NFL Overreactions Week 17
USAT’s Prince Grimes breaks down the best games of NFL Week 17 and the unfolding playoff picture.
Sports Seriously
The Los Angeles Rams have been to the mountaintop. They want to get back.
Luckily for them, they are in a good spot to make a run. The roster is loaded with talent that includes Matthew Stafford, Puka Nacua and Davante Adams. Sean McVay is one of the best coaches in the sport and easily one of the top offensive minds. The Rams have plenty to be excited about heading into the postseason this year, even though an ill-time loss to the Seattle Seahawks ended their hopes of a division crown.
The Rams won’t be the NFC West champions in 2025, but make no mistake – this is arguably the best team in the sport right now.
LA can slot in as the No. 5 or 6 seed when the dust settles, setting up some uncertainty regarding their first-round opponents heading into Week 18.
Here’s a look at who could be on Los Angeles’ schedule to open the playoffs.
Who will the Rams play in playoffs?
The Rams will slot in as a wild-card team in the postseason. Here is who they could match up against:
Rams playoff scenarios
Here are the scenarios that would lead to each first-round matchup:
Chicago BearsRams loss (at ATL or at AZ), Eagles win (vs. WSH) and Bears loss (vs. DET)Philadelphia EaglesRams loss (at ATL or at AZ), Eagles loss (vs. WSH) OR Bears win (vs. DET)AFC South champion (Tampa Bay Buccaneers or Carolina Panthers)Rams win (at ATL and at AZ)NFL playoff schedule
The NFL playoffs kick off on Jan. 11 with the league’s Super Wild Card Weekend before concluding on Feb. 9 with Super Bowl 59 in New Orleans.
Wild card weekend
All times Eastern
Saturday, Jan. 10
AFC/NFC wild card game: 4:30 p.m.AFC/NFC wild card game: 8 p.m.
Sunday, Jan. 11
AFC/NFC wild card game: 1 p.m.AFC/NFC wild card game: 4:30 p.m.AFC/NFC wild card game: 8:15 p.m.
Monday, Jan. 12
AFC/NFC wild card game: 8:15 p.m.Divisional round
Saturday, Jan. 17
AFC/NFC divisional game: 4:30 p.m.AFC/NFC division game: 8:15 p.m.
Sunday, Jan. 18
AFC/NFC divisional game: 3 p.m.AFC/NFC divisional game: 6:30 p.m.NFL conference championship round
Sunday, Jan. 25
AFC championship game: 3 p.m.NFC championship game: 6:30 p.m.Super Bowl 60Date: Feb. 8, 2026Location: Levi’s Stadium (Santa Clara, California)Time: 6:30 p.m.TV: NBCNFL playoff picture Week 17AFCDenver Broncos (13-3, AFC West winners)*New England Patriots (13-3, AFC East winners)*Jacksonville Jaguars (12-4, AFC South leaders)*Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7, AFC North leaders)Houston Texans (11-5, wild card No. 1)*Los Angeles Chargers (11-5, wild card No. 2)*Buffalo Bills (11-5, wild card No. 3)*
In the hunt: Baltimore Ravens (8-8)
NFCSeattle Seahawks (13-3, NFC West leaders)*Chicago Bears (11-5, NFC North winners)*Philadelphia Eagles (11-5, NFC East winners)*Carolina Panthers (8-8, NFC South leaders)San Francisco 49ers (12-4, wild card No. 1)*Los Angeles Rams (11-4, wild card No. 2)*Green Bay Packers (9-6-1, wild card No. 3)*
In the hunt: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9)
An asterisk (*) denotes teams that have clinched a playoff spot. Teams that have clinched division titles are noted accordingly.