The Los Angeles Rams may have unintentionally affected the playoff picture for several teams before even taking the field against the Minnesota Vikings on Monday, Jan. 13.
After losing 30-25 to the Seattle Seahawks, the Rams, who had already clinched the NFC West, may have caused more playoff ramifications than expected. The team’s decision to rest key players, including quarterback Matthew Stafford, was based on the logic of avoiding any potential injuries before their upcoming playoff game. As a result, Jimmy Garoppolo started this past Sunday and performed admirably, completing 27 of 41 passes for 334 yards. However, a win could have improved the Rams’ playoff seeding.
Now sitting at the fourth seed, the Rams will face the Vikings on Monday night, whereas a win would have given them a matchup with the Washington Commanders on Sunday night. Despite their strong 30-20 victory over the Vikings earlier in the season, the Rams have had difficulty against NFC North teams, losing three of four games to teams like the Bears, Lions, and Packers. Stafford generally outperformed the opposing quarterbacks, but the Rams still fell short in these games.
Heading into the playoffs, the Rams’ defense is a concern. With 353.1 yards allowed per game, they rank among the worst in the postseason. Their defense will need to improve significantly if they hope to make a deep playoff run. While resting Stafford and other key players may have been a wise decision for health, it’s clear that the Rams will need a strong defensive performance in order to advance past the Vikings and move on to the Divisional Round.
