The Los Angeles Rams were eliminated from landing the NFC West title and the conference crown, but they have plenty to play for.
The Los Angeles Rams put themselves in a tough spot after losing to the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday in Week 16. Despite four teams being in the hunt for the top seed in the NFC, the Rams still had a shot at landing the divisional crown.
That all came crashing down with the San Francisco 49ers taking down the Chicago Bears. Now, the Rams cannot win the NFC West title or the top seed in the draft. Despite the loss, they still have much to play for.
One of the biggest subplots for the Rams has to do with the draft. Los Angeles has the Atlanta Falcons' first-round pick in 2026, and they could benefit greatly from beating the Falcons on Monday.
Per Tankathon, the Rams pick at No. 11 via the Falcons, and pick somewhere in the mid to high 20s, based on their success in the playoffs.
Those two first-round picks may be used for the Rams to find their eventual Matthew Stafford successor, but that is something the team is likely not thinking about right now.
The first step is to beat the Falcons on Monday.
Another aspect of winning has to do with seeding. This is also something the Rams may not be admitting to, but there could be a multitude of opponents that Los Angeles could be faced with until the rest of the regular season shakes out.
For the Rams, they will either land the fifth or sixth seed. They will also be on the road, so the opponent there could matter a great deal as their first opponent in the playoffs.
Currently, the Rams hold the sixth seed in the playoffs, which would match them up with the Philadelphia Eagles in the Wild Card Round. If they were to move up into the fifth seed, they would face the Carolina Panthers.
Granted, this could completely change, especially for the winner of the NFC South. Whoever wins between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Carolina Panthers will get the division crown and potentially take on the Rams.
There is also a reality where Rams head coach Sean McVay chooses to rest starters in Week 18, which may lead to Los Angeles losing their last game. They cannot compete for the NFC West or NFC crown, so why not get players rested and ready for the playoffs?
With Davante Adams out, along with Alaric Jackson and more, the Rams could do well with some rest before their playoff push.