The Los Angeles Rams put themselves in a tough spot in the first half of the season by starting 3-6. They’ve since gotten things back on track and now sit at 6-7 after 13 games, but their playoff odds are still worse than 50% and they don’t control their own fate in the NFC wild-card race.
Even if the Rams win out, they’re not guaranteed a playoff spot. That’s a tough reality for Sean McVay’s squad. However, if they do win their last four games, they will have a good chance to get in, assuming the Packers, Vikings or Seahawks slip up at least a little bit down the stretch.
Sunday’s game against the Commanders won’t improve the Rams’ playoff odds dramatically, but a loss will be crushing for their postseason hopes. According to the New York Times, the Rams’ playoff odds are currently 31%. If they win, they increase to 40% (pending other teams’ results), and if they lose, their odds drop to just 9%.
Rams’ current playoff odds: 31%
Playoff odds with win vs. WAS: 40%
Playoff odds with loss vs. WAS: 9%
Obviously, if the Packers, Seahawks and Vikings lose, the Rams’ playoff odds will change. If Los Angeles wins and the Seahawks, Packers and Vikings all lose, the Rams will have a 56% chance to get in. If the Rams and those other three teams also lose, Los Angeles’ odds will be 13%.
There’s still so much to sort out in the NFC and the playoff picture won’t be decided in the next week, or even the next two. But the Rams can’t afford to lose this game to Washington on Sunday.