With a win against the Seahawks, the Rams can take control of the NFC West
The Los Angeles Rams enter Week 9 at 3-4 with a chance to get back to .500. After starting the season 1-4, many would not have expected the Rams to be back in contention just three weeks later. However, win a win on Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks, the Rams have a chance take control of and lead the NFC West.
So far this season, the NFC West has not been as good as it has been in past years. The Seahawks, San Francisco 49ers, and Arizona Cardinals all enter Week 9 with a three-way tie at 4-4 atop the division. Because the Rams have had their bye week, they currently sit in last place by half a game. As it stands the divisions sits:
- Cardinals: 4-4
- 49ers: 4-4
- Seahawks: 4-4
- Rams: 3-4
In Week 9, the Rams and Seahawks go head-to-head while the Cardinals host the Chicago Bears and the 49ers have their bye week.
With a division win on the road against the Seahawks, the Rams would improve to 4-4 and 2-1 in the NFC West. Meanwhile, the Seahawks would fall to 4-5. However, to jump into first place, the Rams would also need some help due to their loss to the Cardinals back in Week 2. The Rams would need the Bears to beat the Cardinals to drop them to 4-5 as well. If that happens and the Rams win, the NFC West standings would look like:
- Rams: 4-4
- 49ers: 4-4
- Cardinals: 4-5
- Seahawks: 4-5
A win would put the Rams in first place in the division heading into the second half of the season. Despite a slow start, it would be a great position to be in as they continue to get healthy over the coming few weeks. The positive here for the Rams is that while they do have some difficult games left, they are out of the brutal section of the schedule.
| Week | Rams | 49ers | Seahawks | Cardinals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | at Seahawks | BYE | vs. Rams | vs. Bears |
| 10 | vs. Dolphins (MNF) | at Buccaneers | BYE | vs. Jets |
| 11 | at Patriots | vs. Seahawks | at 49ers | BYE |
| 12 | vs. Eagles | at Packers | vs. Cardinals | at Seahawks |
| 13 | at Saints | at Bills | at Jets | at Vikings |
| 14 | vs. Bills | vs. Bears | at Cardinals | vs. Seahawks |
| 15 | at 49ers (TNF) | vs. Rams (TNF) | vs. Packers | vs. Patriots |
| 16 | at Jets | at Dolphins | vs. Vikings | at Panthers |
| 17 | vs. Cardinals | vs. Lions (MNF) | at Bears | @ Rams |
| 18 | vs. Seahawks | at Cardinals | at Rams | vs. 49ers |
The question then becomes how many wins the Rams would need to hang on and win the NFC West. A win against the Seahawks would but the Rams at 4-4 with nine games left. They would have three games left in the NFC West with all three coming in the final four weeks of the season. That sets them up well to be in control on their own destiny.
If the Rams were to go 6-3 down the stretch and finish 10-7, that would put them in great position to win the division and is very realistic.
There is still a lot of season left to be played and it’s far too early to start looking ahead. However, a win against the Seahawks and a Cardinals loss would put the Rams atop the NFC West heading into the second half of the year. A month ago, that possibility seemed out of reach.
