Rams must avenge themselves vs. Cardinals to preserve their playoff hopes

Back in Week 6, the Los Angeles Rams suffered a stunning loss to the Arizona Cardinals by the score of 18-16. Now, they must beat the same Cardinals to have any hope of competing in the postseason. The Cardinals have since traded their starting quarterback, Jacoby Brissett, to the Baltimore Ravens.

Without Brissett and now-Texans receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., the Arizona offense struggled to score on the Seahawks in Week 9. LA's defense is starting to show up in a big way. The only question remaining is whether the offense can put points on the board.

The Rams did not allow a touchdown in Week 6, but they did let the Cardinals get close enough to kick six field goals. Arizona's clever ball-control offense kept LA's defense on the field. The result was a low-scoring game that sunk the Horns to 0-2 against the NFC West.

One more divisional loss would be fatal, even in Week 10.

Rams' road to postseason runs through Week 10 in Arizona

Despite breaking through .500 at 5-4 overall, the Rams remain winless in the division. And with the NFC North at peak competitiveness, there is no chance that a third-place team in the NFC West claims a playoff berth. Ideally, LA must sweep its remaining divisional games.

That is easier said than done.

Meanwhile, the future for the Cardinals runs through the 2027 NFL Draft. This season, their playoff chances are only alive mathematically. Realistically, Arizona will be fortunate to win half of its final eight games. But LA still must get past them, and it didn't happen in their first encounter.

On paper, the Rams field the superior offense and defense. In the first meeting, that did not prevent them from emerging on the short end of the scoreboard. LA must find a way to control the clock, move the chains, and put up points.

The defense is trending in the right direction. It's the offense that seems to be waning in both potency and healthy playmakers as the season wears on. Week 10 may very well prove to be make-or-break for the 2026 season.

As such, LA must do more than show up. The team must bring its A-game, or however much of its A-game it has left.

As always, thanks for reading.

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