| 2017 Los Angeles Rams season | |
|---|---|
| Owner | Stan Kroenke |
| General manager | Les Snead |
| Head coach | Sean McVay |
| Offensive coordinator | Matt LaFleur |
| Defensive coordinator | Wade Phillips |
| Home stadium | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum |
| Results | |
| Record | 11–5 |
| Division place | 1stNFC West |
| Playoffs | LostWild Card Playoffs (vs.Falcons) 13–26 |
| All-Pros | 7
|
| Pro Bowlers | |
The2017 season was theLos Angeles Rams' 80th in theNational Football League (NFL), their 81st overall, 51st in theGreater Los Angeles Area and their first underhead coachSean McVay. The Rams dramatically improved on their 4–12 record from theprevious season. With a win over theArizona Cardinals, the Rams ended a decade-long drought and clinched their first winning season since2003 and first playoff appearance since2004, when the club was based in St. Louis. The team played a game inLondon, England atTwickenham Stadium against the Cardinals in Week 7 as one of theNFL London Games.
For the second consecutive year, the Rams started out in first place in theNFC West with a 3–1 record. Los Angeles Rams also scored 107 points in the first three games of the season, the second highest in franchise history and a league leader. Furthermore, the team went from being dead last in total offense the previous season with an NFL-low 224 points to becoming the highest scoring team in the league in 2017 with an average of 29.9 points per game and 478 total points scored - tops in both categories. On Christmas Eve, the Rams defeated theTennessee Titans 27–23 in aSuper Bowl XXXIV rematch to clinch theNFC West for the first time since2003 and their first playoff berth since2004. This was also their first playoff appearance as the Los Angeles Rams since the1989 season and their first division title as the Los Angeles Rams since the1985 season. Their promising season came to an end as they were defeated at home by the No. 6 seed and defending NFC ChampionAtlanta Falcons, 26–13 in the Wild Card Round. Coincidentally in the Rams' last playoff game in2005, they were also beaten by the Falcons, which was the first time since2003 that the Rams went one-and-done and their first Wild Card playoff loss since2000. In the offseason, the Rams introduced a new logo, with the horns and the outline of the ram changing to white. It would be their logo for three years.
The 2017 season marked the beginning of a more successful era for the franchise. After the team missed the playoffs every year from2005 to2016, the Rams became consistent playoff contenders under McVay's leadership. Since McVay's first season in 2017, the Rams have qualified for the playoffs six times in eight seasons and appeared in two Super Bowls, winningSuper Bowl LVI.
On January 12, the Rams hiredSean McVay as the team's new head coach. Interim head coachJohn Fassel, who had replacedJeff Fisher following Fisher's firing in Week 12 of2016 and also interviewed for the head coach position, was retained as special teams coordinator along with running backs coachSkip Peete and assistant offensive line coachAndy Dickerson.
On January 19,Wade Phillips was announced as the team's newdefensive coordinator.
On February 8, the Rams hiredMatt LaFleur as the newoffensive coordinator.
The Rams underwent a moderate uniform change, removing New Century gold from their helmets and pants while leaving their jerseys unchanged. The Rams allowed their fans to decide on which pants stripes and facemask color they wanted the team to use via polls on their social media pages, with a single navy stripe on each pant leg and white facemask winning. Additionally, the Rams wore navy pants with a single white stripe for some away games.[1][2]
| 2017 Los Angeles Rams draft | |||||
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | College | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 44 | Gerald Everett | TE | South Alabama | |
| 3 | 69 | Cooper Kupp * | WR | Eastern Washington | |
| 3 | 91 | John Johnson III | S | Boston College | |
| 4 | 117 | Josh Reynolds | WR | Texas A&M | |
| 4 | 125 | Samson Ebukam | LB | Eastern Washington | |
| 6 | 189 | Tanzel Smart | DT | Tulane | |
| 6 | 206 | Sam Rogers | FB | Virginia Tech | |
| 7 | 234 | Ejuan Price | DE | Pittsburgh | |
| Made roster † Pro Football Hall of Fame * Made at least onePro Bowl during career | |||||
Notes
| Position | Player | College | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| RB | Justin Davis | USC | |
| NT | Omarious Bryant | Western Kentucky | |
| RB | Lenard Tillery | Southern University | |
| TE | Johnny Mundt | Oregon |
Front office
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
| Defensive coaches
Special teams coaches
Strength and conditioning
|
| Quarterbacks(QB) Running backs(RB) Wide receivers(WR) Tight ends(TE) | Offensive linemen(OL) | Linebackers(LB)
Defensive backs(DB)
Special teams(ST) | Reserve lists
|
The Rams' preliminary preseason schedule was announced on April 10.
