Arizona Cardinals get gift from Los Angeles Rams

It’s been an up and down weekend for Arizona Cardinals and their fans but once again, they have playoff life

Just 24 hours ago, it seemed bleak. It appeared to be over. Even yours truly said it was time for the Arizona Cardinals to look ahead to 2021.

While that is true, hold the phone a moment. Despite the Cardinals 2012 loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday and the Chicago Bears obliteration of the Jacksonville Jaguars 41-17 on Sunday, they still control their own playoff destiny.

You can thank the Los Angeles Rams for that.  They have lost consecutive games, first to the New York Jets last week, then a 20-9 decision to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.

Now, winner of the Cardinals-Rams game next week in Los Angeles gets a playoff spot.  if the loser is Arizona, they are out.  If the loser is Los Angeles and the Bears lose to the Green Bay Packers, then the Cardinals and Rams are both in.

The fact that the Rams can win or lose and still be in may turn out to be a very good thing for the Cardinals. The Bears will play the Packers next Sunday at 11:00 a.m. Arizona time.

They will know the outcome by the time the teams play at 2:25 Sunday afternoon. The Rams would have every reason to take it easy.

They could be without starting quarterback Jared Goff who fractured his thumb on Sunday. The Rams may have to start former Arizona Hotshots (AAF) quarterback John Wolford.

Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray also injured his leg at the end of Saturday’s game against the 49ers. We should find out more about his status in the next couple of days.

For now, there is life. Let’s forget whether the Cardinals deserve to be in the playoffs or not.  The fact is, if they have enough wins to qualify, then that’s all that matters.