The Los Angeles Rams, after beating the Detroit Lions in Week 15 to clinch a playoff spot, are looking ahead to the NFC West title.
Their quest begins with a pivotal Week 16 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks. A win would have the Rams at 12-3, and in command of the NFC's top seed and the West. But, would they clinch the division with a win over Seattle?
While a Week 16 win over the Seahawks would go a long way towards making the Rams division winners, they would still be one game away from an NFC West title.
Why Rams cannot clinch NFC West in Week 16
The Rams won't be able to wrap up the NFC West this week, even if they win over the Seahawks in Seattle. At 12-3, and with the Seahawks at 11-4, the NFC West would not be wrapped up just yet.
Tom Pelissero of NFL Network shared playoff clinching scenarios for Week 16, and the Rams have no such scenario. Not because they've already clinched, but because they cannot win the NFC West in Week 16 regardless of what happens.
A Rams win would make their magic number a "1" with two games to go. Whether it's a Seahawks loss, or a San Francisco 49ers loss (if they win in Week 16), or a Rams win over the final two weeks of the year, then Los Angeles would clinch the West.
But if the Rams win in Week 16 and lose the final two games of the season, then the Seahawks or 49ers could win out and take the top spot from the Rams.
It's not likely, but it would still have a non-zero chance of happening, and leave open the slimmest of doors for the Rams to lose the West despite being in complete control heading into the final two weeks of the year.
Before they get there, the Rams need to win in Week 16 in Seattle. It won't be easy, especially without Devante Adams. But the Rams have Matthew Stafford and Sean McVay, along with a strong roster, and proof that they can beat the Seahawks with their dominant win earlier in the year.
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