Rams road to the playoffs is far simpler than taking NFC West Division

The 10-3 Los Angeles Rams are oh-so-close to earning a berth in the upcoming NFL Playoffs. As we have all just learned, and much to the despair of 8-5 Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell, LA can lock up a spot in the NFL playoffs with a win in Week 15. But the road to the crest of the NFC West Division is a bit... trickier.

The thing is, Los Angeles controls its own destiny. But that is only true as long as the Rams win and keep on winning. Unfortunately, winning the final four games is not something that fans can count on, and therein lies the rub.

Even if Los Angeles disassembles the 8-5 Detroit Lions, the 10-3 Seattle Seahawks, and the 5-9 Atlanta Falcons, they are not guaranteed to win the NFC West Division, nor the top seed of the NFC. Those pesky San Francisco 49ers, thanks to a last-place schedule, can win the NFC West Division and top seed in the NFL by winning out.

It's painful to acknowledge that they have a shot of doing so.

Rams have to win, but 49ers must also lose, for LA to claim top seed

Los Angeles, due to the benefit of having lost just three games, remains in the driver's seat over the final four games. But any loss along the way neutralizes that advantage. And the 49ers, with just four losses, can leverage a far easier last-place team schedule to claim the tiebreaker and finish atop LA.

If LA and San Fran finish in a tie, the 49ers win. Such is the methods of the NFL. The Rams unfortunately have lost to the Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers and Carolina Panthers. One more loss changes everything.

The remaining games on LA's schedule are:

• Week 15 - Detroit Lions (8-5) at Los Angeles Rams (10-3)
• Week 16 - Los Angeles Rams (10-3) at Seattle Seahawks (10-3) (TNF)
• Week 17 - Los Angeles Rams (10-3) at Atlanta Falcons (4-9) (MNF)
• Week 18 - Arizona Cardinals (3-10) at Los Angeles Rams (10-3)

The remaining games on San Fran's schedule are:

Week 15 - Tennessee Titans (2-11) at San Francisco 49ers (9-4)
Week 16 - San Francisco 49ers (9-4) at Indianapolis Colts (8-5) (MNF)
Week 17 - Chicago Bears (9-4) at San Francisco 49ers (9-4) (SNF)
Week 18 - Seattle Seahawks (10-3) at San Francisco 49ers (9-4) (TBD)

While the Horns appear to have the easier schedule, the Colts have lost starting quarterback Daniel Jones and may be starting long-retired quarterback Phillip Rivers in Week 16. And the Bears may be exhausted in Week 17, amidst their own divisional rivalry battles. The most difficult game on the 49ers' schedule at the moment is Week 18 against the Seahawks.

If all the chips are on the line in a Week 18 showdown, the 49ers will likely prove to be victorious. And so, it will be up to the Rams to win out. Can they? Of course. But head coach Sean McVay is strongly opposed to playing starters in Week 18. It's doubtful that would change even if the team can ensure a BYE Week in the NFL playoffs by doing so.

Live and learn. The Rams forged a Super Bowl LVI win as a fourth-seeded division winner. But the team lost Super Bowl LIII as a second-seeded division winner. Where should the Rams strive to finish in 2025? Well, the first step is getting there, and right now the Lions stand in their way.

As always, thanks for reading.