The Los Angeles Rams are heading to the divisional round of the 2025 NFL playoffs despite getting a scare from the Carolina Panthers to kickstart the league’s wild-card weekend.
The Rams earned a 34-31 victory after a back-and-forth fourth quarter that saw four lead changes. Matthew Stafford rebounded from a mid-game lull – which was exacerbated by the 37-year-old quarterback hitting his throwing hand hard on D.J. Wonnum’s arm’s – to throw a game-winning 19-yard touchdown to tight end Colby Parkinson.
Stafford’s late-game heroics helped the Rams, who were double-digit favorites, avoid a second shocking loss to the Panthers and avenge a Week 13 loss at Carolina’s hands. Now, Sean McVay’s squad will get ready to play in the divisional round of the playoffs.
While the Rams are through to the divisional round, they will have to wait until the remainder of the NFC’s wild-card games wrap up to know their opponent. The NFL uses a dynamic bracket that re-seeds each round, so the No. 1 overall seed Seattle Seahawks will face the lowest-remaining seed on the NFC side of the bracket at the end of the wild-card round.
Here’s what to know about Los Angeles’ potential divisional-round opponents and the scenarios that could lead the Rams to face each team.
Who will Rams play next?
The Rams’ next opponent won’t be determined until the final two NFC wild-card games are played. However, Los Angeles is guaranteed to face one of the following teams in the divisional round after beating the Panthers:
- Seattle Seahawks
- Chicago Bears
- Philadelphia Eagles
- San Francisco 49ers
Below is a look at the scenarios that would lead the Rams to face each potential opponent.
Seattle Seahawks
- No. 2 Chicago Bears beat No. 7 Green Bay Packers AND
- No. 3 Philadelphia Eagles beat No. 6 San Francisco 49ers
Chicago Bears
- No. 2 Chicago Bears beat No. 7 Green Bay Packers AND
- No. 6 San Francisco 49ers beat No. 3 Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
- No. 7 Green Bay Packers beat No. 2 Chicago Bears AND
- No. 3 Philadelphia Eagles beat No. 6 San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
- No. 7 Green Bay Packers beat No. 2 Chicago Bears AND
- No. 6 San Francisco 49ers beat No. 3 Philadelphia Eagles
The only way the Rams can host a home game in the divisional round will be if they face the 49ers. Any other scenario would see Los Angeles hit the road despite its 12-5 regular-season record.
Updated NFL playoff bracket
AFC
- No. 1 Denver Broncos (BYE)
- No. 2 New England Patriots vs. No. 7 Los Angeles Chargers
- No. 3 Jacksonville Jaguars vs. No. 6 Buffalo Bills
- No. 4 Pittsburgh Steelers vs. No. 5 Houston Texans
NFC
- No. 1 Seattle Seahawks (BYE)
- No. 2 Chicago Bears vs. No. 7 Green Bay Packers
- No. 3 Philadelphia Eagles vs. No. 6 San Francisco 49ers
- No. 5 Los Angeles Rams (advanced to divisional round)
