The Los Angeles Rams virtually won the NFC West on Saturday night by defeating the Arizona Cardinals 13-9, but no one is celebrating like they’re making the playoffs. Because in the NFL, winning is all about certainty and no one wants to “keep the ball away from Jackson” at the goal line. However, they will say that “stranger things have happened” than the Rams losing the NFC West to the Seahawks the next week.

I’m not so sure if that’s true. The Rams’ chances of winning the NFC West are over 99%, and based on nearly 150,000 simulations at The Upshot, LA wins the division almost every time.

To lose the division at this point, the Seahawks would have to pull off a combination that no one in Vegas would bother wasting a dollar on.

Not only does Seattle need to beat the Rams in Week 18, they also essentially need about nine other teams to win their games over the next eight days. That means the NFC West will have a winner, but strangely, LA’s celebration was incomplete on Saturday night, although the Rams will almost certainly sit out their starters in Week 18 as the division will most likely be won before They host Seattle.

Even if the Seahawks win next week, before we factor anything else into LA’s chances of winning the NFC West, The Rams still have a better than 99% chance of winning the NFC West. Because next week’s game remains meaningless unless Seattle wins one bet after another. Every time there is a slip-up, the Rams take advantage.

For a team that started the season ranked 1-4 and practically clinched the division title before Week 18, the Rams deserve a celebration. However, perhaps this will work to Sean McVay’s advantage.

The Rams are excited, but maybe not to upset.

If the Seahawks can keep their hope this weekend (even if they do, their odds would still be under 4%). every 5 wins They need this weekend), it would also mean McVay has to prepare his team as if Week 18 is important. If the Seahawks are eliminated on Sunday, that would be the news LA wants because it means winning the division.

It would also mean that players’ minds are already wandering because now “Week 18 doesn’t matter anymore.” And it almost certainly won’t matter anyway and most starters will sit.

But the players don’t have to know that.

Even though the Rams didn’t celebrate a division title Saturday night, that’s not what these players want to celebrate anyway. Winning the NFC West is nothing new for Sean McVay. LA doesn’t “need” a division title or a playoff game. No, the Rams need a playoff run.

For Stafford to secure his Super Bowl victory in 2021, he must return to the Super Bowl.

The players celebrated a victory, but not a division title. This could be good for them in the long run.