LA Rams News: How do early games change playoff picture

In LA Rams News: NFL playoffs have changed significantly after Sunday’s early games. How have those scores changed the playoff landscape?

The LA Rams need to win to guarantee a spot in the NFL Playoffs. But after that, the who, where, and when they play next will depend upon the outcome of the early games as well as the outcome of late games. The question of whether or not the Rams even make the playoffs will not be guaranteed until the outcome of the Arizona Cardinals at LA Rams game combined with the Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears are determined.

Before that, there are some games that will impact the Rams playoff picture. For one example, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers can lock up the fifth-seed in the NFC Playoffs with a victory over the Atlanta Falcons.  The final score in that game was Buccaneers 44 and Falcons 27. That will place the Rams into a no-better-than sixth-seed route.

Sixth seed scenario

Without the softer road game to the NFC East Champion, the LA Rams will win for the sixth-seed, or lose for the seventh seed. In either case, the LA Rams will be on the road to face either the Seattle Seahawks, the New Orleans Saints, or the Green Bay Packers. So of the group, which would be the best team for the Rams to face in order of hardest to easiest? That truly depends upon the outcome of today’s game, but  here are our current expectations

If the Rams are on the road to the Seattle Seahawks, that is probably one of the most difficult draws for the LA Rams. The reason? The Rams were defeated by the Seahawks rather handily in Seattle before, and the Rams roster has been depleted twice in games against the Seahawks this year. Of course, the Rams know the Seahawks, and the Seahawks know the Rams. But if the Rams travel to Seattle at less than full strength, the Rams will have a tough time of it.  Seattle’s offense can score points, and their defense has grown stout in the second half. Let’s hope for another team.

Packers are a better match-up

The middle-of-the-road draw for the Rams would be traveling to Lambeau Field to take on the Green Bay Packers. Of course, the major news for the Packers is the loss of keystone left tackle David Bakhtiari to a knee injury. And the Chicago Bears will no doubt try hard to take advantage of that situation.

However the game turns out for the Packers-Bears, the Rams will have plenty of film footage to study. The Rams have a similar defense to the Bears, and can replicate any success the Bears may have. The Packers have a solid defense, but the Rams debut of John Wolford will only help the Rams. The Rams will need to win to face the Packers in round one.  The Rams offense should be able to put up enough offense to give the Packers a good run for the money.

Saints are the best match up for the Rams

A full-strength New Orleans Saints team is awfully tough for any team to match up against. But the Saints have a banged up quarterback Drew Brees, RB Alvin Kamara on reserve COVID-19, and WR Michael Thomas who has nursed an ankle injury all season.  Brees has lost a lot, and plans to retire at the end of this season.  What that means is that the Rams would face an immobile and sore Brees.

The Rams defense can handle the Saints offense. And with Wolford under center, the Rams have a good chance of completely frustrating the Saints defense. That gives the edge to the Saints as the most favorable matchup in the first round of the NFL Playoffs.  But the key is to get there. To do that, the Rams need to defeat the Arizona Cardinals. Right now, the Rams are behind and the Bears are ahead. But it’s early, and the Rams will get stronger as the game progresses.