Week 16 went about as poor as possible for the Los Angeles Rams as not only did their 20-9 loss to the Seattle Seahawks cost them a chance to win the division, but it also puts their postseason hopes in jeopardy.
At 9-6, the Rams now must beat the Arizona Cardinals in Week 17 to make the playoffs. The only other way they could get in would be for the Chicago Bears to lose or tie the Green Bay Packers.
The main concern for the Rams right now though is the health of their quarterback after Jared Goff hurt his thumb late in the third quarter of the loss to the Seahawks. On an 8-yard completion to Gerald Everett, Goff hit his right hand on the helmet of Seahawks defensive end Benson Mayowa.
Goff suffered a dislocated thumb on the play although it was quickly reduced on the sideline and he was able to finish out the game. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Goff also fractured his thumb on the play and tests will determine if he will be able to play in Week 17 against the Arizona Cardinals:
#Rams QB Jared Goff, who suffered a broken and dislocated thumb, can put off surgery to repair it until after the season, source said. Goff has more tests today, but he is adamant about attempting to play through it. How his thumb responds this week will determine his status.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 28, 2020
Goff commented on his status after the game and he also is unsure if he’ll be able to play, via Lindsey Thiry of ESPN:
“I am uncertain,” Goff said when asked if he’ll be able to play next Sunday at home versus the Arizona Cardinals. “We will see.”
After seeing a specialist on Monday, it was actually determined that Goff would require surgery, and he underwent it right away, per Adam Schefter of ESPN:
Rams’ QB Jared Goff underwent surgery today on his broken right thumb in LA and is unlikely to play Sunday vs. Arizona, sources tell ESPN. If he can’t play Sunday, Goff could return for the playoffs if Rams advance there.
John Wolford is Goff’s backup and now in line to start.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 29, 2020
Considering the Rams’ matchup with the Cardinals is now essentially a must-win game, there is no doubt that Goff will do everything he can to be on the field with his teammates. Considering he just underwent surgery though, it seems unlikely that he’ll be ready to go in just one week.
If he is unable to play then the Rams would turn to backup John Wolford, who has yet to take a single snap in the NFL.
Whoever is the Rams’ quarterback in Week 17, he will have to play better than Goff did in Week 16 as the Rams were held without a touchdown for the first time all season. Goff threw a bad interception and was sacked three times, completing 24-of-43 passes for 234 yards.
If Wolford is able to lead the Rams to the playoffs, then hopefully Goff will have enough time to get fully healthy for the Wild Card round.
