There are two ways the Rams can guarantee their postseason position this week. Los Angeles must defeat the New York Giants on the road in both scenarios. The first and most likely scenario is that the Pittsburgh Steelers defeat the Seattle Seahawks at home. The second possibility is that the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings draw in their Sunday night football match.
The Rams would guarantee their postseason spot if either of those two outcomes occurred, and their only concern would be seeding when they traveled to play the San Francisco 49ers in Week 18.
The Rams are so close to the postseason that they can practically taste it, but it’s still a genuine possibility that they won’t make it. The way the season is ending is reminiscent of the last week of 2011, when the Rams flew to Seattle to play the Seahawks in a divisional game that was win-or-go-home. But the San Francisco 49ers might be playing to secure the top seed rather than, as the Rams would, to battle for their postseason life.
There’s a good chance the season ends with the Rams on the outside looking in after victories by the Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks on Sunday in Week 16. The Packers and Rams could end 9-8, and the Seahawks could finish 10-7. The Rams would not make the playoffs if that happened.
The Seahawks’ clutch victories throughout the previous two weeks might have had a significant effect. Even though they have the tiebreaker over the Seahawks, the Rams are likely to lose 10-7. They will meet the Pittsburgh Steelers in Seattle the following week. Although they haven’t been great this season, the Steelers are by no means an easy out. The Seahawks play the Cardinals in Arizona in Week 18. Although division games are difficult, the Cardinals just do not have the players to win at this time. In both contests, the Seahawks will be the favorites.
The Packers are at the opposite end of this. They have a crucial game against the Vikings this coming week. Notwithstanding this, Nick Mullens will start at quarterback for the Vikings. It’s almost unsettling to think that Mullens, who has thrown six interceptions in the last two games, may hold some of the Rams’ playoff aspirations. The Vikings are currently favored by 1.5 points. The Packers play their final home game of the season against the Chicago Bears in Week 18. At Lambeau Field, the Bears haven’t triumphed since 2015.
Not because I think poorly of the Rams’ chances of making the playoffs. They have a 68 percent probability of making the postseason, and ultimately, they are in charge of their own fate. The Rams would not want to be anywhere else. This week, the Vikings or Bears might defeat the Packers, while the Steelers could triumph against the Seahawks.
Of course, if the Rams take care of their own business, then none of that matters. The only catch is that in Week 18, Los Angeles will be traveling to play the 49ers. Currently, the Rams have fallen short of their division foe in nine consecutive regular-season games. Is that the team you truly want to prevent you from making it to the postseason?
It’s possible that the 49ers have already secured the top seed. That would necessitate a loss in Week 17 for both the Detroit Lions and the Philadelphia Eagles. The Lions take on the Dallas Cowboys, while the Eagles take on the Cardinals. Despite their poor performance, the Eagles will have an advantage over the Cardinals. The 49ers would have plenty of justification to start their starters in Week 18 based just on that victory.
That being said, there’s no assurance that the 49ers would choose to bench their starting players. If they were to lose in Week 18, their greatest division foe, the Rams, would be guaranteed a postseason berth. Would Kyle Shanahan actually give McVay a postseason spot?
Resting their starters could also be a bad idea because, after two weeks off from the field, they might lose their game and become rusty. Teams with a near-.500 record that take a week off after resting their starters have a poor track record in the divisional round. In contrast, teams that play through a bye week in the playoffs and don’t rest their starters do noticeably better. The 49ers starters would most likely be available to the Rams for at least the first half.
Furthermore, the Rams wouldn’t be facing CJ Beathard or Nick Mullens at quarterback like they have in the past. It’s important to remember, though, that the Mullens defeated the Rams in 2020. Even so, the Shanahan offense has a very talented quarterback in Sam Darnold. Trent Williams, Christian McCaffrey, Brock Purdy, Deebo Samuel, and Nick Bosa are likely other starters who should be rested, with the others only seeing fewer snaps.
Ultimately, there is a chance the Rams can secure a postseason berth in Week 17. It might be a good idea to pull out your Kevin Greene shirts from the back of your closet and celebrate the Steelers’ victory on Sunday.
