The worst case scenario for the Los Angeles Rams in Week 5 actually happened. The San Francisco 49ers improved to 5-0, including a win against the Rams, and L.A. fell to 2-3 after their Monday night loss to the Buffalo Bills.
The Rams have 19% odds to win the NFC West now, according to Kalshi. That’s surprisingly high given how perfect L.A. needs to be for the rest of the season to have any hope of catching the 49ers. If San Francisco even goes 8-4 the rest of the season, the Rams would need to go 12-0
to beat them straight up, or 11-1 with a win over the 49ers. That’s assuming the Seahawks don’t have a better record than them also.
In the NFC West, the Rams are in third place. In the NFC, they are in ninth place.
In Sean McVay’s history as Rams coach, the team has won the division four times:
- 2017: Lost WC
- 2018: Lost SB
- 2021: Won SB
- 2024: Lost DIV
In 2024, the Rams won the division but had to go on the road to face the Eagles in round two, where they were eliminated in freezing temps. How differently could that game have gone if L.A. wasn’t 10-7 and had homefield advantage?
The Rams have been a wild card three times under McVay:
- 2020: Won WC, lost on road in round 2
- 2023: Lost WC
- 2025: Reached NFC Championship, lost on the road
Yes, there is time for the Rams to rebound to make the playoffs, but McVay’s teams have not been good on the road in the playoffs. Nor are most teams.
The decision to rest everybody in the preseason? It’s a problem. The lack of investment in special teams? It’s a problem. Overlooking the draft every year? It’s a problem.
I wrote about this last month as a concern and these are all problems that consistently lead the Rams to losing at least two games every year to start the season. That may as well be the same as losing a playoff game.
You set yourself up for January with how you play in September and October. Once again, the Rams didn’t set themselves up for anything but disappointment.
