The Los Angeles Rams can regain the top seed in the NFC, but they need help from where they least want it
The Los Angeles Rams can still earn the one-seed in the NFC, but they need help from a bitter rival to get there
The Los Angeles Rams’ brutal loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday Night Football knocked them out of the No. 1 seed in the NFC, taking them out of a first-round bye and a guaranteed home game environment for the playoffs.
However, they still have an opportunity to turn around and regain the No. 1 seed in the NFC over the final two weeks of the season, but they need some help to get there. Unfortunately, earning the one-seed is going to require help from a team Rams fans won’t be eager to root for anytime soon.
The Rams need to root for hated rival
If the Rams want to regain the top seed in the NFC, there are a few things that need to happen.
Step one: The Rams need to win out.
Obviously, the Rams need to win out against the Falcons and the Cardinals. This is about as easy of a slate they could have finished with, considering the injuries that both teams are dealing with, but the Carolina loss proved that the Rams can’t afford to overlook any opponent on their schedule. Additionally, beating the Falcons would help the Rams’ first-round draft pick that they own from Atlanta.
Step two: Root for NFC North chaos
The Chicago Bears are still in the driver’s seat for the top seed in the NFC as well. If the Rams want to take the top seed back, they will need Chicago to lose at least one game to either the Green Bay Packers OR Detroit Lions in Week 16 or Week 18.
However, they will need the Bears to beat the San Francisco 49ers in Week 17 to knock the 49ers out of the picture for the No.1 seed.
Step three: Root for the San Francisco 49ers
That’s more akin to taboo for Rams fans, but it’s unfortunately true in this one. If the 49ers have lost to the Bears in Week 17, then they will be out of the running for the one-seed with an opportunity to turn around and knock the Seahawks out of the top seed. If the 49ers win their Week 18 matchup against Seattle, the Rams would emerge atop the NFC as the No. 1 seed and reclaim that first-round bye. A Seattle win in Week 18 would cement the top seed for them, barring some unforeseen chaos in Week 17 against the Panthers.
What happens if Seattle loses to the Carolina Panthers?
There is an alternate path for the Rams to earn the No.1 seed, and it revolves around the Panthers once more playing spoiler at home for an NFC West team. If the Seahawks manage to stumble against the Panthers like the Rams did just a few short weeks ago, the path to the top seed becomes wide open.
Obviously, that’s not a likely outcome, given the Panthers’ track record and roller coaster season, but in the event of them pulling off that upset, the Rams would need to root for the same outcomes listed above, with the exception of the Week 18 game. Instead, the Rams would need to root for Seattle to beat the 49ers in Week 18 instead of the 49ers winning.
It’s a complicated picture, which explains why ESPN gives the Rams just a 24.8% chance to earn the top seed in the NFC, but it is still theoretically viable.
Los Angeles Rams News
Sean McVay’s postgame criticism sheds light on controversial rule that could cost the Rams a Super Bowl berth
A controversial two-point attempt could be the difference between a Super Bowl or bust for the Los Angeles Rams despite strong season
