NFL power rankings: Where do Rams rank ahead of postseason?

5 days ago 2

The NFL playoffs are almost here, which means a fresh round of power rankings before the final weeks of the season wind down.

The Los Angeles Rams finished the regular season with a win, albeit in a second-half drubbing of the Arizona Cardinals after trailing at one point in the game. L.A. finished 12-5, though, and earned the No. 5. They'll take on the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte in the wild-card round.

Where does that leave the Rams in the pantheon of playoff teams, though? Most experts have them somewhere between the second and sixth best teams left standing.

Here's a roundup of the top NFL power rankings ahead of the postseason.

USA Today Sports: No. 2

Their 38-37 overtime loss to the Seahawks in Week 16 effectively cost them the No. 1 seed and took wind out of the collective sails late in the season, the Rams seemingly sleepwalking through a good chunk of their Week 17 loss at Atlanta, too. But coach Sean McVay got a much sharper performance from his troops Sunday against Arizona. More importantly, LT Alaric Jackson rejoined the lineup, and WR Davante Adams and DB Quentin Lake will follow suit for Saturday’s game in Charlotte – and so might RG Kevin Dotson. As the injuries resolve, so too should the performance of a team that’s routinely been overwhelming on both sides of the ball. And though it’s a small sample size, the troubled special teams have stabilized – and excelled in spots – since veteran assistant Ben Kotwica was promoted to coordinate them following the unit’s debacle in Seattle. L.A. lost to the Panthers in Week 13, the run defense too frequently gashed. But the Rams are the decidedly superior team – the only one that put a scare into an elite Eagles juggernaut in last season’s playoffs – and one very well equipped to go all the way this time around. Oh yeah, QB Matthew Stafford was the league’s premier player in 2025 … and WR Puka Nacua wasn’t far behind.

The Athletic: No. 6

After two straight losses, Sean McVay decided he needed to play his starters in Week 18 to make sure they got back on track. Arizona helped with that. Sunday’s win means the Rams now face the Panthers in Carolina in the first round, giving them a chance to avenge a Week 13 loss, but 37-year-old quarterback Matthew Stafford might have preferred some rest.

CBS Sports: No. 5

They can light it up on offense, but the defense has been a little leaky down the stretch. That could cost them in the playoffs.

Yahoo Sports: No. 4

In the finale, the Rams trailed a terrible Cardinals team late in the third quarter before rallying. This was a good season and the Rams are a Super Bowl contender (especially with an advantageous wild-card weekend matchup at Carolina), but there were some troubling signs in the final few weeks. Getting Davante Adams back will be a huge help. The Rams are as dangerous of a wild-card team as we’ve seen in a while, assuming the mini-slump late in the season was an anomaly.

FOX Sports: No. 5

They stumble into the playoffs following a 3-3 finish, but they still feel like a dangerous sleeper. All the ingredients are there for Matthew Stafford to lead them on a deep run.

Bleacher Report: No. 4

For a sizable chunk of the season, the Los Angeles Rams looked like the best team in the NFL. Quarterback Matthew Stafford was going to win his first MVP award, and the team appeared to be headed back to the Super Bowl.

However, the Rams then dropped two straight (including a wild loss to Seattle), and now a team that has looked vulnerable in recent weeks will be on the road in the postseason, where it is just 5-4 as opposed to 7-1 at SoFi Stadium.

However, Los Angeles should have Davante Adams back for next week's game at Carolina. A Week 13 setback in Charlotte is when the Rams' late swoon truly started—and they know it. And when it plays to its ceiling, L.A. may still be the most balanced and talented team in the NFL.

Welcome to the 2025 playoffs—where every contender has at least one significant question mark.

The Sporting News: No. 6

The Rams provide the most comfort as NFC contenders because of their winning Super Bowl 56 run with Sean McVay just four playoffs ago. They have a revved up offense per usual with Matthew Stafford and a young, energetic defensive front seven. The core contributors on both sides are a little different, but they have the coach to have them peak again at the ideal time.

This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: NFL power rankings: Where do Rams rank ahead of postseason?

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