When Sean McVay arrived for a press conference on Monday, the Seattle Seahawks and Minnesota Vikings were minutes away from the "Monday Night Football" kick-off.
When asked, the coach of the Rams showed no profound interest in a game with ramifications for his team, regardless of the outcome.
The rams, coming from Sunday's 34-7 win over the Arizona Cardinals, follow the Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers in the NFC West. More realistically, they try to catch the Vikings in the race for an NFC wildcard spot.
The Seahawks helped the rams and defeated the Vikings with 37-30. Minnesota (8-4) now has only one game for the Rams, with home games for the Detroit Lions (3-8-1), Green Bay Packers (9-3) and Chicago Bears (6-6) and a December 15 game at the chargers (4-8).
Rams players know they are likely to win their remaining four games – against the Seahawks (10-2), Dallas Cowboys (6-6), 49ers (10-2) and Cardinals (3-8-1) – to get a chance on a third consecutive play-off appearance and a return to the Super Bowl.
"You get what you deserve in this competition," McVay said. “And I think the only thing we can control for our boys is to play really good football in the last quarter of the season.
"And if that's enough, it will come naturally. If not, then our boys are the type of boys that will continue to compete."
The Rams' impressive victory over the cardinals improved their record to 7-5 and encouraged a team that had suffered six days earlier under a 45-6 drubbing by the Baltimore Ravens.
"This is a pretty good start," said corner kick Nickell Robey-Coleman on Sunday. "If some teams lose and we keep winning, things can happen."
To achieve their goal, the Rams consistently need productive performance from quarterback Jared Goff and the attack.
Goff went by for 424 yards and two touchdowns, ran back Todd Gurley rushed for 95 yards and a touchdown, and receiver Robert Woods and tight stop Tyler Higbee had career-best games as the Rams produced a season-best 549 yards against the cardinals.
"You see teams, as late in the year, showing a loss as we had – you actually see them dying the rest of the season and waiting for their next opportunity the following year to regroup," veteran Andrew Whitworth said Monday . “To show the fight and the mentality, that we are not ready yet and that we have more to go and that there is more to us than that, it is something that you recommend as a team and you realize, man, let's get that going and continue. ”
The Rams won games early in the season with their talent, Whitworth said. Sunday's victory was the first time they won with the execution of each position group.
"That's really what gives you the positive mentality of:" Hey, you know what, well, that's how we should play, "said Whitworth.
The Rams defense returned from its bad performance against the Ravens and closed the cardinals. Probably another inspired version will be needed against the Seahawks and quarterback Russell Wilson. In a loss of 30-29 for the Seahawks in October, the defense didn't stop, linebacker Clay Matthews said.
"Our attack played that game fantastic," he said. "Our defense must play better than the last time."
Etc.
Kick return JoJo Natson sustained a hamstring injury that puts him offside for four to six weeks. "We will have some updates on what that means exactly in terms of its status and how we will approach it," McVay said. Rookie recovering Darrell Henderson can kick off kickback and rookie receiver Nsimba Webster can give points back, McVay said. … Tight end Gerald Everett (knee), who was sitting against the cardinals, and offensive lineman Rob Havenstein (knee), who has not played the last three games, are making progress and being considered day-to-day, McVay said. … Does McVay want Goff to block, just like he did on Sunday when the quarterback tried to beat Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson on a 48-yard win by receiver Robert Woods? "Damn it, yes. Go make that block, man, & # 39; McVay said, laughing, before adding: & # 39; Peterson was beating him well there, but eventually he got that block and Robert went inside. & # 39;
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