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Recap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | August 12 | Dallas Cowboys | W 13–10 | 1–0 | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | Recap |
| 2 | August 19 | atOakland Raiders | W 24–21 | 2–0 | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum | Recap |
| 3 | August 26 | Los Angeles Chargers | L 19–21 | 2–1 | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | Recap |
| 4 | August 31 | atGreen Bay Packers | L 10–24 | 2–2 | Lambeau Field | Recap |
The Rams' regular season schedule was announced on April 20.
Note: Intra-division opponents are inbold text.
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colts | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 9 |
| Rams | 10 | 17 | 10 | 9 | 46 |
atLos Angeles Memorial Coliseum,Los Angeles, California
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
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The Rams started their season with a blowout win over the Colts as second-year quarterbackJared Goff got both his first victory and the first 300-yard passing game of his career, including a touchdown pass to rookie wide receiverCooper Kupp. CornerbackTrumaine Johnson was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week after returning an interception 39 yards for the Rams' first touchdown of the season, while also recording two tackles including a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. SafetyLamarcus Joyner also returned an interception for a touchdown and added four tackles. Defensive endMichael Brockers had five tackles to lead the defense, which had four sacks and forced three turnovers asSean McVay became the youngest head coach ever (31 years, 7 months, 2 weeks, 3 days) to win in his NFL debut.
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Redskins | 3 | 17 | 0 | 7 | 27 |
| Rams | 0 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 20 |
at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
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Facing his former team,Sean McVay was dealt his first career defeat as the Rams fell behind 13–0. Running backTodd Gurley had 132 yards in total offense and two scores, including the first receiving touchdown of his career on an 18-yard pass from Goff in which he hurdled Redskins cornerbackBashaud Breeland on his way to the end zone. Rookie tight endGerald Everett turned in a strong performance with three receptions for 95 yards, while linebackerAlec Ogletree had 11 tackles including a sack on defense.
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rams | 14 | 10 | 10 | 7 | 41 |
| 49ers | 7 | 6 | 7 | 19 | 39 |
atLevi's Stadium,Santa Clara, California
| Game information | ||
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In their first NFC West matchup of the season, the Rams came out ahead of a high-scoring battle with the rival 49ers onThursday Night Football. With friends and family in attendance, Jared Goff (a Bay Area native) completed 22 of 28 passes for 288 yards and three touchdowns, two to wide receiverSammy Watkins. Both Watkins and fellow wideoutRobert Woods surpassed 100 yards receiving on six receptions each. Todd Gurley caught one touchdown and ran for two more (his first three-TD effort in the NFL) to go along with his 149 yards in total offense. CornerbackNickell Robey-Coleman had an interception, a fumble recovery and five tackles to lead the Rams defense. As this was anNFL Color Rush game, the Rams went with all-yellow uniforms for the first time since their final home game in St. Louis in2015, which offset the host 49ers' all-black scheme.
