It’s a brief week of preparation for the Rams.
However coach Sean McVay, quarterback Matthew Stafford and the remainder of the offense can take consolation realizing at the least one factor may be eradicated as they prepare for Saturday’s sport in opposition to the Arizona Cardinals at SoFi Stadium:
Training with a silent depend.
Not like followers of the San Francisco 49ers, Inexperienced Bay Packers, Las Vegas Raiders, Minnesota Vikings, Philadelphia Eagles and Buffalo Payments, Cardinals followers is not going to fill greater than half of SoFi Stadium.
Or perhaps a discernible fraction.
Meaning the Rams, who’re using a four-game profitable streak, have the chance to play with an enormous home-field benefit as they try to clinch the NFC West.
If the Chicago Bears defeat the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday evening at Soldier Subject, the Rams might nearly win the division with a victory over the Cardinals. If the Seahawks beat the Bears, the division title will come all the way down to the Week 18 finale between the Rams and Seahawks at SoFi Stadium.
“I think the fans will be excited,” McVay stated of Saturday’s sport. “I think our players have given them a lot of good things to be able to cheer about over the last month. … I expect a really good atmosphere with a lot of potential things at stake.
“This is one of those deals that I think it’ll be a great crowd and a great Rams home-field atmosphere.”
Receiver Cooper Kupp anticipates the identical.
Rams extensive receiver Cooper Kupp catches a landing move in entrance of Payments cornerback Rasul Douglas throughout the Rams’ win on Dec. 8.
(Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Occasions)
“It’ll be good to be back home,” he stated after final Sunday’s victory over the New York Jets in New Jersey. “I’m excited to see what we can do on a Saturday night. Get those fans out there and make that place poppin’.”
Stafford stated a 2023 Thursday evening sport in opposition to the New Orleans Saints, this season’s Thursday evening sport in opposition to the Vikings, and the 2021-2022 NFC Championship sport in opposition to the 49ers stood out as occasions when the house crowd was notably loud.
The Rams are 4-2 at residence in opposition to groups with massive touring or Southern California-transplanted fan bases.
They defeated the 49ers, Raiders, Vikings and Payments and misplaced to the Packers and Eagles.
A lot to the delight of Eagles followers, operating again Saquon Barkley rushed for 255 yards and two lengthy touchdowns in a 37-20 rout of the Rams.
However since then, the Rams have received 4 video games in a row.
They beat the New Orleans Saints on the street, outlasted the Payments after which received street video games in opposition to the 49ers and the Jets.
Now they are going to be residence in opposition to the Cardinals and the Seahawks.
Early within the season, particularly after dominating the Rams, the Cardinals appeared as if they’d be a contender.
They have been 1-3 after 4 video games, however the losses got here in opposition to the Payments and Lions, who’ve secured playoff spots, and the Washington Commanders, who’re vying for one.
They received 5 of their subsequent six, together with 4 in a row, earlier than shedding 4 of their subsequent 5.
Final Sunday, the Carolina Panthers defeated the Cardinals 36-30, eliminating them from the playoff hunt.
Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray has handed for 16 touchdowns, with 9 interceptions. He additionally has rushed for 5 touchdowns. Operating again James Conner, who at all times appears to play effectively in opposition to the Rams, rushed for 117 yards and a landing in opposition to the Panthers earlier than struggling a knee harm.
The Rams are trying ahead to enjoying earlier than a big residence crowd that may drive the Cardinals to go to a silent depend.
“That’s a huge advantage for the defense,” defensive coordinator Chris Shula stated. “The guy and the coaches definitely feel that energy.”
