The Los Angeles Rams overcame a 1-4 start to claim the NFC West crown. Now, amid significant tragedy at home due to the Los Angeles wildfires, the Rams opened their playoff run with a win over the Minnesota Vikings in the Wild Card Round while playing at Arizona.
Let’s examine who Sean McVay’s squad will run into in the next round.
Who Will the Los Angeles Rams Play in the Divisional Round?
After defeating the Vikings, the Rams will go on the road and take on the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field.
The No. 2 Eagles and No. 4 Rams will face off on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.
Here’s a look at the updated playoff bracket entering the Divisional Round:
Could the Rams Host the NFC Championship Game?
There are a few paths that could see the Rams hosting the NFC Championship Game. The Bucs losing to the Commanders is an excellent first step, but they still need the Lions and Eagles to get upset in the Divisional Round.
Had the Bucs and Eagles both won on Wild Card Weekend, then the Rams would’ve been the lowest remaining seed and would not have been able to host the NFC Championship Game.
Washington’s win over the Bucs on Sunday is the first piece of the puzzle. Washington now must go into Detroit and beat the Lions. Meanwhile, the Rams would need to then win their Divisional Round game against the Eagles, leaving them as the highest remaining seed in the NFC.
The only teams seeded fourth or lower to host a Conference Championship since 2000 are the 2021 Los Angeles Rams (No. 4 seed) and the 2008 Arizona Cardinals (No. 4 seed). Both of them defeated No. 6 seeds at home to advance to the Super Bowl.
What Were the Rams’ Playoff Scenarios?
Los Angeles entered Wild Card Weekend with a wide range of potential opponents in the Divisional Round. The Rams could have face any of four teams, with only the seventh-seeded Green Bay Packers (and Vikings) not a possible opponent.
But following Green Bay’s loss to the Philadelphia Eagles and the Washington Commanders’ upset win over the Buccaneers, the Eagles were the only remaining option for Los Angeles next weekend.
Now, the Rams will travel to Philadelphia next weekend to take on the No. 2 seed Eagles. This is because the Commanders’ win over the Bucs on Sunday makes Washington the lowest seed remaining in the NFC playoffs.
Due to reseeding, the top-seeded Detroit Lions must face the lowest-seeded team to advance to the Divisional Round. That will be the Commanders.
This left the Eagles as the opponent for the winner of Monday night’s matchup between the Rams and Vikings, which Los Angeles won.
