The Los Angeles Rams came into Week 14 with something to prove-and they didn’t just make a statement, they dropped 38 points by the end of the third quarter and walked off with a dominant win. After a frustrating loss to the Panthers in Week 13, a game marred by three costly turnovers, this was the kind of bounce-back performance that showed why the Rams are firmly in the NFC playoff picture.
Now sitting at 10-3, the Rams kept pace with the Seattle Seahawks, who also boast a 10-3 record, and held their ground ahead of the 9-4 San Francisco 49ers. This was more than just a win-it was a message.
The offense looked sharp, efficient, and aggressive. The kind of performance that reminds you why this team is dangerous when it’s clicking on all cylinders.
Unfortunately for the Arizona Cardinals, they were on the receiving end of that message. And for head coach Jonathan Gannon, the pressure is mounting.
Arizona has now dropped five straight games and sits at 3-10. They’re winless in the division at 0-5 and have just one win in seven home games.
That’s a brutal combination for any coach, especially one whose overall record now stands at 15-32.
In the NFL, numbers like that usually don’t lead to job security. And while Gannon hasn’t officially been shown the door, it’s hard to see a scenario where he survives beyond this season-if he even makes it that far. The Cardinals are a team in need of a reset, and that usually starts at the top.
But here’s where things get interesting for the Rams. With their success comes attention-not just for the players, but for the coaching staff as well.
Defensive coordinator Chris Shula has already popped up on early lists of potential head coaching candidates, and he’s not alone. There are as many as four coaches on Sean McVay’s staff who could be in the mix for jobs once the coaching carousel starts spinning in earnest.
And if Arizona does move on from Gannon, don’t be surprised if they look across the division for answers. Poaching a coach from the Rams would be a strategic two-for-one: strengthen your own sideline while weakening a division rival. Plus, a coach familiar with the NFC West landscape could hit the ground running.
The Rams, meanwhile, are focused on the now. They’re in the thick of a playoff race and showing the kind of form that could carry them deep into January.
But make no mistake-this offseason could bring big changes to the coaching staff. That’s the price of success in the NFL.
When you win, people come calling.
For the Cardinals, the questions are bigger than just who’s next. It’s about direction, identity, and whether this franchise can finally find the leadership it’s been searching for. One thing’s clear: this latest loss didn’t just hurt in the standings-it may have sealed the fate of their head coach.