Thanks to defeating the Cardinals and winning the Strength of Victory tiebreaker over the Seahawks, the Rams clinched the NFC West – and by extension, a playoff berth – this past weekend.
Here's what that full NFC playoff picture looks like and how various Week 18 matchups – including the Rams' against the Seahawks at SoFi Stadium – will impact the playoff picture.
No. 1 seed - Detroit Lions
The Lions maintained control of the top seed with their win over the 49ers, and still hold the head-to-head tiebreaker against the Vikings, who also have a 14-2 overall record.
Detroit has already clinched a playoff berth.
No. 2 seed - Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles have already clinched a playoff berth and are locked into the No. 2 seed with their win over the Cowboys.
No. 3 seed - Los Angeles Rams
The Rams remained in the No. 3 seed with their win over the Cardinals.
Los Angeles has already clinched a playoff berth.
No. 4 seed - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
A win over the Panthers, plus a Falcons loss to the Commanders, moved the Bucs back into the No. 4 seed. However, to clinch a playoff berth, they'll win the NFC South, which means needing to defeat the Saints, or have Falcons lose to the Panthers. A loss and a Falcons win would make the Falcons division champions.
No. 5 seed – Minnesota Vikings
With its win over the Packers, the Vikings set up a battle for the NFC North, No. 1 overall seed and homefield advantage throughout the playoffs against the Lions next week.
Minnesota has already clinched a playoff berth.
No. 6 seed – Washington Commanders
Washington clinched a playoff berth with their Sunday Night Football win over Atlanta. It moved up to the No. 6 seed thanks to Green Bay's road loss to Minnesota.
No. 7 seed - Green Bay Packers
With their loss to the Vikings and the Commanders' win over the Falcons, the Packers slid down one spot to the No. 7 seed.
Green Bay has already clinched a playoff berth.
Clinching scenarios and key Week 18 matchups
The Rams clinch the No. 3 seed with a loss or tie versus the Seahawks, or a Buccaneers loss or tie versus the Falcons. If they keep the No. 3 seed, they would host either the Commanders or Packers – the remaining possibilities for the No. 6 seed – at SoFi Stadium on Wild Card weekend.
If the Rams lose and the Bucs win, the Bucs would earn the No. 3 seed and bump the Rams down to the No. 4 seed, which would set up Los Angeles to host the loser of Minnesota-Detroit on Wild Card weekend.
As for other games to watch besides Rams-Seahawks:
- Buccaneers at Falcons (10 a.m. PT Sunday, CBS): As mentioned above, this has implications on the third and fourth seeds.
- Commanders at Cowboys (10 a.m. PT Sunday, FOX): A Washington win would lock it into the No. 6 seed. If it loses and Green Bay wins, the Packers would jump them and take the No. 6 seed.
- Bears at Packers (10 a.m. PT Sunday, FOX): Packers need a win and Commanders loss to take the No. 6 seed; otherwise, they'll be locked into the No. 7 seed. Even if Green Bay and Washington both win, Washington would keep the No. 6 seed because of the conference record tiebreaker.
- Vikings at Lions (5:15 p.m. PT Sunday, NBC): The winner of this game gets the No. 1 seed in the NFC and home field advantage throughout the playoffs. The loser bumps down to the No. 5 seed – and would potentially travel to Los Angeles to take on the Rams if the Rams get bumped down to the No. 4 seed.
