Rams are a fragile bunch after firing

And here come the Seahawks

Despite that ugly loss to the Green Bay Packers last weekend, the Seattle Seahawks are in strong position to secure the NFC West crown Thursday.

It’s hard to picture the Los Angeles Rams, who just fired head coach Jeff Fisher following an equally distasteful loss to the Atlanta Falcons, getting in Seattle’s way.

If the host Seahawks win or tie Thursday and the Arizona Cardinals lose or tie Sunday, the race is done.

The Rams not only lost 42-14 to the Falcons, which tied Fisher with Dan Reeves for most regular season coaching losses, but they saw Fisher lose his job the next day.

“It was tough,” running back Todd Gurley says. “We loved him as a coach. We know a lot of other people didn’t. But at the end of the day, we knew what he did for us.”

Seattle is a 15-point favourite over the reeling Rams. Doubt the coaching change makes much difference, especially against an angry bunch of Seahawks.

Seahawks, 30-10

Pittsburgh (-3) at Cincinnati: Bengals are advertising tickets available. Terrible towel-wavers will grab them.

Best bet: Steelers, 27-17

Carolina (+4) at Washington, Monday night: Just a feeling — the Panthers will fight until season’s end.

Upset special: Panthers, 27-24

Tennessee (+6) at Kansas City: Thought about this for upset special, didn’t have the guts.

Chiefs, 20-16

Oakland (pick ’em) at San Diego: Thought about this for best bet, but uncertain about Derek Carr’s finger.

Raiders, 22-17

Detroit (+5) at New York Giants: Wish we could be sure about Matthew Stafford’s finger.

Giants, 17-16

Tampa Bay (+9) at Dallas: Like Titans, Bucs are impressing with their late run. But the Cowboys will rebound.

Cowboys, 23-20

Miami (-2) at New York Jets, Saturday night: Tannehill’s injury could keep the Dolphins out of the playoffs. Jets won’t do it.

Dolphins, 13-10

Philadelphia (+6) at Baltimore: The Ravens absolutely need this one, but the Eagles are just playing out the string.

Ravens, 21-13

Green Bay (-4½) at Chicago: The Packers absolutely need this one. The Bears are playing out the string.

Packers, 27-17

New England (-3) at Denver: The Broncos absolutely need this one, but the Patriots are hardly playing out the string.

Patriots, 20-15

Indianapolis (+4½) at Minnesota: Colts can’t beat Texans in Indy, and won’t win this one either.

Vikings, 16-13

Jacksonville (+6) at Houston: Good chance for Houston to grab control of AFC South again.

Texans, 22-13

San Francisco (+14) at Atlanta: Good chance for Atlanta to grab control of NFC South again.

Falcons, 32-13

New Orleans (+3½) at Arizona: What’s happened to the Saints’ prolific offence? It might surface here.

Cardinals, 30-27

Cleveland (+10½) at Buffalo: First win for Browns? Nope, but at least they will cover.

Bills, 20-13

Last week: Against spread, 9-6-1; straight up, 11-5

Season totals: Against spread, 99-98-8; straight up, 123-83-2

Best bet: 8-6 against spread, 9-5 straight up

Upset special: 5-8-1 against spread, 5-9 straight up