Rams playoff chances and scenarios: How can Los Angeles make it to postseason?

The Los Angeles Rams find themselves just outside of the NFL Playoff Picture following the conclusion of Week 13. They are a game out of the NFC West divisional lead and two games back from the final Wild Card spot in the conference. They will need to finish the season strong if they want to clinch one of the postseason spots.

They play three of their final five games against divisional opponents, with two of them being played at home in SoFi Stadium. Here's where their chances of making, currently stand.

Rams playoff chances after starting 6-6

NFL Playoff Predictor

Sportskeeda's NFL Playoff Predictor doesn't believe that the Los Angeles Rams will climb their way back into the postseason. Their current record is 6-6, but the tool predicts that they will lose three of their final five games to finish with an 8-9 overall record. This prediction would have them finish two games out of a Wild Card spot and three games behind the NFC West division lead.

Considering the current outlook of the NFC Playoff Picture, they would likely need to win four of their final five games to have a strong chance of making it into the postseason.

Three of those games are against their divisional rivals, so if they can find a way to win those games, they can improve their chances.

Rams playoff scenarios after a 6-6 start

LA playoff chances

The good news for the Rams is that the NFC West division is still wide open. All four teams are within two games of each other, with the Seattle Seahawks currently on top.

The Rams are tied with the Arizona Cardinals in second place by just one game, while the San Francisco 49ers are an additional game behind them.

Given that they already have a 2-1 divisional record and one game remaining against each of them, securing an automatic playoff position may be determined by their performance in those three games. This appears to be a more plausible path to the playoffs than catching up in the Wild Card race, where they are one more win behind.

Regardless, if they win their remaining five games and achieve an 11-6 record, it would be hard to imagine them being left out of the postseason. While the playoff predictor doesn't see this as the likely outcome, they still control their own destiny, especially with how the divisional standings currently sit.