2 teams are rooting for the Rams to lose this weekend
The Los Angeles Rams have no playoff clinching scenarios this weekend, but could wrap it up by next week if they win their next two games. Then the Rams potentially wouldn’t have anything to play for in Week 18’s game against the Seattle Seahawks and could rest starters for a week prior to the wild card round.
The NFL posted all the playoff clinching scenarios in Week 16, which includes the Broncos, Chargers, and Commanders. A Rams loss to the New York Jets would benefit the Commanders and Packers.
Week 16 playoff scenarios, including potential clinching for the #Broncos, #Chargers and #Commanders. pic.twitter.com/pVwiVLyD0L
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) December 17, 2024
That’s because the Rams could still catch those teams in a potential wild card race if they have to, but most likely no team from the NFC West is going to be a wild card; L.A. is two games behind Green Bay and one game behind Washington. The Rams lost to the Packers, so they have a head-to-head disadvantage, but a three-way tie might mean that doesn’t matter.
How to clinch the NFC West before the finale
If the Rams go 2-0 against the Jets and Cardinals, they will be 10-6 going into the season finale. That also eliminates Arizona. If the Seahawks lose to either the Vikings or the Bears in the next two games, they will be either 9-7 or 8-8 going into the finale.
Of course, at 8-8, the Seahawks have no shot if L.A. is 10-6.
At 9-7, they should have next to no shot. There is a 1-2% chance of something crazy happening that allows Seattle to win a tiebreaker if they beat the Rams in Week 18, but most likely the Seahawks need to win both of their next two games if L.A. wins both of their next two games.
In other words, if the Rams win their next two games, they’re in.