Strong finish could go a long way for embattled Rams coach

News of Jeff Fisher’s contract extension riled Rams fans, generated support from players in the locker room and left many football observers wondering how a coach nearing an NFL record for career losses could warrant a new deal.

The Rams’ embattled coach said Monday that Dick Vermeil, who coached the St. Louis Rams to a Super Bowl title in the 1999 season, was among those who reached out and offered congratulations on the new deal.

Vermeil’s Rams defeated Fisher’s Tennessee Titans in Super Bowl XXXIV.

“Had a great text,” Fisher said during his weekly news conference at Cal Lutheran.

There continued to be no public message or endorsement from the Rams.

The contract situations of Fisher and General Manager Les Snead came to light Sunday, a few hours before the Rams’ 26-10 loss to the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium.

Fisher and Snead, both in the final years of their contracts, received two-year extensions. The deals were negotiated during the offseason and signed early in the season.

Kevin Demoff, the Rams’ chief operating officer and vice president for football operations, declined comment. Demoff has for months declined to comment about Fisher’s and Snead’s contract situations, citing a policy of not discussing contracts publicly during the season.

Despite the extension, whether Fisher is coaching the Rams in 2017 and beyond could be determined by how they play down the stretch.

Last week, during an interview about the Rams and Fisher, Demoff told The Times’ Bill Plaschke, “most important is that we can show that hope for next year.”

The Rams are 4-8 and have lost seven of eight games. But Fisher has a chance to make his case in the final quarter of the season.

There are no more long trips on the schedule. The Rams play three of their final four games at the Coliseum.

They would have to defeat the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, beat the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field and then defeat the San Francisco 49ers and Arizona Cardinals to finish 8-8 for the first time since 2006.

“I feel good about it,” Fisher said when asked if he thought the Rams were capable of winning out.

Fisher has a 173-164-1 record in 22 NFL seasons. He has had a winning record only six times. The 164 losses are the second-most in NFL history, one fewer than Dan Reeves, who went 190-165-2 from 1981-2003.

Asked if it was personally difficult to know he was one defeat from tying the record, Fisher said no.

“I’ve had a few wins in my career as well,” he said. “I’ve also been able to be very, very fortunate and have a long career.

“So, I mean, you can look at it as is the glass half full of or half empty? I look at it as half full, and I’m just honored that I still have an opportunity to coach in this league.”

Fisher maintained that “there are a lot of things to be excited about” for the franchise and that the Rams are “very, very close” to achieving success with rookie quarterback Jared Goff.

The Rams rank last in the NFL in offense and are averaging a league-worst 15 points a game heading into their matchup against the Falcons, the league’s highest-scoring team at 32.2 points a game.

Against the Patriots, the Rams ran only 18 plays in the first half, and one was a kneel-down before heading to the locker room.

“It’s frustrating,” running back Todd Gurley said. “I definitely feel for the defense because we’re not doing a good enough job to help those guys out.”

Last season, the Rams went 3-1 in their final four games and finished 7-9.

After Sunday’s defeat, players said they were confident they could finish the season with four consecutive victories.

“It feels like a broken record year after year,” tight end Lance Kendricks said. “We’ve just got to play with pride, I guess. We have to have some sense of pride and heart.”

Said defensive end Eugene Sims: “Come together, play as a team in all three phases. Try to go back to the drawing board and win out.”

Quick hits

Fisher said left tackle Greg Robinson “was productive” in his return to the lineup. Robinson was inactive the previous week against New Orleans. Former Rams defensive end Chris Long beat Robinson for a sack. “Obviously, Chris knows him,” Fisher said. “He got beat there, but he battled.”… Defensive end Robert Quinn (concussion), receiver Tavon Austin (chest), offensive lineman Rodger Saffold (hand) and cornerback E.J. Gaines (quadriceps) will be evaluated this week and could play against the Falcons, Fisher said.

gary.klein@latimes.com