With seven postseason appearances in the past nine seasons, the Rams have been one of football's most consistent teams since Sean McVay was named head coaching ahead of the 20217 season.
In 2025, Los Angeles rekindled its impressive displays, flirting with the NFC West crown and No. 1 seed before suffering back-to-back losses in Weeks 16 and 17.
At 11-5, the Rams are remain a fearsome foe for playoff-bound teams. There arguably hasn't been a better signal-caller in the league than Matthew Stafford, an MVP candidate who has posted numbers rivaling those of his younger years in Detroit. Stafford, one of the league's most experienced QBs, struggled in the Rams' Week 17 loss to the Falcons. Still, with the 37-year-old under center and Puka Nacua and Davante Adams at receiver, there's plenty of reason to fear what Los Angeles has cooked up during the playoffs.
So, just what does Los Angeles' playoff path look like? Here's what you need to know about the Rams' playoff picture in Week 18.
MORE WEEK 18 NFL:
NFL playoff bracket 2026
Here's a look at the current potential initial matchups for this year's playoffs:
Rams playoff picture
The Rams' Week 17 loss to the Falcons relegated them to the wild-card round, ensuring they'll start their postseason journey on the road.
But just where will Sean McVay's team land? That remains up in the air. Los Angeles enters Week 18 sitting in sixth place in the NFC. It can't move any lower than sixth — the Packers are unable to catch the Rams' win total.
It's possible for Los Angeles to move as high as fifth in the NFC standings, which is presently occupied by the 12-4 49ers. San Francisco may have a one-game advantage over the Rams, but Los Angeles holds the tiebreaker, having posted a better record than the Niners in common games. The 49ers helped L.A. With a loss to the Seahawks on Saturday night, so the Rams just have to beat the Cardinals on Sunday to overtake San Francisco for fifth in the conference, setting up a road matchup with either the Panthers or Buccaneers.
The team that finishes sixth, meanwhile, will travel to play either the Bears or Eagles on the road, depending on the results of their games. If the season were to end today, the Rams would face Chicago at Soldier Field in the wild-card round of the playoffs.
| Seed | Team | Record |
| 1 | Seattle Seahawks* | 14-3 |
| 2 | Chicago Bears* | 11-5 |
| 3 | Philadelphia Eagles* | 11-5 |
| 4 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 8-9 |
| 5 | San Francisco 49ers* | 12-5 |
| 6 | Los Angeles Rams* | 11-5 |
| 7 | Green Bay Packers* | 9-6-1 |
| 8 | Minnesota Vikings - eliminated | 8-8 |
| 9 | Detroit Lions - eliminated | 8-8 |
| 10 | Dallas Cowboys - eliminated | 7-8-1 |
| 11 | Carolina Panthers | 8-9 |
| 12 | Atlanta Falcons - eliminated | 7-9 |
| 13 | New Orleans Saints - eliminated | 6-10 |
| 14 | Washington Commanders - eliminated | 4-12 |
| 15 | Arizona Cardinals - eliminated | 3-13 |
| 16 | New York Giants - eliminated | 3-13 |
*=clinched playoff spot
NFC West standings
Los Angeles cannot win the NFC West. However, it can finish second if it beats the Cardinals in Week 18 and the 49ers tie or lose their matchup with the Seahawks.
That seeding could prove noteworthy. The team that finishes second in the division will be given the fifth-seed in the NFC's bracket. That side will match up against either Carolina or Tampa Bay in the wild card round. That's not the easiest proposition, but it's likely teams would rather take on two of the worst-performing teams than Chicago or Philadelphia, one of whom will meet the NFC West's third-place finisher.
| Rank | Team | Record |
| 1 | Seattle Seahawks | 14-3 |
| 2 | San Francisco 49ers | 12-5 |
| 3 | Los Angeles Rams | 11-5 |
| 4 | Arizona Cardinals - eliminated | 3-13 |
Rams clinching scenarios
- The Rams can clinch the No. 5 seed with a win against the Cardinals in week 18.