LA Rams face another motivated NFC West rival in Week 5

The NFC West is a very competitive division in the NFL, perhaps one of the most competitive divisions. So when the schedule begins to include divisional teams, the need to play well escalates and the wiggle room for mistakes, miscommunications, and mental errors evaporates. When facing a rival team, the LA Rams know that they need their A-game. Why? Because that is exactly what the Seattle Seahawks will be bringing.

The LA Rams got the better of the Seahawks in 2020, splitting the series in the regular season, but winning the Wildcard Round of the NFL Playoffs in dominant fashion.  It was that second meeting, which the LA Rams lost by a disappointing score of 20-9, that assured the Seahawks would win the divisional crown.

Take those shirts to Cabo

To drive home the point, players were given NFL apparel – hats and T-shirts – to commemorate the division title. During his press conference, defensive back Jamal Adams lit a victory cigar. That seemed a bit over the top to Rams defensive back Jalen Ramsey, who drove home the point after the playoff win in Seattle.

Well, now the shoe is on the other foot. What goes around comes around, and now it’s the Rams who face, yet again, another motivated NFC West rival.

The Rams were the best of the west just last year, advancing to the Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs before losing to the Green Bay Packers. Of course, after that loss, the Seahawks were more than happy to invite the Rams to join them in Cabo.

Cabo is calling?

The Rams were more than good enough to rise up to a challenge like that last year. But they do not seem to have the same resilience to do so in 2021. The Rams have one three games so far, two of them at home. While the Rams won their only road game, that was the shakiest win of the season by far, requiring a come from behind score from quarterback Matthew Stafford.

The Rams got a rude awakening in Week 4, and are now among the NFL teams hoping to get a win. There will not be any hats, T-shirts, or cigars handed out after this Week 5 matchup. Nobody will be flying off to Cabo, Mexico either. But the winner will have a leg up on a playoff berth and will stay in the hunt for an NFC West Championship.

The loser? Well, it’s never too early to make vacation plans, is it?