The Los Angeles Rams are going to be trying especially hard to lock up the NFC’s No. 1 seed in the final weeks of the season, if for no other reason than to avoid more road games – and the travel issues that have plagued them.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Rams’ scheduled flight to Seattle ahead of a Week 16 meeting with the Seahawks was ‘significantly delayed’ minutes before takeoff due to an issue with the plane’s equipment. Schefter wrote on social media that Los Angeles would be seeking ‘alternative travel arrangements to prevent any further delays.’
Schefter later reported that the Rams found a new flight to Seattle, with players and coaches scheduled to leave at 5:25 p.m. PT – around two hours after their originally scheduled departure – and the remaining Los Angeles personnel flying out later on another plane.
The Rams finally arrived in Seattle a little before 9 p.m. local time, per USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon. Kickoff is slated for 5:15 p.m. local time Thursday.
It’s the second travel hiccup the Rams have had in their last two road trips. Schefter noted that head coach Sean McVay had to travel on a separate plane to Phoenix ahead of Week 14’s meeting with the Arizona Cardinals because he was sick.
Los Angeles’ upcoming divisional face-off with the Seahawks has massive implications. The Rams won the first game between the two 11-3 teams at home on Nov. 16, giving them the head-to-head tiebreaker for first place in the NFC West entering Week 16.
Seattle not only has a chance to take sole possession of the NFC West lead and NFC No. 1 seed with a win, it could also even both the potential head-to-head tiebreaker and the divisional record tiebreaker with a win on its home turf. Conversely, Los Angeles could extend its division lead to a full game and take the head-to-head tiebreaker by sweeping the divisional matchups against the Seahawks with a Week 16 win.
The Rams are seeking their second straight division title this year, while the Seahawks are looking to win the NFC West for the first time since 2020.
Whichever team wins the division has a good shot at also taking the No. 1 seed in the conference and a first-round playoff bye. Both Seattle and Los Angeles are a game ahead of the Chicago Bears, who hold the No. 2 seed entering Week 16. Neither the Rams nor the Seahawks have held the top seed in the NFC since 2014, when Seattle last reached the Super Bowl.