NFC playoff bracket: Rams projected to face rookie sensation in Round 1

NFC West champs are projected to face the Commanders in the Wild Card Round

Jayden Daniels gave the Los Angeles Rams a late Christmas present in the form of an NFC West title on Sunday Night Football.

The Commanders’ win over the Falcons means LA will maintain their hold on the conference’s three-seed with one game remaining. Los Angeles is projected to host that same Washington team if the season ended today. This is what the rest of the NFC playoff bracket looks like ahead of Monday night’s clash between the Lions and 49ers:

Wild Card Round

Bye – Vikings (1)

Packers (7) at Eagles (2)

Commanders (6) at Rams (3)

Lions (5) at Buccaneers (4)

Nearly all the teams in the NFC bracket have clinched a playoff spot besides the Bucs who must defeat the Saints to secure the South. Minnesota momentarily took control of the North after their 27-25 win over the Packers. Next week’s matchup between the Vikings and Lions is for the division and the top seed so a significant game for seeding purposes.

The Rams are likely locked into the three-seed which no longer makes Week 18 against the Seahawks a must-win game. LA can rest most of their starters with a third straight home game in their sights. Sean McVay’s squad will need all the rest they can muster if they draw Washington in the first round.

As good as the Rams have been on defense throughout much of the season, the unit has struggled to contain mobile quarterbacks. Jayden Daniels rushed for 127 yards on Sunday versus the Falcons which could spell trouble for LA. Hopefully, it won’t be a repeat of what Josh Allen did on the ground a few weeks back.

Regardless of who the Rams draw in the Wild Card Round, this team is back in the postseason, which is cause for celebration considering how the year started. Time to dance all over the 49ers’ grave because the Wicked Witch of the West is finally dead (for now).

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