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Rams playoff picture: How loss to Falcons impacts NFC wild-card standings, Los Angeles' seeding originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Los Angeles Rams are considered one of the most-dangerous teams entering the playoffs, but they haven't played their best football recently.
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With the No. 1 seed in sight, the Rams have now lost two-straight games, first to the Seattle Seahawks last week then to the Atlanta Falcons on Monday night. That will knock the Rams out of the NFC West title chase, but Los Angeles is still headed to the playoffs as a wild card.
Despite the two losses, the Rams still have a chance to earn the top wild-card spot in the NFC. For that to happen, Los Angeles needs to win next week and have the Seahawks beat the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday night.
Here's a look at the full Rams playoff picture.
Rams playoff picture
The NFC playoff picture is pretty clear, as there are only a few seeds that need to be ironed out in the final week of the season. When the Seahawks and 49ers play each other on Saturday, the winner will earn the top spot in the NFC.
Rank | Team | Record |
1. | Seattle Seahawks | 13-3 |
2. | Chicago Bears | 11-5 |
3. | Philadelphia Eagles | 11-5 |
4. | Carolina Panthers | 8-8 |
5. | San Francisco 49ers | 12-4 |
6. | Los Angeles Rams | 11-4 |
7. | Green Bay Packers | 9-6-1 |
8. | Minnesota Vikings | 8-8 |
9. | Detroit Lions | 8-8 |
10. | Dallas Cowboys | 7-8-1 |
11. | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 7-9 |
12. | Atlanta Falcons | 6-9 |
13. | New Orleans Saints | 6-10 |
14. | Washington Commanders | 4-12 |
15. | Arizona Cardinals | 3-13 |
16. | New York Giants | 3-13 |
NFC Wild-Card standings
Two of the four NFC divisions are clinched, as the Chicago Bears and Philadelphia Eagles will be hosting games on wild-card weekend. The NFC South winner will be either the Carolina Panthers or Tampa Bay Buccaneers, while the loser is ineligible to be a wild-card team.
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The Seahawks and 49ers will play each other to determine the NFC West winner, as the loser will be a wild-card team. Rounding out the NFC playoffs are the Rams and Green Bay Packers.
Division winners
NFC West: Seattle Seahawks (13-3)
NFC North: Chicago Bears (11-5)
NFC East: Philadelphia Eagles (11-5)
NFC South: Carolina Panthers (8-8)
Wild-card teams
San Francisco 49ers (12-4)
Los Angeles Rams (11-5)
Green Bay Packers (9-6-1)
The Packers have clinched the No. 7 seed, and the Bears and Eagles will be seeds Nos. 2 and 3, depending on Week 18's results. The fifth- and sixth-seeds will depend on the outcomes of the final NFC West games of the season.
NFC West standings
Rank | Team | Record |
1. | Seattle Seahawks | 13-3 |
2. | San Francisco 49ers | 12-4 |
3. | Los Angeles Rams | 11-5 |
4. | Arizona Cardinals | 3-13 |
The NFC West has been the best division in the NFL this year, but the final standings is still in flux. While the Rams can't win the division, they could still finish second if things go right next week.
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One thing is for sure, the Arizona Cardinals will finish in last place in this division for the third time in four years.
Rams remaining schedule
Date | Opponent | Time | TV Channel |
12/29 | vs. Arizona Cardinals | 4:25 p.m. | Fox |
The Rams finish the regular season at home against the Cardinals on Sunday. These two teams last played in early December, when Los Angeles beat Arizona 45-17.
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