ClutchPoints
The Los Angeles Rams look as dangerous as ever heading into Week 16. Now Los Angeles is gearing up for a Thursday Night Football matchup against Seattle that has huge implications for the NFC West division race. The Rams have already punched their ticket to the playoffs. They secured their place in the postseason by defeating the Lions 41-34 on Sunday.
But just because the Rams can’t miss the playoffs doesn’t mean they are breezing through the rest of the regular season.
The Rams are in competition with the following teams for playoff positioning in the NFC:
Los Angeles is battling with Seattle and San Francisco for a potential NFC West division title. Meanwhile, Chicago and Green Bay are duking it out for the NFC North division title.
The three teams (including the Rams) that do not win a division title will be the most likely wild card teams in the NFC.
As a result, the Rams still need to fight to have a good record for the purposes of playoff seeding. If the worst possible outcome happens, their fate could change wildly.
But just how bad could things get for LA over the next three weeks?
Below we will explore the Rams’ nightmare playoff scenario with just three weeks left in the 2025 regular season.
This nightmare scenario will feature the worst possible outcome each week. And I imagine you’ll pick up on the theme pretty quick.
First, the worst thing that could happen to the Rams in Week 16 is losing to the Seahawks on TNF.
Both LA and Seattle head into that game at 11-3, meaning the winner will leap to the top of the division standings. The competition in the NFC West is still incredibly close, so losing this game alone will not decide the division title. However, it is unquestionably the most important game left on either team’s schedule.
That loss would move the Rams down into the wild card race.
In this scenario, the 49ers also get a big win over the Colts. That improves their record to 11-4 and moving them much closer to the Rams.
Chicago and Green Bay also face off in Week 16, so one of those teams will get a win. It doesn’t really matter to the Rams who wins, as either outcome is bad for them.
At this point, the Rams are now a wild card team. That means the absolute worst thing that could happen is failing to keep up with the Seahawks. And losing games themselves.
Naturally, the start of this nightmare scenario is somehow dropping a game to the Falcons on Monday Night Football.
Additionally, there are a handful of matchups that could enhance that pain.
The most obvious game is Seahawks vs. Panthers. If Seattle gained another win, improving to 13-3, then they would box LA...
