Rams DB shares team sentiment about postseason: 'It's bigger than just a game.'

As fires decimate Los Angeles, California, there is something else burning right now. It's the spirit inside those evacuees, fire fighters, police, and emergency responders. The plight of thousands is in the hands of those who dare to rush to their aid. The city needs heroes. The LA Rams are full of them.

Do heroes instinctively happen, or do dire circumstances forge heroes from normal people? I've often debated that issue, never knowing which path is the true answer. And yet, some would scoff at the reason behind playing a football game when the world around so many has been destroyed.

That is exactly when we need football.

When Hurricane Katrina decimated New Orleans, Louisiana, the New Orleans Saints played their hearts out. It was the Saints that signalled to the nation that New Orleans would fight on. And it was the Saints that would become the rallying point for the city, and the state and city found the path back from the brink thanks to the New Orleans Saints.

Once again, a city, a community, needs to rally against the devastation of a natural disaster. Will the LA Rams fate be any different?

The Rams have been here before

While any contest in the postseason comes with its own set of anxieties and concerns, one worry about the Los Angeles Rams that can be pushed aside is whether or not the team can defeat their first opponent, the Minnesota Vikings. The Rams beat the Vikings in Week 8 by a score of 30-20, a game that helped the Rams turn around their season.

The question now is, can the Rams do so again?

I think that they can. The LA Rams are only one of two teams to defeat the Vikings this season. The other team was the Detroit Lions, the team that won in Week 18 and earned the top-seed in the NFC. That also gave the Lions a BYE in the Wild Card Round of the 2025 NFL Playoffs.

The Rams have something extra to play for

The tragic fires that burn in and around Los Angeles, California, are not just headlines to the players and coaches of the team. These fires are personal. Families, friends, neighbors and entire communities of players and coaches have been impacted by the fires. As the fires continue to burn and threaten homes and businesses, the coaching staff and players have focused on football.

Even Rams HC Sean McVay and his family have been evacuated to the team facility due to the rampaging fires. If you've never been through tragedy, the safety and security of your family is the first thing that you need to endure tragic circumstances. And that has been ensured by the Rams for Coach McVay:

That is a common theme for everyone right now. A football game is, by definition, a form of entertainment for participants and for fans. But the Wild Card Round of the 2025 NFL Playoffs has taken on new meaning for the players and coaches, and star defensive back Quentin Lake made the point quite clear in a recent quote:

Bigger than a game for us now? Absolutely. This contest has taken on more than players and coaches competing for cash bonuses. You see, as long as the LA Rams remain in the hunt for Super Bowl LIX, fans can be distracted from the devastation momentarily. That distraction gives affected persons the opportunity to absorb what has happened, process all of the emotions, and determines crucial next steps.

The Vikings face the Rams in Round 1 of the postseason. The Vikings, like many teams, are playing for money and notoriety. But the Rams are playing for family, friends, neighbors, and the entire community. Nothing is certain. And the outcome of this game will not make it all better. But when the chips are down, people need heroes to rally around. And as I'd stated earlier, the LA Rams are full of them.

As always, thanks for reading.

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