Rams on brink of NFC West title after spectacular INT by Ahkello Witherspoon

The Los Angeles Rams will play for the NFC West title next week if they don’t win it this weekend — or Monday night — in one of the most complicated ways possible.

The Rams moved within a heartbeat of the NFC West title on Saturday with a 13-9 win over the Arizona Cardinals, improving their record to 10-6 and keeping them a game ahead of the 9-7 Seattle Seahawks. It was LA’s fifth win in a row.

The game came down to one last drive where the Cardinals had plenty of time to score a touchdown and take the lead. They made it all the way to the Los Angeles 5-yard line when a Kyler Murray pass hit Trey McBride in the helmet.

Rams cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon went all the way to catch the deflection and nearly seal the game. The play was reviewed to see if Witherspoon came down with the ball, and the interception ruling was upheld, even though the Rams had to push a bit after they got the ball at the 1-yard line.

The Seahawks play the Rams in Week 18. If Los Angeles wins, the division crown is LA’s. If Seattle wins, let’s get into it.

Should the Seahawks beat the Rams in Week 18, both teams would be 10-7 and the division title would come down to tie breakers. The first tiebreaker: head-to-head, where the teams would be tied (the Rams beat the Seahawks in Week 9). Second tiebreaker: division record where they would be tied. Third tiebreaker: record against regular opponents, even. Fourth tiebreaker: Conference record, tied.

Finally, there is the fifth tiebreaker, the force of victory. In that case, the Rams could seal their advantage on Sunday or Monday, provided three of the following five teams produce at least two wins and a tie (all odds via BetMGM):

• Buffalo Bills (10-point favorite vs. New York Jets)

• Cleveland Browns (3.5 point underdog vs. Miami Dolphins)

• Minnesota Vikings (1-point favorite vs. Green Bay Packers)

• Washington Commanders (3.5-point favorites vs. Atlanta Falcons)

• San Francisco 49ers (3.5 point underdog vs. Detroit Lions)

The Cincinnati Bengals have already helped on that front with their dramatic overtime win over Denver earlier Saturday.

The Rams took a big lead and then held just enough

It was a familiar script for the Rams this season, with the offense struggling and the rest of the team doing just enough to earn a win to stay in the division race.

Neither team scored a point until midway through the second quarter, when the Rams rode a pair of long passes to set up a 1-yard Kyren Williams touchdown.

Overall, Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford was 17-of-32 for 189 yards and no touchdowns, interceptions or sacks. Cardinals quarterback Kyle Murray had the more adventurous day, going 33-of-48 with a touchdown, two interceptions and 32 rushing yards on four attempts.

The one touchdown was tight end Trey McBride to open the third quarter. Scoring was a long time coming for McBride, who entered the game with 92 receptions on 120 targets and 958 receiving yards on the season, but as any of McBride’s fantasy managers can tell you, no touchdowns.

McBride’s teammates were thrilled that he finally found the end zone.

Chad Ryland’s extra point attempt was blocked, a missed scoring opportunity that would come back to haunt the Cardinals.

After being down 10-0 at halftime, the Cardinals scored the McBride touchdown and a field goal on their first two drives of the third quarter. They would get just two more drives the entire game, both ending in Murray interceptions.