Few expected the Los Angeles Rams to make the playoffs this season, but lo and behold, they have already clinched a berth with a week to go.
Knowing that they are in no matter what, the Rams are opting to rest some of their stars, including quarterback Matthew Stafford, receiver Cooper Kupp and defensive lineman Aaron Donald, in Sunday’s regular-season finale against the San Francisco 49ers.
Unlike their opponent, who has already clinched the NFC’s top seed, the Rams do still have something to play for. L.A. currently holds the No. 6 seed, and will lock down that spot with a win over San Francisco.
However, a loss and a Green Bay Packers win would knock the Rams down to the No. 7 seed.
“I think when you look at the projections, I think they are excellent teams regardless,” told reporters.
“There are a couple layers to it and when you look at it, what we’ve just felt like was this approach is the best one for our team.
You want to see guys go compete and do well, but that was what we felt like and no matter whether I know what could occur.
everything occurs, and you think you know and you just don’t, right?
Taking all that into consideration didn’t really feel like the other side of it to try to do something to maintain the sixth or know you could be the seventh was best for our team.”
Of the three possible opponents the Rams can draw, the Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles and Detroit Lions, none will provide an easy matchup.
They already lost to the Cowboys and Eagles earlier in the season, and while they haven’t yet played the Lions, it would be an emotional game with L.A.’s Matthew Stafford and Detroit’s Jared Goff facing their former teams.
