After selling out to win a Super Bowl in 2021, many assumed the Rams would enter a period of rebuilding. They’ve done anything but rebuild, making the playoffs in 2023 and putting themselves in the heat of the playoff hunt this season.

Simply making the playoffs isn’t the only accomplishment the Rams want to add to their resume this season. They entered Week 17 atop the NFC West with two games left.

Los Angeles improved its prospects with a 13-9 victory over a division opponent, the Arizona Cardinals, improving to 10-6 on the season.

Let’s take a look at the Rams’ path to the playoffs following their Week 17 win over the Cardinals.

MORE: Updated NFL playoff image for Week 17

Rams playoff picture

After starting the season with a 1-4 record, the Rams’ playoff hopes looked bleak. There were even reports that the Rams were shopping close to Cooper Kupp, a sign that they were giving up on the season and looking to the future.

The turnaround in the last two months has been almost miraculous. Matthew Stafford & Co. have picked up nine wins in their last eleven games, highlighted by victories over the Vikings, Bills and 49ers. With the win over the Cardinals, the Rams now have a one-game lead over the Seahawks in the NFC West.

The Rams could win the NFC West this week. The cleanest path would have been a Los Angeles win and a loss in Seattle or a draw for the Rams and a loss for the Seahawks (in Chicago), but that didn’t happen. The Seahawks defeated the Bears on “Thursday Night Football” to keep their postseason hopes alive.

However, Los Angeles defeated Arizona, meaning there is a chance the team will win the NFC West in Week 17. But the Rams need help. They can clinch the division if three of these teams get wins in Week 17 – Commanders, Bills, 49ers, Vikings and Browns.

This is due to the potential strength of the scheduling tiebreaker between the Rams and Seahawks that would occur if the two finish with the same record. In this case, it would favor Los Angeles, allowing the team to win the NFC West in Week 17.

The battle for the NFC West title has been a roller coaster ride this season. If Los Angeles manages to take home the division, they will secure at least a top-four spot in the playoffs and home-field advantage for the Wild Card round.

MORE NFL WEEK 17:

Ram’s remaining 2024 schedule

The Rams’ schedule in the final week of the regular season could lead to some drama in Week 18.

Depending on how the tiebreaker scenarios play out in Week 17, the division title could still be on the line when the Rams play Seattle in Week 18.

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The Rams’ updated playoff chances

Entering Week 17, ESPN’s Power Index put Los Angeles’ chances of making the playoffs at 80.6%. To miss the postseason, they will have to make serious mistakes in the home stretch.