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rams | 3 | 13 | 10 | 9 | 35 |
| Cowboys | 3 | 21 | 0 | 6 | 30 |
atAT&T Stadium,Arlington, Texas
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
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KickerGreg Zuerlein hit a team-record seven field goals andTodd Gurley totaled 215 offensive yards (121 rushing, 94 receiving) along with a spectacular 53-yard touchdown on a screen pass as the Rams defeated the favored Cowboys on the road. Both earned NFC Player of the Week honors for Special Teams and Offense, respectively. LinebackerMark Barron's eight tackles and an interception led the Rams defense. Because the Cowboys wore their white uniforms at home, the Rams wore their Millennium Blue uniforms with blue pants, which clashed terribly with their blue and white helmets. The Rams' uniform choice was widely derided by pro football pundits and on social media.[3]
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seahawks | 0 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 16 |
| Rams | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
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The Rams staked out a 10–0 lead in the second quarter, but were undone by two interceptions and three lost fumbles in losing to the visiting Seahawks. Wide receiverTavon Austin scored the Rams' only touchdown on a 27-yard run in the second quarter. Starting with just over a minute left in the fourth quarter,Jared Goff drove the Rams 55 yards to the Seattle 20-yard line and just missed connecting withCooper Kupp in the end zone for a potential game-winner in the final seconds. On defense, rookie strong safetyJohn Johnson got his first career interception and returned it 69 yards whileMark Barron had 15 tackles.
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rams | 17 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 27 |
| Jaguars | 14 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 17 |
atEverBank Field,Jacksonville, Florida
| Game information | ||
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The Rams got off to a fast start in Jacksonville as return manPharoh Cooper took back the opening kickoff 103 yards for a touchdown, which earned him NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors. The teams traded scores four times in the first quarter, withGreg Zuerlein converting a 56-yard field goal andGerald Everett scoring on a 4-yard shovel pass fromJared Goff. In the second quarter,Cory Littleton blocked a punt by whichMalcolm Brown picked up at the 8-yard-line for a touchdown. Zuerlein added a second field goal in the fourth quarter for the final margin.Nickell Robey-Coleman had an interception, and the Rams defense totaled five sacks of Jaguars quarterbackBlake Bortles. Los Angeles, which had worn their blue-and-yellow throwback uniforms at home vs. Seattle the previous week, petitioned the NFL to allow them to wear the throwbacks on the road in Jacksonville, but their request was denied.[4] With the host Jaguars wearing white, the Rams wore their Millennium Blue jerseys for the final time in franchise history, this time with white pants.
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cardinals | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rams | 3 | 20 | 3 | 7 | 33 |
atTwickenham Stadium,London, England
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
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The Rams turned in a dominant performance over the NFC West rivalCardinals at London'sTwickenham Stadium for their first-ever regular season victory outside the United States.Jared Goff threw for 235 yards and had a touchdown pass toCooper Kupp (four receptions, 51 yards), with one interception. Goff also scored on a 9-yard run as the Rams built a 23–0 halftime lead.Todd Gurley had his fourth 100-yard rushing game of the season with 22 carries for 106 yards and a touchdown, plus four receptions for 48 yards. The Rams defense shut down Cardinals running backAdrian Peterson (12 carries, 21 yards) for the game and allowed only 196 total yards to Arizona. Cardinals quarterbackCarson Palmer was hit hard by Rams linebackerAlec Ogletree as he threw late in the second quarter and the pass was picked off byLamarcus Joyner to set up a Todd Gurley touchdown run. Palmer suffered a broken left arm on the play and was knocked out for the year (Palmer retired following the season).Mark Barron added another interception offDrew Stanton to set up the third ofGreg Zuerlein's four field goals on the day. It was the Rams' first shutout victory since2014, and their first-ever win in theNFL International Series. It was also one of two NFL London Games of the 2017 season to end in a shutout, the other being the New Orleans Saints' 20–0 victory over the Miami Dolphins inWembley Stadium in Week 4.
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rams | 7 | 20 | 21 | 3 | 51 |
| Giants | 7 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
atMetLife Stadium,East Rutherford, New Jersey
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
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Returning to action after their bye week, the Rams put on a dominating performance against the hostGiants, who suffered their worst loss since1964.Jared Goff was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week after throwing for 311 yards and four touchdowns, two toRobert Woods and one each toTyler Higbee andSammy Watkins.Todd Gurley scored a pair of rushing touchdowns and added a 44-yard catch-and-run that set up another. The Rams defense forced three turnovers, including fumble recoveries by defensive tackleAaron Donald and linebackerConnor Barwin and an interception byTrumaine Johnson, all of which led to Rams scores. Their special teams also contributed to the win, with three field goals by Greg Zuerlein and a blocked punt byCory Littleton also setting up a touchdown by the offense.
