In lockstep with the five or six seed, the Rams will finish second or third in the NFC West. That impacts three games on the 2026 schedule – what we call “like-place finisher” games.

Based on this weekend’s outcomes, LA will host Miami or Buffalo out of the AFC East. A home date against Detroit, Minnesota, or Green Bay is also on the table. And once the dust settles, we’ll know if the Rams will travel to Atlanta, Tampa Bay, or Carolina to round out the 2026 slate.

In terms of special teams EPA, the Rams performance in Atlanta (6.18) doubled their prior season-high (3.09 in London).

The Rams have the top scoring offense (30.1 points per game) in the NFL. The last time they finished as scoring champions was 2017 (Sean McVay‘s debut season). Going into Week 18, LA has an 11-point lead on the Seahawks and they’re 19 clear of the Lions.

Also from NFL Research, this is the ninth season in franchise history in which the Rams have averaged at least 30 points per game, the most such seasons in league history. Furthermore, no other franchise has even seven seasons.

Stafford is coming off an error-prone loss, but still managed his 14th outing this season with multiple touchdown passes. With two more on Sunday, he can tie Hall of Famers Dan Marino (1984 MVP) and Peyton Manning (2013 MVP) for most such games in a season.

“I’m just trying to put as good of a season together as I possibly can,” Stafford said this week when asked about his MVP candidacy. “Our last opportunity to do that is coming up this weekend, and I’m excited about that chance. I would love to play perfect in every game, but I’m not a robot and it happens.”

The list of players with seasons of 40-plus touchdowns and eight-or-fewer interceptions is a short one: Lamar Jackson (2024), Aaron Rodgers (2011, 2016, 2020) and Tom Brady (2007).

Cardinals tight end Trey McBride is tied with Puka Nacua for the NFL lead with 119 receptions. He’s already the first TE in NFL history with multiple seasons of at least 110 receptions, and is trying to become the first player at his position to lead the NFL in receptions. The last was HOF Tony Gonzalez in 2004 (102). In Week 14, McBride opened the game with back-to-back catches of 27 and 18 yards to set up an Arizona touchdown, but finished with only three grabs for 13 yards the rest of the day.

The Rams rookie tight end isn’t that prolific, but he’s definitely on the ascent. Plus, LA might get Tyler Higbee back Sunday after he returned to practice this week.