The Los Angeles Rams have officially punched their ticket to the postseason after a hard-fought win over the Detroit Lions in Week 15. But while the playoff berth is secured, the job is far from finished. Now, the focus shifts to the bigger prize: the NFC West crown-and potentially the conference's top seed.
That road continues in Week 16 with a high-stakes divisional showdown against the Seattle Seahawks. A win would push the Rams to 12-3, giving them a commanding lead in the NFC West and putting them in pole position for home-field advantage. But here’s the key: even if they take care of business in Seattle, they won’t be able to lock up the division just yet.
Why the Rams Can’t Clinch the NFC West in Week 16
Let’s break it down. If the Rams beat the Seahawks, they’ll improve to 12-3, while Seattle would fall to 11-4.
That’s a strong position, no doubt, but not enough to mathematically clinch the division. The reason?
There are still two weeks left in the regular season, and both Seattle and San Francisco remain within striking distance.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero laid out the clinching scenarios for Week 16, and the Rams aren’t on that list-not because they’ve already sealed the deal, but because no combination of outcomes this week can officially hand them the NFC West title.
What a win in Seattle would do is drop the Rams’ magic number to one. That means just one more win by Los Angeles, or one more loss by either the Seahawks or 49ers, and the division would be theirs. But if the Rams were to stumble in Weeks 17 and 18 while Seattle or San Francisco runs the table, the West could still slip through their fingers.
Is it likely? No.
But it’s not impossible either. And in the NFL, “not impossible” is enough to keep the pressure on.
Week 16: A Critical Test in Seattle
Before any of that can happen, the Rams have to handle their business in Seattle-a place that’s never been an easy stop, no matter the records. This matchup carries all the weight of a playoff game, and it’s going to test every bit of the Rams’ resolve.
They’ll be without Devante Adams, which is a blow to the offense. But they still have Matthew Stafford playing some of his best football of the season, and Sean McVay pulling the strings on the sideline. This is a team that already proved it can beat the Seahawks-they did it convincingly earlier in the year-and they’ve got the personnel to do it again.
The Rams' offensive line has found its rhythm, the defense is flying to the ball, and there’s a quiet confidence building in that locker room. They know what’s at stake. A win doesn’t clinch the West, but it puts them one step away from locking it up and possibly securing the top seed in the NFC.
So no, Week 16 isn’t the finish line. But it might be the game that sets the tone for the final stretch. The Rams are in control of their destiny-now it’s about finishing strong.