The Los Angeles Rams have been a mainstay in the NFL postseason ever since Sean McVay took over in 2017, and that doesn’t seem to be changing anytime soon. They are currently tied for best record in the NFC at 10-3 heading into their Week 15 matchup with the 8-5 Detroit Lions. If McVay plays his cards right, the Rams could have playoff spot secured by dinnertime on Sunday.
With four weeks left in the regular season, here is a quick breakdown of how Los Angeles can find itself officially locked into a seventh playoff berth in nine years:
Los Angeles Rams Clinch Playoff Spot With…
There is one single outcome that would result in the Rams punching their ticket to the playoffs in Week 15. And, if it’s any comfort, Los Angeles controls its own destiny in that regard.
If the Rams beat the Lions on Sunday afternoon, they will clinch a postseason berth. They would improve to 11-3, all while Detroit would stay put with eight wins. The Lions are the best team that is currently out of the NFC playoff picture, after all. A 3.0-game gap with three weeks to go and no head-to-head tiebreaker on their side would make it impossible for Detroit to surpass Los Angeles in the standings, cementing the Rams as a Wild Card, at worst.
Can the Los Angeles Rams clinch the NFC West in Week 15?
While a win Sunday would bolster the Rams’ chances of winning a fifth division title under McVay, the NFC West is far from decided. The Seattle Seahawks boast an identical 10-3 record, although Los Angeles won the first of two scheduled head-to-head matchups back in Week 11. The Seahawks getting revenge in Week 16 could vault them past the Rams, regardless of how Week 15 shakes out.
The San Francisco 49ers are only 1.0 game back at 9-4, too. Los Angeles and San Francisco split their two matchups this season, meaning their combined records against the Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals would decide a potential tiebreaker. So while the Rams control their own destiny and would win the NFC West if they won out, there are a lot of factors still at play.
Los Angeles Rams Playoff Odds
You can bet the Rams to make the playoffs on DraftKings Sportsbook at -10000 odds. Alternatively, you could bet on Los Angeles to miss the postseason at +2500.
The Rams are -110 to enter the playoffs as the No. 1 seed in the NFC, with the Seahawks ranking second at +200 and the Packers in third at +700. When it comes to the NFC West title, Los Angeles is -145 compared to Seattle’s +185 odds and San Francisco’s +700 odds, per DraftKings Sportsbook.
