Coach Sean McVay must choose whether to start his Rams' key players in the final game against Seattle Seahawks, risking a drop to the No. 4 seed for a better chance at victory and securing the No. 3 seed.
Now that the Rams have clinched a playoff spot, coach Sean McVay has a decision to make. Does he play starters to ensure the best chance of beating the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday at SoFi Stadium and retaining the No. 3 seed? Or does he rest quarterback Matthew Stafford and others and take his chances that the Rams might fall to No.
4? Final seedings and playoff matchups will not be determined until after Sunday’s games, but the Rams are positioned to play a wild-card game against either the Washington Commanders, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings or Detroit Lions. The Rams (10-6) earned their postseason opportunity by coming back from a 1-4 start, including last Saturday’s 13-9 victory over the Arizona Cardinals. That win set up McVay’s team for a wait to possibly determine the NFC West champion and playoff scenarios. “Being fortunate enough to be in this position for eight years, I'm not taking wins for granted,” McVay said after the victory over the Cardinals, “but we will look at it with a critical eye and, and say, ‘Alright, what does it really look like to play complete football?' If you're going to get an opportunity to go win next week and give yourself a chance to be competitive if you do get into the dance.” The Rams are going to the playoffs as a division champion. The Cincinnati Bengals, Buffalo Bills, Vikings and Commanders ensured that by winning their Week 17 games, giving the Rams the NFL’s strength-of-victory tiebreaker over the Seahawks. After the win over the Cardinals, when asked whether Rams starters would play against the Seahawks, McVay said “I don’t want to put the cart before the horse,” and that the Rams would prepare as usual for the Seahawks. “Until we have to decide otherwise,” he said, “that's where my sole focus and concentration will be.” The Rams did not practice Monday and were not scheduled to do so Tuesday, so it remains to be seen whether McVay will opt to start Jimmy Garoppolo in place of Stafford against the Seahawks (9-7)
PLAYOFFS SEATTLE SEAHAWKS LOS ANGELES RAMS COACHING NFC WEST
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