Overview
- The Rams finished 12-5 and enter the postseason as the NFC’s No. 5 seed after a midseason surge and a late 3-3 stretch.
- An NFL executive, quoted by The Athletic’s Mike Sando, praised Los Angeles’ ceiling but doubted its ability to sustain form through a Super Bowl run.
- Los Angeles posted elite production with the No. 1 scoring offense, the No. 10 scoring defense, and 47 sacks, while Matthew Stafford led the league in passing yards and touchdowns with a career-high 46 TDs.
- Recent results fed the skepticism, including back-to-back losses to the Seahawks and Falcons and defensive slippage that increased points allowed late in the year.
- The first playoff test is a Wild Card matchup with the Panthers, who beat L.A. 31-28 in Week 13, as supporters note the potential boost if Davante Adams returns from a hamstring injury.