Rams fans have a clear rooting interest in Week 5's 49ers-Seahawks showdown

In the NFC West standings, the Los Angeles Rams (2-2) are anchored behind the San Francisco 49ers (4-0) and the Seattle Seahawks (3-1). As the 49ers travel to face the Seahawks in Week 5, LA fans must wonder: what outcome best benefits the Yellow and Blue?

Well, either outcome has its advantages.

The knee-jerk reaction is to root against the 49ers, and that makes sense. The 49ers are leading the division, have already beaten LA once, and remain undefeated (their opponents, it's worth noting, have a combined record of 5-11).

In stark contrast, Los Angeles is 2-2 but has clashed with teams with a combined record of 11-5.

There has never been any love lost between these two teams. Even after the Week 1 victory, 49ers players wasted no time tossing shade a the Horns. That's nothing new. The 49ers often roll with players and fans trolling after a win.

That makes it oh so easy to cheer against them....

...But it may be wiser to root against the Seahawks in Week 5

Of course, hindsight is always 20/20. But entering the game, Rams fans have legitimate reasons to root against the Seahawks in Week 5. With LA firmly in the hunt for a wild card spot, they would be better served by a Seattle loss. Indeed, a Seattle loss and Los Angeles win would alter the postseason landscape.

As it stands, the Rams are two games behind the 49ers and 0-1 in head-to-head play. To top San Francisco for the division crown, they likely must defeat the 49ers in their second matchup and win more division games and/or more conference games as well, to secure tiebreaker advantages.

Conversely, a Seahawks loss would put the Horns within striking distance for second place in the division and a likely wild card spot. The defending Super Bowl champions face a tough schedule this season. That further bolsters LA's chances to overtake them.

It's far easier to win a playoff berth at second place than in third.

Being in third increases the likelihood that a team from another division will boast a better record. Since tiebreakers consider division and conference records, other wild card contestants could have have the advantage over the Rams.

Ultimately LA fans can cheer for either NFC West rival, or not. The team benefits from either outcome. The true test this week will be how well the Rams play against the Buffalo Bills, but it never hurts to keep the competition in the corner of your eye.

As always, thanks for reading.

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