The Los Angeles Rams seem like a team capable of surprising an NFC favorite and making a postseason run, especially with Matthew Stafford back to full health.
Naturally, they have to qualify for the playoffs first.
The Rams are currently sitting in eighth place in the NFC playoff standings, just behind Green Bay, the No. 7 seed. However, with a favorable schedule that includes games against the Commanders (4-9), Saints (6-7), Giants (4-8) and 49ers (10-3) left, the postseason is still very much in reach. San Francisco might have secured the top seed by Week 18 and could choose to rest its starters, which could give Los Angeles an advantage.
The Rams were defeated 37-31 in overtime by the AFC-leading Ravens (10-3), but despite the unfavorable road conditions, they came close to pulling off an upset.
Stafford has been playing his best football since leading the Rams to a Super Bowl championship during the 2021 season, having returned from a thumb injury in Week 11.
Stafford has thrown for 802 yards, 10 touchdowns, and one interception in his last three games. With a passer rating of 111 during that time, he is far above average. Stafford has the ability to lead his team to playoff victories when he is performing at his peak.
The Rams’ incapacity to run the ball has been one of their weaknesses over the last few seasons. But when RB Kyren Williams is on fire, the team can use the run game to control the clock and rack up big yards. Following his ankle injury recovery, Williams has played in three games and has 345 rushing yards (5.6 per carry), 84 receiving yards, and three touchdowns overall.
WR Cooper Kupp’s 115 yards receiving on Sunday was another encouraging sign for the Rams; it is the first time he has reached 100 yards or more since Week 6. The Rams will have one of the greatest receiver tandems in the NFL if Kupp returns to his former glory, especially when paired with fifth-round rookie wide receiver Puka Nacua (82 receptions, 1,113 receiving yards).
The youthful defense, which is ranked 18th in yards allowed (339.9), 30th in takeaways (11) and 21st in points allowed (22.3), has not had a great season. To have a chance at making a deep playoff run, that team, which is led by future Hall of Famer DT Aaron Donald, 32, needs to get better.
Although he may not be as effective as he once was as a one-man defensive wrecking ball (six sacks, 43 tackles), Donald is still one of the league’s top defensive linemen. Colleagues get sack opportunities because of the attention he commands.
The trio of Stafford, Kupp, and Donald has demonstrated that the team is capable of winning in the postseason, and Sean McVay is still among the best coaches in the league. The Rams could easily pull off an upset against a team like the struggling Lions (9-4) in a postseason game.
The Rams could be the wild-card team that no NFC opponent wants to face in the playoffs if Stafford and Williams keep up their excellent play.