The Los Angeles Rams are 9-2, the 10th time in franchise history that the team has won at least 9 games through their first 11 contests of a season. The last three times that happened, the Rams reached the Super Bowl.
–The Rams started 10-1 in 2018 and reached the Super Bowl.
–The Rams started 9-2 in 2001 and reached the Super Bowl.
–The Rams also started 9-2 in 1999 and won the Super Bowl.
The Rams are 9-2 and they have an incredibly flattering 40% chance to reach the Super Bowl, according to FTN Fantasy.
If the Rams merely beat the teams left on their schedule who currently have a losing record (Panthers, Falcons, and Cardinals twice), they will finish with at least 13 wins. Any other team in the NFC would need to win at least 5 of the last 6 games to reach 13 wins, including the 49ers, who only have 5 games remaining because they haven’t had a bye yet.
But that’s just to tie the Rams, should L.A. win 4 of the last 6.
The Rams would have at least 4 wins in the NFC West and at least 8 wins in the NFC if they beat those teams. This would practically necessitate a team like the Eagles, Bears, Seahawks to win out.
If the Rams can beat the losing teams left on their schedule and add one more win against either the Lions or Seahawks, it would all but guarantee the number one seed in the NFC and a bye week. Teams with the bye week reach the Super Bowl more often than not, especially in an era where there is only one bye week team per conference.
The last time the Rams started at least 9-2 and didn’t reach the Super Bowl was 1978. That season, the Rams finished 12-4 and crushed the Vikings 34-10 in the divisional round, but lost to the Cowboys 28-0 in the NFC Championship. The Rams also started 9-2 in 1975 and finished the year 12-2, but also lost to the Cowboys that year in the NFC Championship, 37-7.
The Rams also started 9-2 in 1973 and also lost to the Cowboys in the playoffs.
The Rams best start of all-time was when they won their first 11 games in 1969. But L.A. lost their last three games of the season and only game of the playoffs, a disappointing finish for MVP Roman Gabriel.
Incredibly, the Rams started 10-1-1 in 1968 and didn’t even make the playoffs.
That won’t happen in 2025. They also probably won’t see the Cowboys.
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