Five games that could significantly affect the Rams’ prospects of making the playoffs.
The NFL season’s last stretch is quickly approaching. Games will become more significant with only five weeks remaining, especially since playoff spots are at stake. There’s little doubt that the Los Angeles Rams, who are currently 6-6 and in the thick of the NFC playoff race, will be closely monitoring certain outcomes throughout the league. It goes without saying that the Rams should take care of business and maintain control over what they can. However, there are some games that help their chances of making the playoffs. The top five games for the Rams to watch in the next five weeks are listed below.
1. Week 16: Los Angeles Rams vs. New Orleans Saints
The Rams’ matchup with the New Orleans Saints in Week 16 will essentially be a playoff game. Whoever wins this game has a good chance of finishing in one of the final two wild card spots. There is a 42% chance that the Rams will make the playoffs depending on the outcome of this game, which is scheduled in two weeks. The Rams would have a 64 percent chance to make the playoffs with a win and only a 14 percent chance with a loss if both teams enter that Week 16 game with a 7-7 record.
Positively, the Rams will play this game at home on a short week because it is a Thursday Night game. The Rams and Saints have maintained a mild rivalry throughout the Sean McVay era. Despite Sean Payton and Drew Brees leaving the team, the Week 16 matchup will only make that worse. The Rams’ matchup with the Saints is a must-win if they hope to advance to the postseason.
2. Detroit Lions vs. Minnesota Vikings in Week 16
This list will have the necessity of the Minnesota Vikings losing as a recurring theme. Even though the Vikings’ performance against the Chicago Bears wasn’t great, it’s crucial to keep in mind that it was only one game, and depending on who plays quarterback going forward, it’s still unclear how they’ll appear. The Vikings have a legitimate chance of defeating the Bengals as well as the Raiders. The Bengals game isn’t nearly as intimidating as it might have been a month ago before Joe Burrow got hurt, but they still have a chance to lose those games.
The Rams’ chances of making the playoffs are seriously diminished if Minnesota upsets the Lions and the Vikings are both 8-6 going into this game against the Packers. Even if Los Angeles defeats the Saints, their chances of making the playoffs drop from 44% to just 20%. That would essentially force the Rams to win, after which it would be up to the Lions to defeat the Vikings at home in Week 18.
3. Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys in Week 14
Regarding the Rams’ chances of making the playoffs, this game doesn’t really matter. It is still significant, though, for a scenario that the Rams ought to be going with. The outcome of this game will significantly affect the top seed. In the event that San Francisco is the second seed and the Rams are the seventh, it’s possible that the Rams will play the 49ers in Week 18 and then again on Wild Card weekend.
This is not to argue that the Rams should automatically support the 49ers in their quest for the NFC title and home-field advantage during the postseason. But it would also be nice to stay away from a team that the Rams have had difficulty playing against during the Sean McVay era. The 49ers would have a 55% chance of earning the first seed if the Cowboys defeated the Eagles. That decreases to 31% in the event that they lose.
4. Week 17: Minnesota Vikings vs. Green Bay Packers
The Rams’ most crucial game of the remaining games in the season might turn out to be the Packers vs. Vikings game in Week 17. This game could determine which NFC North team receives a wild card into the postseason. It is preferable that the Packers win this game to eliminate the Vikings because they have the head-to-head advantage over the Rams.
There is a possibility that the outcome of this game could swing by 50 points, depending on specific circumstances. If the Rams were 9-7 going into that Sunday night game, and the Packers were 9-6 and the Vikings were 8-7, a victory by Green Bay would give the Rams a 72% chance to make the postseason. If the Vikings lose, this game could also effectively guarantee the Rams a wild card spot.
5. Week 18: San Francisco 49ers vs. Los Angeles Rams
There’s a very real possibility that the Rams’ chances of making the playoffs hinge on their ability to defeat the 49ers away from home in Week 18. It wouldn’t be shocking if this game was moved to Sunday night if that were the case and the 49ers were also vying for the top seed.
This worst-case scenario would only occur if, going into Week 18, the Rams and Vikings have the same record. The last thing the Rams would want is for their chances of making the playoffs to depend on their ability to defeat their fiercest division rival on the road, given their poor record against the 49ers.