INGLEWOOD, Calif. — If the Seattle Seahawks had secured yet another victory or the Los Angeles Rams had dropped yet another shut recreation down the stretch, the NFC West rivals’ assembly on Sunday might have been a one-game showdown for the division title and a playoff berth.
As an alternative, the Seahawks (9-7) are taking part in out the string of their first back-to-back non-playoff seasons in 15 years, whereas the first concern for the Rams (10-6) is staying wholesome for the postseason.
Matthew Stafford gained’t be in uniform and plenty of further starters in all probability gained’t play a lot for division champion Los Angeles in what’s merely a tuneup for its wild-card spherical residence recreation subsequent week. The Rams have gained 5 straight video games, and they’re headed to the playoffs for the sixth time in eight seasons underneath coach Sean McVay, who clinched his fourth NFC West title final week via the strength-of-schedule tiebreaker with Seattle.
Meaning veteran quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo might be working the present in his first look for the Rams.
“I’m always trying to make decisions that I think are best for our football team,” McVay mentioned. “It might not be best for everybody else, but if you said risk-reward, I think it’s a great opportunity for Jimmy to be able to play. I think it’s also an awesome opportunity for Matthew to be able to get rested, rejuvenated and ready to roll for the playoffs.”
The Rams have gained three straight and 11 of their final 15 over Seattle, which fell out of the playoff race when Washington’s victory over Atlanta final Sunday clinched the division for the Rams.
Though their group’s controversial determination to fireside perennial winner Pete Carroll didn’t instantly ship them again into Tremendous Bowl rivalry, the present Seahawks made it clear they aren’t planning to take their foot off the gasoline.
“The focus is on really closing the year out the right way and starting (2025) the right way, too,” coach Mike Macdonald mentioned. “So it’s not what we wanted to be at stake, but it is what it is, and we’re gonna make the most of it.”
Nonetheless motivated
The Seahawks echoed Macdonald’s sentiments that though the season didn’t finish the way in which they needed, there’s nonetheless a lot on the road in Week 18. After ending 9-8 in every of the previous two seasons, the Seahawks might attain the 10-win mark for the primary time since 2020, and there are a number of particular person statistical milestones inside attain, together with some huge paydays for quarterback Geno Smith.
“You want your guys to hit those numbers,” Macdonald mentioned. “If it’s within your power, you’re going to try to make that come to life and create as many opportunities for those guys as possible, all within the lens of what’s best for the team and trying to win.”
A report inside attain
Seattle receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba is simply 5 catches away from breaking Tyler Lockett’s single-season receptions franchise report, a truth he says he discovered two weeks in the past when the Seahawks veteran approached him and informed him within the locker room.
“He was like, ‘I think you’re going to break my record. I hope you break my record,’ ” Smith-Njigba mentioned. “I was like ‘Oh, really?’ A special, special moment.”
Smith-Njigba additionally has an out of doors shot on the 183 yards he would want to interrupt DK Metcalf’s single-season staff report for yards receiving.
Lockett’s report may very well be damaged in what is likely to be his last recreation with Seattle. After restructuring his contract final 12 months to decrease his 2024 cap hit, Lockett’s cap quantity subsequent season is $30.8 million, making him a logical candidate for departure.
Resting Rams
Stafford gained’t be in uniform, with Stetson Bennett serving as Garoppolo’s backup. Proper deal with Rob Havenstein may even sit out to relaxation his shoulder damage, and he gained’t be alone.
If McVay’s historical past in these video games is any information, the Rams will play their roster from the underside up, with the perfect gamers taking as few snaps as potential, if any.
McVay additionally may give himself a relaxation: Offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur referred to as the performs in Week 18 final 12 months when backup Carson Wentz beat San Francisco whereas taking part in instead of a resting Stafford.
“That might be the approach that we’ll take this week,” McVay mentioned.