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texans | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Rams | 3 | 6 | 21 | 3 | 33 |
at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
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Taking a 9–7 lead on three field goals byGreg Zuerlein during a quiet first half, the Rams exploded for three touchdowns during the third quarter of the Texans' first-ever visit to Los Angeles.Jared Goff passed for a career-high 355 yards and three touchdowns. Two went toRobert Woods, one of which went for 94 yards (the third-longest touchdown pass in Rams history), with the other going toSammy Watkins. Meanwhile, the Rams defense forced four Texans turnovers, two of which were strip sack recoveries fromConnor Barwin and rookie linebackerSamson Ebukam while the other two were interceptions by linebackerMark Barron and strong safetyBlake Countess. Zuerlein closed out the Rams' fourth-straight win with his fourth field goal. The 7–2 start was the best for the Rams since2001. They now have at least one home victory against all 31 other franchises.
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rams | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Vikings | 0 | 7 | 0 | 17 | 24 |
atU.S. Bank Stadium,Minneapolis, Minnesota
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
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The Rams took the opening kickoff and drove 75 yards in nine plays, capping the drive with a 6-yard touchdown run byTodd Gurley. After the Vikings tied the game in the second quarter on aLatavius Murray touchdown run, Los Angeles came close to regaining the lead whenJared Goff connected withCooper Kupp near the goal line. But Vikings safetyAnthony Harris stripped the ball from Kupp and recovered it, and the Rams never threatened to score again. Vikings quarterbackCase Keenum bedeviled his former Ram teammates, passing for 280 yards and a touchdown as Minnesota scored 17 unanswered points in the fourth quarter.Alec Ogletree had 12 tackles in what would be the only loss on the road for the Rams during the regular season.
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saints | 7 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 20 |
| Rams | 10 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 26 |
at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
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Jared Goff passed for 354 yards and touchdowns to wide receiversSammy Watkins and rookieJosh Reynolds as the Rams grabbed an early lead and kept it throughout in holding off the eventual NFC South Division champions.Cooper Kupp had a season-high eight receptions for 116 yards, andGreg Zuerlein added four field goals. On defense, bothAaron Donald and defensive endRobert Quinn had five tackles and a sack for the game. With the win over the New Orleans Saints, the Rams improved to 8–3, their first non-losing season since2006.
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rams | 16 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 32 |
| Cardinals | 0 | 13 | 0 | 3 | 16 |
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
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The Rams jumped out to a 16-0 first quarter lead and never looked back against the host Cardinals. Tight endGerald Everett and wide receiverSammy Watkins both scored on touchdown passes fromJared Goff, and kickerGreg Zuerlein converted four field goals. The defense combined for a season-high seven sacks of Cardinals quarterbackBlaine Gabbert, withAaron Donald,Robert Quinn andEthan Westbrooks totaling two sacks each. CornerbackTrumaine Johnson had a team-high seven tackles andAlec Ogletree picked off a Gabbert pass and returned it 41 yards for a touchdown. With the win over Arizona, the Rams improved to 9-3 and achieved their first winning season since2003.
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eagles | 14 | 10 | 7 | 12 | 43 |
| Rams | 7 | 7 | 14 | 7 | 35 |
at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
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The showdown between two of the NFC's top teams did not disappoint, as the first two picks in the2016 NFL draft faced off for the first time in a high-scoring game that featured four lead changes. Eagles quarterbackCarson Wentz threw three touchdown passes in the second quarter as Philadelphia came back to stake out a 24–14 halftime lead. The Rams rallied in the third period asJared Goff foundSammy Watkins for his second touchdown pass of the game andBlake Countess recovered a blocked punt for a score that put the Rams on top 28–24.Wentz drove the Eagles to the goal line and suffered what would be a season-ending torn ACL injury, but Wentz did not leave the field before throwing his fourth TD pass of the game toAlshon Jeffery to give Philadelphia a 31–28 lead. Early in the fourth quarter,Todd Gurley (13 carries, 96 yards) scored his second touchdown of the game to give the Rams a 35–31 advantage. But former Rams QBNick Foles stepped in for the injured Wentz and engineered two scoring drives that ended in field goals for the Eagles, who took a 37–35 lead. With just seven seconds remaining, the Rams' last-ditch play went disastrously, asTavon Austin fumbled a lateral fromPharoh Cooper which Eagles defensive endBrandon Graham ran in for a touchdown as time expired. With the loss, the Rams fell to 9–4 while the Eagles clinched the NFC East for the first time since 2013.
