The Rams just fumbled another one, falling 18-16 to the Arizona Cardinals in Week 6. What was supposed to be their big chance to get back on track? Yeah, that just turned into another frustrating afternoon for them down in Inglewood. This team is raising all sorts of questions about their consistency in 2026, and honestly, we love to see it.
The NFC West Is Shaking Out, And It’s Not Good For LA
You wanna talk about stakes? This loss is huge for the Rams. They came into that game needing a response, but their offense couldn’t score enough points, and they just straight up missed opportunities. Now, with the 49ers out there building momentum at 5-0 with a ridiculous 96% playoff chance, every single Rams loss makes their path to the postseason tougher. What’s even wilder is their current playoff odds are sitting at 43% for a wild card spot, needing help. Seriously, 43%? After that performance? The Cardinals, who just beat them, are at 2-4 with a 4% chance. And guess who’s sitting pretty at 3-3 with a 58% chance? Our Seahawks, baby! That 43% for the Rams actually feels pretty high given how they’re playing, right?
Penalties, Poor Tackling, and a Whole Lotta Nope
Let’s be real, great football teams don’t make the kind of dumb mistakes the Rams are making. Warren McClendon’s false start completely killed a drive and led to a turnover on downs. And then, on the Cardinals’ final drive? They got flagged twice on one big play! An offsides call, plus Josh Wallace getting hit with an unnecessary roughness penalty. Even if that Wallace flag was bogus, the offsides gave the Cardinals a free play. You just can’t do that. Add to that their special teams, which have been “limping across this season,” and you gotta wonder what’s going on down there.
And the tackling, oh man. Bam Knight apparently looked like Bijan Robinson out there in the second and third quarters because the Rams defense just could not stop the run. Their D was on the field way too long. The Cardinals offense ran 70 plays against a defense that, get this, didn’t allow a touchdown all day. They kept them out of the end zone, but still couldn’t get off the field. Plus, let’s not forget Alaric Jackson’s “selfish decision” in Week 5 to throw a punch at Bradley Chubb. The source says that had “huge ramifications,” so clearly, this team has internal stuff going on too.
So what’s next for the Rams? Their season is threatening to slip away, and they’ve got some major issues to fix, from execution on both sides to making better decisions. With our Seahawks holding strong at 3-3 and looking at those 58% playoff odds, while the Niners just keep winning, the Rams need to figure it out fast. They’re going to need a lot more than just a 43% chance to get back into this. Let’s keep our eyes on the NFC West, 12s, because it’s getting good, and the view from Seattle is looking pretty sweet right now.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Turf Show Times.
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