In addition to needing to beat the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday night, the Rams entered the weekend needing 3.5 or more wins from any of the Minnesota Vikings, Buffalo Bills, San Francisco 49ers, Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns to clinch the tiebreaker .
The Rams beat the Cardinals 13-9 on Saturday and the Bengals beat the Broncos for the first of those 3.5 wins. On Sunday, the Rams were helped by victories over the Bills, Vikings and Commanders.
The Rams, who started the season 1-4, won nine of their next 11 games to clinch a playoff berth.
When Rams coach Sean McVay held a press conference early Sunday morning, he said he planned to have those games on the back burner as he prepared for Los Angeles’ Week 18 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks.
McVay said he didn’t “want to put the cart before the horse” when asked if his starters will play in Week 18 if the Rams don’t play for a playoff spot. The Rams (10-6) could clinch third place with a win against Seattle.
Last season, even with playoff qualification on the line, the Rams rested quarterback Matthew Stafford, wide receiver Cooper Kupp, running back Kyren Williams, defensive tackle Aaron Donald and linebacker Ernest Jones in Week 18. .
When asked Saturday night what it would mean to secure a spot before playing Seattle in Week 18, McVay said, “We had to handle our business tonight for that to be a possibility. So, it would mean a lot.”
Los Angeles is the first team in NFL history to make the playoffs in consecutive seasons after being three games under .500, according to ESPN Research.
