a touchdown and take the lead. They got all the way to Los Angeles’ 5-yard line, when a Kyler Murray pass hit Trey McBride in the helmet.
Rams cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon laid all the way out to catch the deflection and all but seal the game.
The Seahawks play the Rams in Week 18. If Los Angeles wins, the division crown is their’s. If Seattle wins, well, let’s get into that.
Should the Seahawks beat the Rams in Week 18, both teams would be 10-7 and the division title would come down to tiebreakers. The first tiebreaker: head-to-head, where the teams would be even (the Rams beat the Seahawks in Week 9). Second tiebreaker: divisional record, where they are even. Third tiebreaker: record against common opponents. Fourth tiebreaker: conference record, even.
Finally, there is the fifth tiebreaker, strength of victory. In that case, the Rams can seal their advantage this week provided that three of the following five teams provide at least two wins and a tie (all odds via BetMGM):
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Buffalo Bills (10-point favorite vs. New York Jets)
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Cleveland Browns (3.5-point underdog vs. Miami Dolphins)
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Minnesota Vikings (1-point favorite vs. Green Bay Packers)
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Washington Commanders (3.5-point favorites vs. Atlanta Falcons)
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San Francisco 49ers (3.5-point underdog vs. Detroit Lions)
The Cincinnati Bengals have already helped on that front with their dramatic overtime win over Denver earlier Saturday.
