LA Rams inactives list squelches optimism for Week 17 game vs Cardinals

It's about to go down. The Arizona Cardinals (7-8) face the LA Rams (9-6) in Week 17 which can mean bragging rights for the visiting Cardinals, and a great deal more for the home-field Rams. Despite the Cardinals in Week 2, this time it's the Rams that hold several key advantages. For openers, this game is slated for SoFi Stadium.

That puts the Arizona Cardinals on the road, a condition in which they have won just two of seven games this season. The Rams have a winning record at home, 4-3, and hope to improve on that success in Week 17.

Beyond the familiar setting, the Rams are markedly healthier in this game. While not fully healed, the team has a much better starting roster on both offense and defense for the rematch. And you could make a compelling argument that the Cardinals are not as healthy and robust in this game. To illustrate that point, let's turn to the inactives list for Week 17:

Inactives list for the Cardinals in Week 17 (Official)

• RB Trey Benson
• S Jammie Robinson
• S Joey Blount
• LB Milo Eifler
• LB Benton Whitley
• TE Travis Vokolek
• WR Xavier Weaver

Despite some concerns over the availability of Cardinals RB James Conner, he will suit up and play in Week 17. If nothing else, that should serve as a tell as to the Cardinals' mindset in this one, despite being eliminated from any playoff scenario

Inactives list for Rams in Week 17 (Official)

• OL Dylan McMahon
• DT Tyler Johnson
• RB Cody Schrader
• OL Rob Havenstein.
• QB Stetson Bennett

As you can see by the above inactives list, the Rams will sit RT Rob Havenstein again. The Rams are just 1-3 without Havenstein starting.

Still, it was a wise decision, hoping that the team does not suffer any other player injuries in Week 17. The true decision-making game for the LA Rams playoffs standing is Week 18, when the Rams host the Seattle Seahawks (9-7) at SoFi Stadium. Even if the Rams lost to the Arizona Cardinals in Week 17, a Week 18 win against the Seattle Seahawks will ensure it's the Rams heading to the playoffs.

As always, thanks for reading.

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