No, the unsettling feeling of deja vu is not you, it's the Rams

The Los Angeles Rams ended 2025 with a record of 12-5. Not the best record, mind you. In fact, it was not even the best record in the NFC West. But it was enough to earn the fifth seed spot in the NFC, and that meant LA was in the postseason.

Los Angeles was a fifth-seeded competitor, but winning twice on the road has it in the same spot as it would have landed as the second seed. As soon as the Seattle Seahawks won the NFC West, they were assured of playing at home as long as they advanced. As the fifth-seeded team, the Horns were almost guaranteed to compete on the road.

LA has been here before. In Week 16, a less-than-healthy team faced the Seattle Seahawks for the division title. Despite playing on the road, the team fell short by one point. The team blew a 16-point lead in a meltdown that saw Kevin Dotson leave the game after what the NFL determined was a deliberate stomp on his ankle.

This is the first time Dotson faces the team that hobbled him.

The LA Rams have been here before

At the end of the 2018 season, the LA Rams faced the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LIII. At the end of 2021, the 12-5 team defeated the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI. In that one, LA had to plow through an NFC West Divisional rival in the NFC Championship game to get there. In that game, Los Angeles defeated the San Francisco 49ers.

There are many similarities between this team and the former Super Bowl LVI champions. Veteran quartterback Matthew Stafford stands tall in the pocket. The team has a potent wide receiver group, as well as a sneakily effective running game. And the defensive front is loaded with players who can take over the game.

Los Angeles is not seeking participation awards. This is not a farewell tour to bid farewell to veteran players with some playoff memories. This is a singularly-focused team whose objective is to hoist another Lombardi Trophy.

It's been done before. Just four years ago, to be exact.

Many fans have commented on the feeling of deja vu. It's not fans, it's the team. Los Angeles is back in the NFC Championship Game and has just two games to win to earn another Super Bowl ring. This is a team that remains in the hunt despite not synchronizing all three phases of the game.

Something about this team says that the best is yet to come. As always, thanks for reading.