The Los Angeles Rams have reached the final stretch of the 2024 season. With only three weeks left, their playoff push begins on Sunday afternoon when they visit the New York Jets.
It’s their final road game of the season, and also their last non-divisional matchup. Both games in the last two weeks are against NFC West opponents, which makes them far more important than this weekend’s matchup against the Jets.
That’s why the Rams’ clearest path to the playoffs is in those crucial two games against the Cardinals and Seahawks. The Rams can actually afford to lose to New York if they take care of business in the last two weeks.
According to NFL Playoff Scenarios, the Rams can clinch the NFC West if they simply win in Week 17 and 18. It doesn’t make Sunday’s game meaningless because beating the Jets will give the Rams some leeway in the final two weeks, but that just shows how important Weeks 17 and 18 are.
Even if the Seahawks and Cardinals both win on Sunday, the Rams will be crowned division champs if they win their last two games. In a scenario where the Rams lose on Sunday and win out, they’ll be 10-7.
If the Seahawks are also 10-7, the Rams will hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over them. The Cardinals, who are currently 7-7, can only reach 10-7 if they win out, which would require them to beat the Rams.
Conversely, if the Rams lose their next two games and the Cardinals win out, Los Angeles will essentially be eliminated from playoff contention, even if they win in Week 18.