The Los Angeles Rams’ Week 16 overtime loss to the Seattle Seahawks proved decisive. After wins by both the Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, the Rams enter Monday Night Football officially eliminated from NFC West and top-seed contention.
Rams’ Week 17 Outlook: Will Starters Play?
Los Angeles had been in control of the division race before falling to Seattle, dropping to 11-4. While they were initially tied with San Francisco, the Seahawks’ surge to 13-3 and the 49ers’ move to 12-4 closed the door on any path to the division title. Even if the Rams win out and reach 13-4 to tie the 49ers in case San Francisco wins next week, tiebreakers are not in their favor.
That said, the Rams still have plenty to play for.
They travel to Atlanta in Week 17 and are expected to play their starters, as playoff seeding remains in play. If Los Angeles wins its final two games, it will lock in the NFC’s No. 5 seed regardless of the outcome between Seattle and San Francisco, and will face the winner of the NFC South.
A single loss, however, would likely drop them to No. 6 and set up a difficult road matchup in Philadelphia on Wild Card Weekend.
There are additional incentives as well. The Rams own Atlanta’s 2026 first-round pick, giving them reason to push for a win and secure a higher selection. Quarterback Matthew Stafford is also enjoying one of the best seasons of his career and remains on the fringe of the MVP conversation.
MORE: 7-Round 2026 NFL Mock Draft: Dante Moore Spells Geno Smith, Carnell Tate Blesses Big Apple
At 37, Stafford has completed 65.7% of his passes for 4,179 yards and an NFL-leading 40 touchdowns, ranking sixth in PFSN’s QB Impact metric. He’ll face an Atlanta defense ranked 18th in PFSN’s Defensive Impact metric, giving him a prime opportunity to bolster his résumé further.
That said, it’s also worth noting that head coach Sean McVay has historically rested starters in Week 18 regardless of seeding scenarios. While the Rams are expected to play their starters against the Falcons, it remains to be seen how McVay will approach next week’s matchup against the Cardinals.
The Falcons’ season has been defined by narrow losses and untimely injuries. Atlanta dropped several games by a touchdown or less. The turning point came in Week 11, when rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. suffered a knee injury in an overtime loss to the Carolina Panthers. The injury was later revealed to be a torn ACL, ending his season.
Veteran Kirk Cousins has handled starting duties since then and has delivered a few bright moments, including a Week 15 comeback win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he led a game-winning drive in a 29-28 victory. Still, consistency has remained elusive for Atlanta on both sides of the ball.
Even with their division hopes extinguished, the Rams have every reason to push forward. Playoff seeding remains at stake, a higher draft pick via Atlanta is in play, and maintaining momentum heading into January is critical.
