The Seattle Seahawks‘ Week 18 game against the Los Angeles Rams quickly shifted from a potential NFC West title showdown to a largely inconsequential matchup. The Seahawks were eliminated from playoff contention early, while the Rams, having already secured the division title, still need to finalize their playoff seeding.
Currently the No. 3 seed, the Rams would face the Washington Commanders in the first round, but a loss to the Seahawks coupled with a Tampa Bay Buccaneers win could drop them to the No. 4 seed, forcing them to host the loser of the Minnesota Vikings vs. Detroit Lions game.
Given the circumstances, the question is whether Rams head coach Sean McVay will play his starters to secure the No. 3 seed, or rest players since there’s no major seeding (like a first-round bye) on the line. McVay provided some insight into his thinking on The Coach McVay Show, emphasizing the importance of balancing competition with player health. He explained that while every game is important, they also need to account for the physical toll of the season and give players a chance to rest and recover when possible. He indicated that, based on past seasons, the team would likely lean towards resting players if seeding isn’t at risk.
McVay also mentioned the possibility of seeing players like running backs Blake Corum and Cody Schrader, along with backup offensive linemen, get more playing time. He hinted that former 49ers starter Jimmy Garoppolo might play significant snaps, if not start, over Matthew Stafford.
This approach isn’t unusual for McVay, who has rested players in similar situations in previous seasons when the playoff picture was clear. While the game could have been a critical NFC West decider, with Seattle’s playoff hopes dashed and the Rams already division champions, the focus now shifts to player preparation for the postseason.
On the other hand, Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald hasn’t confirmed if the starters will get a full workload but suggested they would. Macdonald emphasized the importance of reaching 10 wins as part of the team’s identity and standards, acknowledging the situation had changed but maintaining the goal of competing hard in the game.
