For several reasons...
Division game, conference game, bounce back game.
The Rams need to show that they can handle their bubble getting bursted. They are no longer the hot team, the top of the power rankings team, they are now chasing the Saints for HFA. It happens so quickly in the NFL. The really good teams respond well. The Rams need to show that the loss was just an end to an 8 game winning streak to start the season. They cannot get out of sorts because they lost one game out of nine.
They are home against the Seahawks and must snap back to what they were early in the season. They need to show the character and heart of a champion if they are indeed going to be champions.
If the Rams play well next week and beat the Seahawks comfortably then they are right back on track going into the Mexico game. And if they then beat the Chiefs, the Rams will be on a very positive roll going into their BYE.
I expected an excellent result for the Rams to be 14-2. That is still possible if they stay healthy, get Talib back after the BYE, and finish 6-1.
The Saints don't have an easy sled the rest of the way either. They've got 8 games remaining. They've got 2 games against the Panthers who are hot on their tails, and they've got games against the Steelers and Eagles as well as a game in Dallas. They also play the Bengals next week in Cincy and may have a let down there. They've now won 7 straight, we've seen how hard it is to keep winning game after game. I can easily see them losing 2 of their next 8. They've had their BYE already and they will be fatigued somewhere along the last 8 games. So there is still a decent chance the Rams get HFA when all is said and done.
But they've got to bounce back and show they are still the team we thought they were just a week ago.
~ max ~
“The consciousness of good intentions disdains ambiguity.” - Alexander Hamilton