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rams | 13 | 21 | 6 | 2 | 42 |
| Seahawks | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
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The Rams thoroughly dominated the Seahawks, rolling to a 40-point lead by the third quarter in their biggest-ever win in Seattle. Running backTodd Gurley ran 21 times for 152 yards and three touchdowns, while also catching three passes for 28 yards and another score and was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week. The Rams defense menaced Seahawks quarterbackRussell Wilson all day long with seven sacks, three coming fromAaron Donald and two more credited toRobert Quinn. KickerGreg Zuerlein kicked two field goals and four PATs to add to his league-leading total of 158 points, but aggravated a back injury so severely that he was placed on injured reserve soon after the game. The Rams improved to 10–4 as head coachSean McVay became the youngest coach to win 10 regular season games since 1937.
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rams | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 27 |
| Titans | 3 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 23 |
atNissan Stadium,Nashville, Tennessee
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
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In thisSuper Bowl XXXIV rematch, the Rams clinched their firstNFC Western Division title since2003 in a wild shootout with theTitans in Nashville. Running backTodd Gurley repeated as NFC Offensive Player of the Week after finishing with 22 carries for 118 yards and 10 catches for 158 yards and 2 TDs, including an 80-yard catch-and-run in the second quarter. Trailing by three in the fourth quarter,Jared Goff engineered the first comeback win of his professional career, completing 22 of 38 passes for 301 yards and four touchdowns, the last going toCooper Kupp on a 14-yard scoring strike with 11:51 remaining. The Rams defense held the Titans scoreless on their final three drives to seal the victory. The victory also guaranteed the Rams their first playoff berth since2004.
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 49ers | 10 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 34 |
| Rams | 3 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 13 |
at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
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With no chance to improve his team's standing, Rams head coachSean McVay opted to rest most of his starting lineup for the season finale. The 49ers got their fifth straight win to close the season asJimmy Garoppolo passed for 292 yards and two touchdowns whileCarlos Hyde ran for two more scores for San Francisco. Rams replacement kickerSam Ficken kicked a pair of field goals in the first half and backup running backLance Dunbar scored on an 8-yard run in the fourth quarter.Sean Mannion made his first pro start for the Rams at quarterback, going 20-of-34 for 169 yards. On defense, cornerbackKevin Peterson led the Rams in tackles (eight), pass deflections (five), and interceptions (two) as the Rams finished with an 11–5 record. The Rams wore their classic blue-and-yellow throwback uniforms for the second time in the season.
