The Los Angeles Rams return to the postseason as the NFC’s No. 5 seed after finishing the regular season 12-5, traveling to Carolina to face an 8-9 Panthers team in the Wild Card round. This setting has become familiar under Sean McVay, whose tenure has turned January football into an expectation rather than a bonus. Nearly a decade into his time in Los Angeles, McVay’s impact is best understood through what his teams have done when the pressure is highest.
The postseason resume that defines the Era
McVay owns an 8-5 postseason record, the most playoff wins in Rams franchise history. That success has come across multiple phases of the roster, different quarterbacks, and constant schematic evolution. The consistency matters. His teams have not relied on one singular formula or window. They have found ways to win in different environments, against elite opponents, and often away from home.
Two Super Bowl appearances and multiple NFC Championship Game trips have cemented McVay as one of the most reliable postseason coaches in the league. Even when the Rams have fallen short, they have rarely looked overwhelmed by the moment.
The Super Bowl run that cemented the legacy
The 2021 postseason remains the clearest snapshot of McVay at his best. The Rams navigated a four-game run that demanded adaptability, emotional control, and late-game execution. Each round presented a different challenge, from hostile road environments to division rival familiarity.
The defining moment came in Super Bowl LVI, when the Rams defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20. The game was tight throughout, but Los Angeles delivered a decisive fourth-quarter touchdown drive and sealed the championship with a late defensive stand. The victory delivered the franchise’s first Super Bowl title in Los Angeles and made McVay the youngest head coach in NFL history to win a Super Bowl.
That championship was not flashy. It was disciplined, situational, and controlled. It reflected the identity McVay had spent years building.
Regular-season success that feeds January
McVay’s postseason opportunities are fueled by steady regular-season production. His career regular-season record stands at 92-57, including a 12-5 finish in 2025 that secured the No. 5 seed in a deep NFC field. His teams are rarely scrambling late in the season. They are usually positioned, prepared, and balanced.
Regular-season wins under McVay have always served a larger purpose. They are a means to reach January, where preparation and detail become the difference.
Longevity in a league built on turnover
McVay has been the Rams' head coach since 2017, an uncommon stretch of stability in the modern NFL. Over that span, he has navigated roster overhauls, cap constraints, and the natural fatigue that often follows a championship run. What has remained consistent is the standard.
Playoff appearances. Deep runs. Meaningful January games.
What this moment represents
As the Rams prepare for another postseason game, McVay’s track record looms over the matchup. Eight playoff wins. A Super Bowl title. Multiple conference championship appearances. The resume is established.
For Los Angeles, this is not about chasing a narrative. It is about continuing a pattern that has defined the franchise for nearly a decade. Under Sean McVay, the Rams enter every postseason with credibility, experience, and a history that proves they belong.
When clicking on all cylinders, McVay's team will be tough to beat with his experience and ability to win the big games.
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