No excuse needed. LA Rams win 3rd title in 5 seasons for HC Sean McVay

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Mandatory Credit: Rob Schumacher-Arizona Republic Nfl Los Angeles Rams At Arizona Cardinals /

Can the Rams deal the Cards another loss?

After the way the LA Rams ended the season, you may have some doubts as to whether the Rams have a snowball’s chance in hell of winning in the Wildcard Round. Well, they do. Here’s why. After 11 games, the LA Rams were 7-4, and the Arizona Cardinals were 9-2. In fact, the Cardinals would improve to 10-2, and by all rights, were considered a shoo-in to win the NFC West Division.

But examining Kyler Murray’s second half of the season, he has not been the same player. In the final five games, Murray completed 136 of 210 passes for 1,388 yards, five TDs, and three INTs. Of course, just as the LA Rams lost Robert Woods, the Arizona Cardinals have lost WR Deandre Hopkins, and their offense has simply not been the same.

Hopkins won’t face the Rams

And for what it’s worth, the Rams were the last team to face Hopkins in 2021. In that contest, he caught five of 13 passes for 54 yards.

The Cardinals were 7-0 and putting up 32.1 points per game before the first DeAndre Hopkins injury vs Green Bay. They're 4-6 with 22.4 points per game since. Someone either needs to invent a time machine or make more plays in the passing game next week.
— Luke Lapinski (@LukeLapinski) January 11, 2022

The Cardinals remain relatively healthy, however, as they only have six players on IR. Three players, DE J.J. Watt, ILB Ezekiel Turner, and S James Wiggins, have all been designated to return to the active roster. Since the playoffs are win-or-go-home, you should expect all three to suit up this Sunday.

The Rams will not be as fortunate. ILB Ernest Jones will likely need another week to be considered ready to return. We have no further updates, although we hope to learn more about NT Sebastian Joseph Day soon.

Sean McVay said LB Ernest Jones (high ankle sprain) will be on IR for at least another week. If the Rams advance in the playoffs, they'll have conversations about his return.
— Stu Jackson (@StuJRams) January 11, 2022

Neither the Rams nor the Cardinals are dealing with any COVID-related issues for the time being. So the Rams defense should prepare to focus upon defending Christian Kirk and Zach Ertz as the Cardinals’ primary receiving targets, and stopping the running duo of James Conner and Chase Edmonds. As stretched as the LA Rams defense may appear to be, they should be able to defend the Cardinals without Deandre Hopkins

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