Rams are in must-win territory against Saints

Week 12 for the Los Angeles Rams looms large for 2017, as the New Orleans Saints come calling.

Week 12 against the New Orleans Saints is “must-win” territory for the Los Angeles Rams. For LA, another loss against a quality opponent is a bad deal for a team even with a 7-3 record.

Next: 3 storylines for Rams and Saints in Week 12

That’s the bed Los Angeles has made for themselves.

The Rams, for better or worse, have set an expectation. For fans, especially those in LA, it’s an expectation beyond 4-12, and better than a decade of marginal football in St. Louis.

But now, and at 7-3 and exceeding all kinds of expectations, the Rams need a win to not slip to that place of “not ready for prime-time.”

Can they do that?

The New Orleans Saints will be a tall order.

As writers and NFL observers wanted to bury Drew Brees, he’s shown to be a tough out in 2017. Against an upstart quarterback like Jared Goff and a first year head coach like Sean McVay, Brees and the Saints night have some additional motivation.

That said, this is a game the Rams need for all kinds of reasons.

First, after a loss at Minnesota, Los Angeles needs to reestablish the “what can be,” for an organization who has hovered and gone below the .500 mark. They also need a win against a big time opponent to be credible. A win against New Orleans checks all the boxes.

If the Rams lose, it’s not Armageddon as if might be in some NFL cities. But a loss for LA means they become a franchise that is an early and trendy pick for 2018.

Meaning 2017 is only a nice story.

Maybe that’s good enough.

The Rams control how the story in LA is written for 2017, and the first chapter of that story will be written in Week 12.

Related Story: Rams lost to the better team in Minnesota

A win makes it only more intriguing.

A loss means we can only look forward to next season.