| NFC West | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK | |
| (3)Los Angeles Rams | 11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | 4–2 | 7–5 | 478 | 329 | L1 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 4–2 | 7–5 | 366 | 332 | L1 |
| Arizona Cardinals | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 3–3 | 5–7 | 295 | 361 | W2 |
| San Francisco 49ers | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | 1–5 | 3–9 | 331 | 383 | W5 |
| # | Team | Division | W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | SOS | SOV | STK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division leaders | |||||||||||
| 1[a] | Philadelphia Eagles | East | 13 | 3 | 0 | .813 | 5–1 | 10–2 | .461 | .433 | L1 |
| 2[a] | Minnesota Vikings | North | 13 | 3 | 0 | .813 | 5–1 | 10–2 | .492 | .447 | W3 |
| 3[b] | Los Angeles Rams | West | 11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | 4–2 | 7–5 | .504 | .460 | L1 |
| 4[b][c] | New Orleans Saints | South | 11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | 4–2 | 8–4 | .535 | .483 | L1 |
| Wild Cards | |||||||||||
| 5[c] | Carolina Panthers | South | 11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | 3–3 | 7–5 | .539 | .500 | L1 |
| 6 | Atlanta Falcons | South | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | 4–2 | 9–3 | .543 | .475 | W1 |
| Did not qualify for the postseason | |||||||||||
| 7[d] | Detroit Lions | North | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 5–1 | 8–4 | .496 | .368 | W1 |
| 8[d] | Seattle Seahawks | West | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 4–2 | 7–5 | .492 | .444 | L1 |
| 9[d] | Dallas Cowboys | East | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 5–1 | 7–5 | .496 | .438 | W1 |
| 10 | Arizona Cardinals | West | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 3–3 | 5–7 | .488 | .406 | W2 |
| 11[e] | Green Bay Packers | North | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 2–4 | 5–7 | .539 | .357 | L3 |
| 12[e] | Washington Redskins | East | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 1–5 | 5–7 | .539 | .429 | L1 |
| 13 | San Francisco 49ers | West | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | 1–5 | 3–9 | .512 | .438 | W5 |
| 14[f] | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | South | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | 1–5 | 3–9 | .555 | .375 | W1 |
| 15[f] | Chicago Bears | North | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | 0–6 | 1–11 | .559 | .500 | L1 |
| 16 | New York Giants | East | 3 | 13 | 0 | .188 | 1–5 | 1–11 | .531 | .458 | W1 |
| Tiebreakers[g] | |||||||||||
| |||||||||||
| Round | Date | Opponent (seed) | Result | Record | Venue | Recap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wild Card | January 6, 2018 | Atlanta Falcons (6) | L 13–26 | 0–1 | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | Recap |
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Falcons | 6 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 26 |
| Rams | 0 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 13 |
atLos Angeles Memorial Coliseum,Los Angeles, California
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
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TheLos Angeles Rams hosted their first playoff game in theGreater Los Angeles Area since1985, as well as their first playoff game at theLos Angeles Memorial Coliseum since the 1978NFC Championship Game. But the defending conference championFalcons started off strong, capitalizing on two special teams miscues by the Rams to build a 13–0 lead on twoMatt Bryant field goals and a 3-yard run byDevonta Freeman. Los Angeles rallied asJared Goff connected withCooper Kupp on a 14-yard touchdown pass andSam Ficken hit a 35-yard field goal just before halftime.Todd Gurley was effective with 101 yards on just 14 carries, but the Falcons were able to control the clock, dominating time of possession 37:35 to 22:25. The teams traded field goals in the second half, but Atlanta pulled away late as quarterbackMatt Ryan iced the game with an 8-yard touchdown pass to wide receiverJulio Jones for the final 26–13 margin. Rams wide receiverRobert Woods had nine receptions for 142 yards in the loss, the Rams franchise's first playoff appearance since2004 where, coincidentally, their loss also came to the Falcons.
| Recipient | Award(s) |
|---|---|
| Trumaine Johnson | Week 1:NFC Defensive Player of the Week |
| Todd Gurley | September:NFC Offensive Player of the Month Week 4:NFC Offensive Player of the Week Week 15:NFC Offensive Player of the Week Week 15:FedEx Ground Player of the Week Week 16:NFC Offensive Player of the Week Week 16:FedEx Ground Player of the Week December:NFC Offensive Player of the Month FedEx Ground Player of the Year AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year |
| Greg Zuerlein | Week 4:NFC Special Teams Player of the Week October: NFC Special Teams Player of the Month Week 10:NFC Special Teams Player of the Week November: NFC Special Teams Player of the Month |
| Pharoh Cooper | Week 6:NFC Special Teams Player of the Week |
| Jared Goff | Week 9:NFC Offensive Player of the Week Week 16:FedEx Air Player of the Week |
| Aaron Donald | AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year |
| Sean McVay | AP NFL Coach of the Year |
