Rams gamble nearly backfires as team dodges nightmare playoff scenario

The 12-5 Los Angeles Rams finish the season with a better record than either the 2023 or 2024 seasons. But the final game appeared at one point to extend the losing streak would deflate optimism, no matter which NFL team is involved.

For a team that was once 9-2 and the NFC's top seed, the final game of the season was ridiculously too close for comfort.

Los Angeles merely needed to defeat the 3-13 Arizona Cardinals to claim a fifth seed in the upcoming NFL Playoffs. That would have meant a rematch against the 8-9 Carolina Panthers. And to be fair, LA was up by 10 points at halftime. But the team came out flat in the second half, allowing the Cardinals to score 14 unanswered points.

The Rams had to respond with 14 unanswered points of their own to retake the lead.

Head coach Sean McVay opted to start all of his healthy players. That meant a partially stocked offense and a fully stocked defense. But as the game wore on, it was clear that the defense was struggling, and even a partially rostered offense was potent enough to score plenty of points.

Sixth seed has a much tougher path in the playoffs

The sixth-seeded team must travel to face the NFL's third-seeded team. That's because the fifth-seeded team is traveling to face the 8-9 Caroline Panthers. Not only are the Panthers a sub-.500 team, but the Panthers also sit in a much friendlier temperature zone at this time of year.

Still, Los Angeles needed to show up in this one. The team seemed to have the game well in hand, but the third quarter was a nightmare for playoff-hungry fans. Thankfully, the team regrouped and managed to respond.

That lull proved how easily the momentum can change in a game. And it happened at the worst possible moment.

Had LA managed to hold the line in the third quarter, the team may have had enough of a lead to sit starting quarterback Matthew Stafford for the fourth quarter. As it all turned out, the Rams had to rely on Stafford's heroics to seal the victory one more time. And the savvy 17-year veteran came through, tossing touchdown passes to three different receivers.

Still, the Rams did wake up. It was thanks to the offense, and that surge of testosterone seemed to carry over to the defense. The final 20 minutes of this one are what fans expected to see. During that period, Stafford throwing to Puka Nacua seemed to be unstoppable.

The Rams offense scored touchdowns on each of its last three possessions. Time to tip the cap to head coach Sean McVay. It wasn't pretty, but the results speak for themselves. Los Angeles proved that its offense is ready for the playoffs.

And Matthew Stafford, without wide receiver Davante Adams, threw four touchdown passes. Well played, Sean McVay, well played.

As always, thanks for reading.