NFL Playoff Picture: Week 9
By Martin Bater
NFC West
- Arizona Cardinals (6-2)
- St. Louis Rams (4-4)
- Seattle Seahawks (4-4)
- San Francisco 49ers (3-6)
Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
This division is simple: The Cardinals seem to have a comfortable two-game lead, but they still have to face the Seahawks twice this season (including this Sunday in primetime).
Besides, the Rams have already beaten them once in Arizona (24-22 in Week 4) and they are fully aware of the damage St. Louis running back Todd Gurley did to them that time with 146 rushing yards after 19 carries.
Allow me to clarify, the Cardinals have the league’s third best run defense. They allow just 82 yards per game to their opponents on the ground without counting that game. Gurley and the Rams doubled that, and they just might be up for an encore when they meet again in Week 13 in Missouri.
However, the Rams must win against Chicago this Sunday to keep its playoff hopes alive, nothing else can or should matter to them than that one game to get back over .500 and keep the pressure on Seattle and Arizona.
The Niners are an afterthought; a mess caught in limbo that found a respite with their unexpected 17-16 win over Atlanta at home, hanging on for dear life to one Sunday of happiness.
Their head coach (Jim Tomsula) is in over his head and Colin Kaepernick is on the bench while Blaine Gabbert, who is nobody’s future, makes him look bad.
Next: NFC East