Rams piggy-backed NFL teams fighting for their own postseason lives
It all seems pretty confusing, right? Well, the Seattle Seahawks won, extending their chances of postseason competition. But when the Rams won, eliminating the Seahawks became possible once more because the best that they can do now is defeat the Rams in Week 18. In that event, the matter would come down to SOV. And as NFL Insider Adam Schefter explains, that placed six unrelated games into the picture for the Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks playoff chances:
The Rams' miraculous playoff push after being left for dead early in the season in 2023 now has a rival, as the team's miraculous playoff push in 2024 has an even greater feel of coaching impacting a very young group of professional athletes. Yet, even after an incredible win in Week 17 to improve the team to a 10-6 record that will do no worse than tie last year's performance, the fate of the Rams needed the intervention of other NFL teams, themselves fighting for postseason positions.
The watch was on. Never before in the history of the NFL have I followed so many games so closely as Week 17 of the 2024 NFL season. In the end, it was well worth it.
- Cincinnati Bengals - WIN Bengals defeated the Broncos 30-24
- Washington Commanders - WIN Commanders 30 Falcons 24
- Buffalo Bills - hosting the NY Jets - WIN Bills 40 Jets 14
- San Francisco 49ers - MNF vs Detroit Lions
- Minnesota Vikings - WIN Vikings 27 Packers 25
- Cleveland Browns - LOSS Dolphins 20 Browns 3
As it turns out, the Rams SOV advantage over the Seahawks before the San Francisco 49ers ever hosted the Detroit Lions on Monday Night Football. As such, the team knows that the outcome of Week 18 will not adversely affect their opportunity to host a game in the 2025 NFL Playoffs. And that raises the very intriguing question. Who will play for the Rams in Week 18 with a playoff spot already sewn up?
A very intriguing question indeed.
Rams will likely start Jimmy G and activate Stetson Bennett
And so, here we are, the LA Rams about to play their final game of the season with little to gain and nothing to lose. When the Rams faced a similar situation in 2023, the team played their junior varsity players. The lone exception to that was the fact that the Rams did start rookie Puka Nacua and allowed him to play until he broke the NFLs All-Time Rookie Receiver record for receptions and receiving yards.
Once he broke those records, he was benched. The Rams started backup quarterback Carson Wentz, who led the Rams JVs to a shocking win over the San Francisco 49ers starters by a score of 21-20. The starts of the game were RB Ronnie Rivers (13 rushes for 52 yards), TEs Brycen Hopkins and Davis Allen, and WR Ben Skowronek. Neither Wentz, Hopkins nor Skowronek are on the team this season.
So who will start?
This could all work in the Rams favor. Over the course of the season, the Rams have accumulated quite a bit of talent that, for one reason or another, simply has not cracked the team's starting lineup. And even rotational roles have been tough to come by. The point being that this Rams roster has a number of diamonds in the rough who we have not seen in 2024, or have seen in very limited roles.
The greatest decision will be: Who will lead this band of seldom-starting players in Week 18? My money is on veteran quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. His contract runs out at the end of 2024, and I'm certain that the Rams front office would love to see him in action for the Rams before that happens. In fact, the Rams have a golden opportunity to open the floodgates and allow many players who are on expiring contracts with limited playing time to step onto the football field in Week 18.
Who on the Rams roster likely plays in Week 18?
The Rams offense in Week 18 will almost certainly be led by veteran backup QB Jimmy Garoppolo, and he will have young Stetson Bennett as his backup. The Rams could feature RB Ronnie Rivers, and use newcomer Cody Schrader as his rotational relief. For wide receivers, this should mean many more targets to veteran Tutu Atwell, Tyler Johnson, rookie Jordan Whittington, and perhaps even Xavier Smith. And the Rams backup tight ends Hunter Long and Davis Allen have already had a ton of work this season.
Since they are on expiring contracts, look for WR Tutu Atwell, TE Hunter Long, and RB Ronnie Rivers to see the lion's share of offensive snaps.
So who starts on the offensive line? The Rams could go with Joe Noteboom, Justin Dedich, Jonah Jackson, Dylan McMahon, and Warren McClendon Jr.
On defense, the Rams could go with Neville Gallimore, flanked by Tyler Davis and Desjuan Johnson. Behind them, the team could send out OLB Nick Hampton and Brennon Jackson, with Elias Neal and Jake Hummel in the middle. Rams fans may finally get to see Emmanuel Forbes with Josh Wallace. And safeties could be Jaylen McCollough and Kamren Kinchens.
As far as special teams, I'm afraid that the Rams have not Plan B punter or kicker on the roster. So it's likely that the team will see plenty of punter Ethan Evans and kicker Joshua Karty in Week 18. That's fine too, as they can use the reps to fine tune the craft even further.
Even if the Rams play backups and lose miserably in Week 18, it's a smart move. The offense has been ineffective this season, and the team has been winning in the most unexpected ways this season. Perhaps a week off for starters will help the team regroup and come out hot and prepared in the 2025 NFL Playoffs. In a worst case scenario, the coaches, front office, and fans will learn a great deal about players who have had little playing time.
As always, thanks for reading.
