‘Friendly reminder that the game is never over’

The throw capped a stellar night for the Rams defense, which despite a shutout performance that limited a third straight opponent to double-digit points, required last-second heroics to propel the team’s playoff chances to near-certainty.

Thanks to the win, LA has a better than 99% chance of making the postseason and needs 2.5 combined wins (two wins and at least one tie) from the Vikings, Bills, 49ers, Commanders and Browns over the next two days to win NFC West.

Witherspoon’s interception made them the official stakes.

Had he not been in the right spot and pitching expertly, the Rams would have entered a Week 18 game against the Seahawks facing a do-or-die game.

“It was just a friendly reminder that the game is never over,” Witherspoon said of the game seal catch.

Before that moment, it had been the Cardinals who made it clear.

Arizona battled back from a 10-point halftime deficit with successive 13- and 14-play drives on the other side of halftime to make it 10-9. And though Matthew Stafford answered with a field goal after the second of those possessions, it would prove the Rams’ only points of the second half.

Surrounding those lone three points were two three-play drives by the Rams, the second of which wasted Los Angeles’ first red zone pick and gave Murray one last shot.

But 59 yards later, LA found a way, as it has so often in a season that has transformed from a 1-4 record to 10-6 on the back of one-possession victories. This time, the team’s eighth such win, happened to come courtesy of Witherspoon, who started every game for the Rams in 2023 but made just his fifth start Saturday.

“It’s nothing new for me,” Witherspoon said of handling her role. “It’s just eight years of being on the job, honestly. That’s really all it is. To be able to make a play, it’s not the first time it’s happened either. I’m just consistent and when the time comes , the time will come.”

In other cases, it has been other batters, a development McVay feels is an indication of the nature of his roster.

“I think this is a mentally tough team,” the coach said. “I think this is a resilient team. Really when we talked about coming out of the bye when we were 1-4, finding ways to finish games. Now it hasn’t gone exactly how we want, but we have been able to finish it in the positive column nine out of 11 opportunities we’ve had.”

They’re not quite in the postseason yet — though the win over Arizona helped get them there.

If they do, a Rams run will likely require a lot more resilience.