Rams solely path to the playoffs is thru the NFC West

For the primary time this season, the Los Angeles Rams are in first place within the NFC West. If issues go their means, they might clinch the division as early as subsequent week. Nevertheless, whereas the NFC West crown is shut, the job shouldn’t be completed but. As simply because the Rams might win the division, they very effectively might lose it.

After beginning the season 1-4, the Rams have as soon as once more made a late surge to the postseason. With that mentioned, final 12 months the Rams snuck into the postseason as a wild card group, incomes the six seed. Making the playoffs might not be as easy this 12 months with three groups within the NFC North already at 10 wins and the Washington Commanders in command of the seventh seed. The one path to the postseason for the Rams stays by successful the division. In line with the New York instances playoff simulator, there’s a lower than one p.c likelihood that the Rams can earn the seven seed.

In a way, it’s nice that the Rams have dug themselves out of one other gap from early within the season in back-to-back years. Nevertheless, whereas the Rams began 3-6 final 12 months, two of these losses had been to AFC groups. These losses don’t essentially have an effect on playoff tiebreakers. That’s not the case this 12 months.

If the Rams are to sneak into the playoffs as a wild card group, they’d be competing with the Washington Commanders for the ultimate playoff spot. Nevertheless, due to their file within the NFC, the Rams must hope for a late-season collapse by the Commanders. Their late win over the Saints in Week 15 didn’t assist with that.

Assuming the Rams and Commanders each find yourself at 10-7, with the Rams shedding to the Cardinals and Seahawks, Los Angeles would drop out of the postseason.

The tiebreaker could be widespread video games the place the Commanders beat the Bears off of a Hail Mary on the ultimate play and likewise defeated the Saints. On this situation, it could be Jayden Daniels’ Hail Mary throw over the Bears that may be the distinction. The Rams can technically end 10-7 together with the Packers, however would lose that tiebreaker as effectively because of the direct head-to-head.

It’s an identical outcome if the Rams had been to complete in a three-way tie at 9-8 with the Commanders and Falcons. On this situation, the Falcons would get the seventh seed as they’d have a win over the Commanders and have a greater convention file.

As a result of early season struggles, the Rams basically must win the NFC West if they’re to make the playoffs. Whereas that may be a good factor because it means a house playoff recreation at SoFi Stadium, it additionally means that there’s not an alternate path.

On the finish of the day, the Rams are in a great place heading into the ultimate three weeks of the season. After being counted out early, the Rams are as soon as once more a group that no person needs to play. Regardless of a 1-4 begin, they might be higher positioned than they had been final 12 months to make a possible run. Nevertheless, they nonetheless want to complete the job and win the division.