The Los Angeles Rams squandered a great opportunity to take control of the NFC West when they fell to the Seattle Seahawks in overtime on Thursday Night Football in Week 16.
The team now faces the likelihood of making the playoffs as a Wild Card team but they still have a slim chance to win the division.
In order for that to happen, the Rams must win their final two games of the regular season against the Atlanta Falcons and Arizona Cardinals. That shouldn’t be overly difficult as both teams are well out of the playoff picture.
L.A. also needs the Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers to lose at least one of their final two games. Seattle is set to face the NFC South-leading Carolina Panthers in Week 17, while San Francisco will play the NFC North-leading Chicago Bears.
The Seahawks and 49ers will then meet in a pivotal Week 18 matchup, guaranteeing a loss for at least one of the teams.
The Rams ideally would like to see both the Seahawks and 49ers lose their games this week so they are back in control of their own destiny. If that happened, L.A. would just need to defeat the Falcons and Cardinals to win the NFC West.
If the Rams take care of business and get some help along the way to win the division, they would need the Bears to lose at one of their final two games in order to clinch the No. 1 seed. Chicago will host the Detroit Lions in Week 18 after their game against the 49ers.
On the contrary, should the Seahawks and 49ers both win their games in Week 17, the Rams will officially be eliminated from the NFC West race. That would also lock L.A. into the No. 5 or 6 seed in the NFC playoffs.
Rams selected to 2026 Pro Bowl Games
The Rams had four players selected to the 2026 Pro Bowl Games in Matthew Stafford, Puka Nacua, Jared Verse and Byron Young.
Stafford, Nacua and Verse were named starters, while Young is an alternate.
The 2026 Pro Bowl Games are taking place during the week of the Super Bowl on Feb. 3 for the first time ever. San Francisco 49ers legends Steve Young and Jerry Rice will coach the AFC and NFC, respectively, in the flag football game.
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