Can the Rams still get the No. 1 seed? Where L.A. stands in the NFC playoff picture

In a Monday Night Football clash against the Falcons today, the Rams go to Atlanta in the knowledge that their chances of clinching the NFC West title, and with it the NFC’s No. 1 seed, are at an end.

On Sunday, Los Angeles was officially eliminated from contention for the NFC West championship, thanks to Week 17 victories for division rivals the Seattle Seahawks and the San Francisco 49ers.

In Week 18 next Saturday, the Seahawks and the 49ers will meet at Levi’s Stadium in a head-to-head showdown for both the division title and the top seed, which is now certain to go to the winner of the NFC West.

From No. 1 to out of the race - in a matter of days

Before their Week 16 clash with the Seahawks 10 days ago, the Rams were actually the team in possession of the No. 1 seed. However, a 38-37 overtime defeat in Seattle - which came after Los Angeles relinquished a 16-point fourth-quarter lead - knocked Sean McVay’s men off the summit in both division and conference.

And before they even had the chance to return to action, the Rams’ hopes of reclaiming NFC supremacy were put to bed.

What’s the highest seed the Rams can claim?

Los Angeles, which clinched its playoff spot back in Week 15, can now finish the regular season no higher than the No. 5 seed. Even if it wins its final two games, it will either end up with a worse win-loss percentage than the Seahawks, or will lose out to the 49ers on tiebreakers.

The Rams head into today’s Falcons clash as the conference’s No. 6 seed. As noted by Rams Wire’s Cameron DaSilva, Los Angeles will claim the No. 5 seed by winning out in Weeks 17 and 18, setting up a Wild Card clash at home to either the Carolina Panthers or the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

But “if they lose one of their next two, they will fall to No. 6 in the conference and likely have to travel to Philadelphia in the opening round of the playoffs,” Silva warns. Aside from the reigning Super Bowl champions, the Chicago Bears are also possible Wild Card opposition for the NFC’s No. 6 seed.

NFC playoff picture 2025 - as it stands:

Clinched playoffs:

• 1. Seahawks: 13-3
• 2. Bears: 11-5 (clinched NFC North)
• 3. Eagles: 11-5 (clinched NFC East)
• 5. 49ers: 12-4
• 6. Rams: 11-4
• 7. Packers: 9-6-1

Yet to clinch playoffs:

• 4. Panthers: 8-8
• 11. Buccaneers: 7-9

Eliminated from playoffs:

• 8. Vikings: 8-8
• 9. Lions: 8-8
• 10. Cowboys: 7-8-1
• 12. Falcons: 6-9
• 13. Saints: 6-10
• 14. Commanders: 4-12
• 15. Cardinals: 3-13
• 16. Giants: 3-13

Rams vs Falcons: time, how to watch

In Week 17 of the 2025 NFL regular season, the Los Angeles Rams visit the Atlanta Falcons today, Monday Dec. 29, with kickoff at Mercedes-Benz Stadium scheduled for 8:15 p.m. ET/5:15 p.m. PT.

In the United States, the Los Angeles vs Atlanta game will air nationally on ESPN. Your streaming options include the online platform fubo, which offers new users a free trial.

You’ll also be able to follow live-text coverage of the Rams vs the Falcons right here at AS USA. Dane Arlauckas will be providing play-by-play commentary of the action in Georgia.

Who do the Rams face in Week 18?

After taking on the Falcons, the Rams close out their regular season with a home game against fellow NFC West team the Arizona Cardinals. The Week 18 matchup at SoFi Stadium takes place on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, at 4:25 p.m. ET/1:25 p.m. PT.

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