By no means have the Los Angeles Rams accomplished what they set out to do this season, but they did check a big box on Sunday when they beat the Detroit Lions. With their 41-34 win, they clinched a playoff berth, locking themselves into the 14-team field.
They can still win the NFC West and secure a first-round bye if they continue to win, but at the very least, they’ll be one of the seven teams in the NFC playing in the postseason come January. They’re the first team in the conference to clinch a playoff berth; the Denver Broncos also clinched with their win on Sunday.
It’s the third straight year the Rams have made the playoffs, doing so as a wild-card team in 2023 and then as the division champions last season. They hope to hold onto their lead in the West this season so that they can host a playoff game rather than going on the road in the postseason.
The Rams can’t clinch the NFC West next week no matter what happens but if they beat the Seahawks, they’ll have a one-game lead with two games remaining.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Rams clinched a playoff berth with win vs. Lions
Reporting by Cameron DaSilva, Rams Wire / Rams Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
