The practical impact of Sunday's game at Seattle is clear. Win, and the Rams will need only one more win, or one more Seahawks loss, to clinch the NFC West. Lose, and they have to win out and hope for a Seahawks or Falcons/Saints/Panthers losses to make it to the postseason.
But I think, in the back of all of our minds, there is an issue that is, perhaps, even bigger.
In the 12 seasons since the Rams last made the postseason, the Seahawks have won the NFC West 7 times (including 3 of the last 4 years), gone to 3 Super Bowls, and won a Championship. They have been the big dog of the West for a while now.
The Rams have been building to challenge for that spot. And, even for those of us who were optimistic enough to predict a winning record in 2017, I think there is a feeling that the Rams have, perhaps, arrived a year sooner than expected.
They are clearly ahead of the Niners (who, admittedly, are putting some pieces together that might serve them well in the future).
They have conquered the Cardinals (who are an old team that will need to reload/rebuild.)
But, even though they have a one game lead 13 games into the season, the Rams have not dispatched the reigning West Champs, Seattle.
This Sunday could change that. If the Rams can go into Seattle and take down the Seahawks in this "playoff atmosphere" type of scenario, they will have truly arrived. They will have established themselves as the team to beat in the NFC West, not just this year, but going forward.
The script is written... now the Rams just have to get on the stage and perform.
-12-14-2017, 09:09 AM
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